Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1883-03-07
Life in Central Africa.

ers and explorers. The names of Liv-
ingstone and Stat ley have become
household words throughoat Christen-
dom, and the geography Of the "dask
continent has ceased to be the absolute
and forbidding mystery which made q
wide and dismal blank in the aliases of
the last generation. With tlesefamous
TRAVELLERS we may litly associate their
German cotepporary, DR.. Gustav
Naehtisral. who has given to the worlt.
some exceedingly Interesting and graph
ic sketches of the life and customs OF
the natives of the kingdom of Baghirln,
These children Of nature appear. as
far rs can be learned. to have been
wholly unspoiled by any touch Of mod
crn civilization, aud are innocent of the
slightest symptoms of artificial cnlturc.
Their dress is a model of simplicity. the
whole outfit consisting of n shirt reach
in- to the loins. leaving the other parts
OF the body uncovered: and many of
them regard even this brief garment rs
too aristocratic. and content themselves
with handkerchief around the head,
or even few feathers in the hair
Tho Kingdom of Baghirm is not OF
large extent, and It's sovereign is am
bilious, not unlike his more civilized
brethren, to increase bis dominion by
the annexation of adjoining territory.
Meeting With resistance in tie proseet,-
ton of these designs, he resorts. again
after the manner Of the most cnlighteu-
ed petentates, to the employment OF
force. Repeating rifles and artillery OF
iha European pattern being wholly I'M
ttnown III that region, he substitutes
lamccs and clubs. the ou!y weanors
known to tie War Department OF Baga.
rim. The me!Gads Of defence adopted
~ the invaded community are rude Eut
effective. Instead of di-2ing rife-plis
or erecting earthworks, the tribe SIM
ply mount the gigantic cotton trees.
among whose protecting branches the
lanccs OF the attacking party cannot
reach them. This tree is admirably
adapted for the purpose of n refuge and
forii!lcation. being very high, and hay-
ing usually no branches lower than iif-
teen feet from the ground. The branches,
moreover. are very thick. and grow
almost horizontally; SO that by laying
sticks across them and adding n cover
Ing of straw, a foundation is obtained
for II hot in which whole family, in
Guiding the dogs and goats. can live
comfortably and socially.
A single tree ordinarily contains two
or three families. AT night. when no
attack is appret,ended, the dwellers in
this singular hahitaiion come down and
lay in u fresh stock of water and p,o-
visions. always hiding the latter as Sc
cureiy as possible. These natural forts
arc found, whenever assailed, to be
almost impregnabie, so long as only the
native resources of warfare are used
against them. Having no firearms, the
euemy cannot reach them except by
storming each tree, and any attempt 10
set lire 10 it is met by the besieged party,
who eytiuguish The flame by pouring
water upon it, CT beating it down with
sticks.
Both in attack and defence. hut es-
pctiaily in the latter, these people dis
play the most stubborn courage. The
me,nbers of the tribe of which y con-
quest is sought will fight for their liberty
to the hitter end, knowing that the snre
result of defeat is horrible death or
hopeless slavery. As a las. resort. ratl
tiian submit 10 capture. taey will climb
To the top of the tree and throw them
selves down to meet Inevitable death.
Ore Of the younger Cocuelin's stories
relates that during visit to Brighton
Sarah Bernha,stt lay domnon the beacn,
dressed in white. She was brusaueiy
awakened from her rcye:ics by wash
er-aomsu, who picked her up. having
mistaken her for bath-towel laid out
to dry.
At Oxford porter cncouniering en-
his rounds two Undergraduates who
were without their gov ms. or ont of
bounds. or out of hours. challenged one:
"Iour name and collcge?' They Mere
given. Turning 10 the other: '.AHd
pray. sir. wla. might your name bce''
Julius Cesar" was the reply. What.
SIR, do You mean TO Say Your narae is
julius Crsare" .'Sirt you did not ask
Me what it was. but what it might be-"
A citizen Of Denisoa. Texas. has pre-
pared a dictionary OF the Indian vocab.
,liary and promises to soon convince
the world that the language Of the rci
man is derived from the Hebrew. He
also claims 10 be able to substantiaie
his claim by reference TO the Hebrew
bible.
New York City has school ESQ
years old. the Dutch Church School Ii
was founded in 1858. and has been kent
tin continually ever since. The present
seioo! hotse was erected in 1850. and
tae Dutch architecture was peipcluaied
in its building. 1t is claiss,cd to be the
oldest educational establishment in the
county.
a New York picture dealer says that
great many people bav photographs
of Oscar Wilde. and then destroys the
compliment by adding: .Bnt most Of
the purchasers ob;ain the picture just
to laye . good LAUGH This is the
first recorded compliment OF persons
whe in any way patrons.o Monsieur
Ioo-tOo.
Just before his assassination General
G4reI sent a message 10 MIR. William
Black in regard to his story, .MacLeod
Of Dare, trgfptting that the novelist
had made 1t end SO trawicaiig. .'Thcrc
is tragedy enough in the world" lie
said, little thinking that IN q few weeks
he himself was 10 contribute still more.
Charles i. Slayback, brother of the
dead Colonel SlaybaelS. of st. Louis, is
said to have acknowledged thar it Was
impossible for him to hasbor any feel
ings Of revenge against Colonel Cock
eriii, and thai tie dead man $ OWN hasty
conduct was the cause ofthe late misfor-
tune.
Fashionable Newport is amused over
the discomhsnre OF il brainless young
Croess's. who presented to Oae of tho
society bellies 4 rare and royal pair Of !
well, IN common parlance, "garters."
They We're SO handsome with their jaw-
els and prerions metals that the Young
lady refused t0ietara ihcniwhen she /
refused an offer II her admirers hand.
W. I. SIX. the English fish culturist,
has iakcn 700 American black bass 10
England. He win stock White w ater
Lake. belonging to tho late. Marquis 1
Of Exeter, md the various resery0irs i