Afro-independent. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. ;) 1888-1???, 1888-09-22

prognathous. nor have they dispropor-
tionately large abdomens. but they are
compact. well-built little creatures,
without any physical popularity ex-
eept their small size. Lieutenant
Wissmann, however. received quite an
unfavorahle impression OF the Batwa
from the few specimens he saw among
the Bassonga, whom he describes as
dwelling In tiny hnts. despised by their
neighbors, ill-shaped. and woebegone
specimens OF humanity
All through the great forest region
may be found these nomad hunters. In
little bands OF eight or more families
they build their grass huts wherever
game is plentiful, live there few
months and then move on TO other
hunting grounds. Here and there In
the woods they dig pits about eight
feet deep, which they cover with
branches and turf, and In these traps
they catch elephants, hippopotnmi and
buifaloes, which are often impaled upon
sharp stakes driven into the bottom
OF the pits. They also hunt large
game with the bow and spear.
They can not kin an elephant ut once
with their weapons, but they seldom lose
an animal they once wound. Won
Francois says that, lying In ambush,
they attack the largest game. and fol-
low 1t II necessary for days. Whenever
the wounded animal halts IL becomes
81 .s.F
and finally weakened by loss OF blood
1t falls an easy prey. The cunning
pigmios incur small loss Of weapons in
those long ehases after elephants and
buffaloes Their arrow and spear
heads are barbed and can not drop ont
of the wound. neither do they lose tho
speaT shafts, for they are fastened by
stout cords TO the head, and II the
animal in his flight brushes against
trees, the shafts. instead OF falling TO
the ground. merely bangle against his
sides.
II Is not usual for explorers 20 find
the Batwa timid and undemonstratiyo,
like the first villagers that DIR. Wolf
met. They have earned tho reputation
Of being very ugly and pugnacions lit
tic Fellows. In war they use poisoned
arrowA They take the warpath at
night, steal noiselcssly up 10 the sleep
ing village OF the enemy. fire the hufs.
and kin the people with arrows and
spears by the light OF their burning
houses. Their fallen foes and their
prisoners become food at falnnf0al
ieasts, for the BatwR, like the Aka.
are numbered among the anthropop-
hagi Of Africa. Their fame az fight
ers has Travelled far. and the natives
who accompanied Grenfcll and Won
Francois were panio-strlckcn when
they first saw "a dwarf. One OF their
peculiarities Is the fact that on their
numerous marches they do not sleep
by camp fires at night, like other ma
tives. but stretch themselves on tho
branches Of trees. which they clasp
with arms and legs. and there peace
fully and safely slumber. out OF the
reach Of wild beasts
Don't go near the dwnrfs." was
the admOnition OF the Congo natives
10 Grenfell. They permit no one 10
enter their country. They poison
their weapons. They are the ugliest
OF mortals. and have great heads with
bearded chins upon the smallest Of
bodies " Sure enough. Grenfell and
Won Francois found beard on the face
OF many Batwa, but the heads Of
the dwarfs are not disprOpOrtiOnately
large. and their features not especially
ugly Unlike the Aka. who are
nearly naked, the Batwa wear . wide
strip Of native cloth around their
l0ins. Unskilled In any arts, save
those Of war and the chase. they
chiefly depend for their weapons.
their grain and vegetables upon the
tribes OF large people near whom
they live. most Of whom ae-
knowledge their inferiority ~ hunters
TO the Batwa, and gladly encourage
them 10 barter their loads OF game
for products Of the garden. brass wire
and beads. The Bniwa use these Euro.
pean commodities 70 buy wives, and
throughout the wide region they In
habit they are thus becoming gradual
ly merged with the surrounding peo-
pies. Not a few communities Of pure
Batwa have been found, bat mixed
breeds are also common. The Batwa
and the Aka. II Il believed. are the
remnants Of once very numerous
race, and both are gradually dying
out. victims of the more powerful
tribes around them and Of their in
ferior attainmcHts Ia the arts Of living.
Many Of the Batwa children die for
lack even Of such imperfect care ~
most savage mothers give their Of
spring. There seems 70 b. little ma
ternal affection. and In fight the tiny
mothers have often been known 10
abandon their babies 20 their fate.
At the furthest points reached on
both the Bussera and Tehuapa rivers,
about two hundred and fifteen HIiles
apart. the continued advance of the
little steamer Peace WIS rendered
impossible by the frantic hostility Of