The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1882-07-13
Life IN Central Africa.

Central Africa, for centuries almost un.
known to the civilized world, has been,
Tor the last ten or fifteen years, the chosen
field Of the most intrepid travellers and
explorers. The names of Livingstone
and Stanley have become household
words throughout Christendom, and the
geography of tho clark continent" has
censed to be the absolute and furbidding
mystery which made wide and dismal
blank in the aliases of the last genera
ton. With these famous travellers we
may ftly associate their German cotcm.
p!orary,, DR.. Gustav Nachtigal, who has
given the world sunc exceedingly inter
osting and graphic sketches Of tho life
and customs Of the natives of tho
kingdom of Baghirm.
These children Of nature appear, Us far
as can be learned, to have been wholly
despoled by any touch of modern civil
ization, and are innocent OF the slight
est symptoms Of artificial culture. Their
dress is model of simplicity, the whole
outfit consisting of shirt reaching to
the loins, leaving the other parts of the
body uncovered; and many of them re.
gard even this brief garment as too aris.
tocratic, and content themselves with a
handkerchief around the head or even n
fcw feathers in tho hair.
The Kingdom of Baghirm is not of
large extent, and its sovereign is ambi-
tious, not unlike his civilized brcthern.
TO increase his dominion by the annexa-
hon Of adjoining territory. Meeting
with resistance in the prosecution of
these designs, he resorts-again after the
manner ce the most enlightened poten-
tates-.o the employment of force. Re-
peating rifles and artillery of the Euro
pean pattern being wholly unknown in
that region, he substitutes lanccs and
clubs, the only weapons known to the
War Department of Baghirm. The
methods of defense adopted by the inva-
ded community are rude but effective.
Instead of digging rifle-pits, or erecting
earth works, the tribe simply mount the
gigantic cotton trees. among whose pro.
tecting branches the lnnccs Of the attack
ing party cannot reach them. This tree
is admirably adapted fo- the purpose of a
refuge or fortifcation. being high, and
| having usually no branches lower than
fifteen feet from the ground. The
branches, moreover, are very thick and
grow almost horizontally; so that by
layi'.. sticks across them and adding q
covering of straw, foundation is ob.
tained for hut. in which u whole fami-
ly, including the dogs aad goats, can live
comfortably and socially.
A single tree ordinarily contains two
or three families. At night, when no
attack is apprehended, the dwellefs in
this singular habitation emo down and
lay in a fresh 81 ,ck of water and provis.
ions, always L.1ing the latter as securely
rs possible. These natural forts are
found, whenever assailed, to be almost
impregnable, so long as only the native
resources of warfare are used against
them. Having no fire EARNS, the enemy
cannot reach them except by storming
each tree, and any attempt to act fire to
it is met by the besicged party, who ex-
tinguish the fame by pouring water upon
it or beating it down with sticks.
Both in attack and defense, but es.
pecially in the latter, these people dis
play the most stubborn courage. The
members of the tribe of which q con.
quest is sought will fight for their liberty
to the bitter end, knowing that the sure
result OF defeat is a horrible death or
hopeless slavery. AS last resort, rather
than submit TO capture, they will clint
to the top of the tree and throw them
selves down to meet inevitable death.