The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-02-15
THE EN-. oHIEF OF THE N'CHUBBAs
Some Interesting Visitors From the Desert
of Kulahi.
New York Times.

of Kulahi.
New York Times.
One of the strapgest groups OF human be-
iDgs that has ever reached these shores, sat
yesterday afternoon on the floor in the Castle
Garden Office. These people were represen-
tatives OF the N'Chubbs tribe, which resides
in the Kulahi Desert in the interior of
Africa, at about latitude 1S0 and longitude
20o. The Africans wore barely anything
except blankets OF great warmth and re-
marksble gaudness. The leader of the
party, which mustered elk strong, is Copqui.
He was the chief of the N'Chubbs tribe be-
fore he abandoned that constituency for tie
show business. He is thirty-fve years of age
and has light mustac1e and imperial. His
hair, like that of the others, grows in
punches little more than q quarter of an
inch in length and suggests small shru bbery
which springs up unevenly on poor land.
Conoui is only four feet six inches in height,
but he was the tallest man in his tribe. On
each side of his brow small sea shell is
fastened to the hair by way OF ornament.
The ex chief carries long bow, but lest he
should do some harm with this, the string
has been taken away from him. He uses
the bow stick ss staff, and also as cor
rector for the young of his party.
The NChubbas are not nearly as dark
ordinary Africans. Their color, in fact, is
almost as light as that OF the Indian. They
have fiat, small features, with high cheek
bones and little dark eyes. Mrs Conoui, nee
Arbecy, is forty-two years OF age aud has an
ugly, wrinkled face. Under her gauiy
blanket, however, she wears more clothing
than do the other visitors from the Desert of
Kulahi. Her arms are bare, aud are quite
shapely. The pair have BRIGHT boxing
immature boy, named Arby. This interest
| ing child. like the rest of bis tribe, has q
| strong passion for tobacco He will, when
nursing. abandon his mother for pipe q
cigar. But, although the N'Chuboss are al
smokers. they are strict teetotalers. Nothing
stronger than coffee ever pssses their lips.
In addition to his owR child, Conqui has
three oung people whom he probably Dor.
| rowed from former neigh ors with the priv
| ilege Of not returning them. These are Miss
| Icy, an interesting maiden OF twelve; Co. q
| stripping of nineteen and Finmon, the dude
| Of his tribe. Finmon, although twenty.
/ four years old, does not appear to be more
than twelve. His tastes are decidedly
aesthetic. On his brow is 9 small imitation
sun flower, which Is kept IN position by q
| piece of brown string Finmon shows other
evidences Of gddiness Instead of the CON-
| ventional desert smile of his countrymen
| he giggles and Shippers as if he were saying,
go way. you saucy thing"
The N,Chnbbas' when at home wander
| about in families. Rocks and trees are their
only shelter. They are not at ell particular
what they eat. Anything handy will an
swer for dinner, no matter whether il is q
quail, snake. or few roots. They are not
| cannibals. and apparently have not energy
enough to be murdero1s. When inyited BY
HE manager TO stand up, Conqui rises with
evident reluctance aud seems TO protest
humbly but earnestly against the unusual
execution, and as soon as possible resumes q
| sitting posture. The NChubbas do not talk
like other Africans. There language seems
to be o series Of clicks in the back portion
Of their mouths The words evidently have
4 49, ~ Ia Iou 4~-rv ,o,
tered two or three English words. They
were induced to leave Africa and taken to
London. where they were exhibited for
three months IN the Westminster Aquarium,
/ where they were gazed upou by Oscar Wilde.
4 Mrs Lxngtry, and other celebrities. The
party arrived on the Guion steamship Wyo.
ming Before they were allowed TO land
| the Commissioners of Emigration obliged
their agent to give bonds that his curioslties
would not become public charges. q -