The Sully County watchman. (Clifton, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1894, 1888-08-18
EMlN PASHA'S EXPERIENCES.
n Race of Dwarfs-Good Tempered Lions
Utilizing Notwithstanding.

Utilizing Snakes-Pilc-DweIIIng
The journals of Emin Pasha as yetre-
ceived, and now publised, contain the
records of n number of journeys made
through his territories down to 1887,
says Chambers journal.
One of the most striking things TO be
met with in the earlier pages is n
reference to areport which is brought to
| him between lado and Dufle on the
| Upper Nile, that n race of dwarfs in
/ habit mountain caves to the west of
| Bcdcn. They were said to be only
| forty inches high, of a brown color,
and of great agility, to eat white ants
| and roots, and to shoot with very small
arrows, which are poisoned and very
difficult TO extract. These pigmies he
was inclined to regard rs the reminder
of dwarf population which ages ago
spread over Central Africa. Four
years later he himself comes upon some
specimens of the Aka, pigmy peo-
pie, divided into numerous small tribes,
who lead n nomadic life in the Mon
buttu country. One of these Aka
"had Il reddish or rather dark skin
(probably dirt) and was very progna-
thous, rather swag-bclied, but exceed
ingly nimblc. His height was three
feet six inches. His whole body was
covered by thick, stiff hair, almost like
felt which was especially thick on the
breast" \ girl II years measured
three feet and seven-cights of IN inch
in height! These people are said to be
very expert hunters, but also very vim
dictiyc, so that the neighboring tribes
are very glad to let them have all they
want for maintenance in return for
skins and feathers, the products of the
chase which they prosecute with bows
and arrows alone.
In the country of the Bari (ncar Con-
dokoro or Lado), Emin had Il curious
experience with a lion. One dav he
came upon one caught in Il pitfall, and
n chief named Lotror was sent for to
get it out He pushed into the pit
the lion came out of the hole, and
after giving Il roar of acknowledge
ment walked off unharmcd This is
mentioned rs illustrative of the fact
that 1.-The lions here are really good
tempered and also much admired.n
He was told by the negroes that this
Lottor always keeps two tame lions in
his house, and IS long rs he receives
occasional presents of corn and goats
prevents the wild lions from doing any
mischief.
Among one of the Dinka tribes he
comes upon an ingenious method of
utilizing snakes. These are secured
by stratagem, and then n pool of fwater
Is lnclosed by a strong thorn fence. so
arranged that the game coming to
GrInk must pass through narrow lane.
The snakes which are fastened by hole
bored through the tail, and placed near
this opening, bite the animals as they
attempt TO pass. In this way supply
OF game Is always obtainablc without
the trouble of hunting.
Acurious method of salutationis noted
among the Shuli. people who inhabit
the Fatiko district. They are very
polite, but must be somewhat unconi.
Portable acquaintanccs. They are nj.
ways greeting each other and always
lnquiring after the health OF those they
encounter. and their method of greet.
ing is to raise the arms of the visitor
four or five times above his head.
Morning calls in that country must be
severe and fatiguing gymnastic
exercise.
In the Kedebu country we come up.
on the pile-dwellings. "A platform
supported upon over three hundred
stout piles, each one six feet high, stood |
within broken bamboo fence. 1t had |
length of ninety feet, IA width of |
eighty feet, and was made of timber
and brushwood, and covered with clav |
and cow-dung, to form a level flooring. |
The ground-iloor among the piles |
serves rs a kitchen and store-house:
the watcr-jars and the murhaka grind |
stone) are placed in it, and the SER
wants sleep there. 4 square hole in |
the center of the platform provides |
this lower room with light, and lad
ders lead through the hole to the plat
form. This latter is divided by reed
fence into an outer and inner compart-
ment, the former containing two iarre
huts, each about fifteen feet in di-
with neat mud walls about
three feet high, and lofty conical roof.
These two huts serve rs a dwelling
place for the master of the house. The
inner compartment. or harem, con-
tains six smaller huts. The whole ar
ran@cment j. really curious. especially
here, where ground is not swampv.
and where tcrmites (white ants) are
only seldom found, SO that there ap-
pears TO be no real reason for such a
method of housc-building." Around
each homestead is garden, in which
are grown maze, onions, beans. egg
apples, bananas, lemons, bitter oranges,
etc.