Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1889-12-28
INTERESTING AFRICAN cuRIos.
a Peep ne ere Trophies Mr.. Herbert ward
Brought from Africa

Brvught from Africa
A few privileged friends were asked
recently to meet Mr.. z J. Glave, of Lon
don, at the fremont house, and at the
same time to see the many c~uriosities
which Mr.. Herbert Ward brought from
Africa with him. These articles are not
exhibited at the lecture, but are shown
privately to friends. Mr.. Glave, who has
charge of them, is a young Englishman
with a taste for adventure, who has been
into the interior of Africa with both Mr..
Stanley and Dir. Ward, aud has achieved
a decided reputation as a successful
huuter. II is most interesting TO hear
his descriptions Of the life among the
savages, and he speaks modestly Of his
prowess, referring only to the deeds
OF other men, until some straightforward
question brings al answer that he can
not help giving.
The world has grown accustomed to
eastern curios. China, India and Japan
are no longer unknown lands, and the
arts and industries from those countries
are almost as well known as those of
Europe and America; but in the curiosi-
ties shown by Dir. Glave one is brought
face TO face with a new people and a
hitherto unknown land. The first sensa-
ton which one has is a wonder how these
people learned to do 30 many things;
they work in iron and other metal, they
"a a cloth from fiber, they carve IN
wood and ivory, and their straw or csne
weaving Is wonderful from its fine work.
m~anship, its beauty Of design and per-
feet finish. This was best shown in the
shields, which are long and narrow, COW
ering the whole body when held in front
of it. 1t resembles more than anything
the fine M work of the East Indies. It
is smooth and glossy, and some Of the
ibers are as fine as thread. Black and
white ibers are used, the design being
wrought in black on the white ground
and Is even more beautiful on the back
side than on the front. OF course, all
this work is done by hand. and it is as
ever and regular as IL made by machine.
The ornaments worn by the women
are barbaric in design; still they have a
beauty Of shape that is unsurpassed by
anything modern. Copper is a great
deal used by them, and also iron; the
first Is to ornament almost entirely, and
the latter is used for money, as well as
for the cruel implements of war. Among
the most interesting trophies are the
axes and bows and arrows used by the
nation of dwarfs. a newly discovered
people, who have given Stanley q great
deal Of trouble during his last trip.
They are a small people, only about
four feet in height, with small frames
and short necks, q most repulsive look
ing people, and very savage and fierce;
they are not physically strong, but are
very quick In their movements, and
have a less degree of intelligence than
most Of the other tribes. The axes are
short handled, broad bladed, ugly look
ing affairs; the bows are very small, al
most like toy bows, with correspondingly
small arrows, which are poisoned at the
sharp iron tips. S1uall as these are, they
are deadly, II they strike, as the poison
Is very powerful and quick in its action.
The savage idea of ornament is shown
in the waist belts, bracelets, earrings and
anklets worn by the women; these con-
stitute the entire costume, but the richer
anc more powerful q man is, the more
heavily he loads his wives with these
tokens Of his esteem and their worth.
The more of this kind of ornament a
Woman has, the higher Is her financial
value. After all, civilization and bar.
barism ara not 70 far apart as it would
seem at the first glance.
A spoon carved CT wood Is I'm q grace
full aud unique pattern, that might be
copied with advantage by silversmiths
who are in search of something new and
artistic. This is simply wood carving,
but the shape Is very graceful and
beautiful. Some Of the spoons carved
in ivory were not unlike those Of me
di@val Europe, and it makes one wonder
anew how ideas could have grown
among people who know literally moth.
ing Of q life beyond that one In this
savage land. It certainly proves that
those ideas must be common to the
whole humsn race, and that some Of the
very best Of our civilization came with
US from barbarity.
A beautifully wrought copper collar
worn by an African chief was as finely
engraved a. some Of the specimens Of
Benares brass work. There are also some
fine specimens Of etching on some Of the
knives. 1t is perfectly impossible TO give
anything like an adequate idea o. the
novelty Of this exhibition Dr. Of ;os CON-
pleteness. but it is certainly one Of the
most interesting that has ever been given
In the city. 1t gives one an idea Is moth
ing else can OF the condition Of the PEG
pie In the dark country" Of which 90
little has been known--Boston Herald.