The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1885-02-11
EARTH MEN.
A Recent Importation From tho
Interior OF Africa
Strange People From tho Congo Region
Decorated by yTattoolng-what They
Must Undergo to Rise to the
Dignity OF Kings.
IN. Y. World.l

Sitting In wa ting room OF the Central
Railroad ferry-house few days ago was
as uncoith o collection OF human beings
as falls to the lot OF New Yorkers to wit
ness. Wrapped In coarse, striped blankets,
their heads covered vita cloth caps six
sizes too large for them, the small peaked
faces peered out OF their coverings with q
monkey-like gaze at the crowd OF inqul'i-
tive Americans who gathered around.
They were African earth men or pygmies,
recently brought here from the region Of
the Congo. Until lately the existence Of
these people has been questioned by scien-
tific writer's, but recent discoveries havo
proved the truth OF the well-known asser-
ton o; Herodotus regarding the mysteri-
GUS tribe Of dwarfs who burrowed In the
earth far back toward the center Of tn,
dark continent. Di Cbaillu was the first
modern traveller who investigated thu
mat or and saw them in their own land,
and described them as being small in
stature, but larger than one Is led TO ex.
pect from the description OF HerodotuS,
being so nething over three and a half fee.
tall, but still they are d .minutive specl-
mems Of humanity. Their figures are slim
and delicate, but very well formed.
The woman especially Is capable Of pos.
ing for On artist as bronze Venus. They
are all well clad, the women wearing coats
and pants OF coarse but warm material,
and they frequently emi ted dry, hacking
cough that showed the effect which our
climate and that OF En- !land, whence they
came last, Is having upon them. Their
faces denote hut little intellect, yet they
are possessed OF much intelli sence, and the
children are surprisingly bri yht Tho
baby. slit ng under canopy Of cap, was
q study in himself. ft
His big, black eyes twlnkled and snapped
as he peered this way and that at chs
crowd, and he looked the brightest and
test OF the lot His father, the King-they
are all kings that cOme he e-sat en-
wrapl ed In s royal blanket, with a long
bow In his hand, and he appeared to notice
nothing that went on around him. He
wore, attachel to hair In front, three
small shells filed with some kind OF CO.
ment or dirt TO hold them on. These are
lowed 10 decorate bangs in that
manner, and he looked every inch
king Of that sort. On their cheeks
they all had ragged scar-this
is also q royal mark, and Is made by
scratching with an arrow and rubbing
In coloring matter-a rude sort OF tattoo
ing. In addition to these marks each one
la the joint Of his right hand little finger
taken or. This IL gen raj tribal marx.
They all showed their fingers and all were
alike IN this Disagreement Their skin is
not black, but sort Of copper brows,
something like our Indians, but shade or
two darker and richer In tons. They have
but II tie hair and that Is curled like pig
tails.
The most curious thing about them Is
their language. IL Is a series OF indescrib-
able cluckS, made by turning the tongue
backward against the roof Of the mouth
and swapping 1t forward-not the sound
one makes when starting horse, but jist
as inorticulate and seemin ;ly unlntel-
ligable to human being. They clicked
and cluck d among themselves, and the
gentleman In charge chippsd in and fred
his tongue at them. aud then the reporter
tired IL, and clucked them, "HsrS's my re-
CARDS"
It seemed Incredible that m en- could con-
verse am ,ny themselves with sIch an els-
mentary form Of speech, IL not bsing ele-
vat,d above the twittering OF a sparrow.
One certainly could easier translate the
barks and wb mes OF his dog Into English.
The seem to be satisfied with IL, and that
Is certainly enough.
They have quito collection Of African
arms and curiosities In their possesion-
short and long bows, with slnew or hide
strings; spears and arrows Of re d, pol
soned with the juic,s OF plants, and capa-
bic OF making havoc in tho ranks of an
enemy. It is, In fact, In this manner only,
that they can be formidable, as an ordi-
nary white man could easily manage three
oil them. They decorate themselves In q
manner usual among savnges, with shells,
beads and feathers. the latter being quite
ornamental and artistic. They have o
collection Of ostrich feathers, beads and
horns Of gar lies, gemsboks and Glands,
tiger and leopard skins, and lions claws
ali trophies OF their skill In tho chase
and showing whata superiority even pyg-
miles have over the brute creation.