Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1890-12-25
THE LAKE JEWELLERS.
AFRICANS WHO BUILD THEIR
HUTS ON PILES.
How the People Of the Gulf Of Guinea Contri,ed
to Rvade the Terrible Raids OF the
King Of Dab omey-Thou.
sands Of Them.

Much attention was recently called |
to the region around kotonou, on the
Gulf OF Guinea, near which place sew
cral hundred of women warriors OF the |
king OF Dahomey were killed in battle
by tho French troops. One OF the
most interesting features OF this regios
is the large native villages and towns
that have been built in the water.
The inhabitants many years ago took
this means of trying to escape from
the terrible raids from the king of
Dahomey. Many hundreds of people
were actually driven by the powerful
king into the water. 1t happens that
the Dahomians are very superstitious
about travelling in canoes or crossing
streams, and the fugitives took advan-
tage of this fact to secure protection
for themselves.
On any good map one may see the
.Denham waters" near kotonou. This
is the home Of those lake dwcllers.
The towns have each population of
from 200 to 300 souls to as many thou.
sands. Physically the people are fine
and healthy specimens of Africans,
and as n rule they are free from dis
ease. Gov. Moloney of Lagos says the
houses are built upon piles or straight
branches of hard wood three to six
inches in diameter They are driven
into the bottom OF the lake. The upper
ends are secured by cross pieces, on
which are laid a bamboo flooring, two
thirds or One-half of which is covered
in by house. The uprights of the
house are fixed first and are secured
below the platform to the supporting
piles. The roof frame is next made on
the platform, and is covered with grass
or bamboo leaves, and raised to its po-
sition. The remaining portion of floor
ing is used us a veranda. 1u the con-
struction no nails are used.
These natives are fishermen and also
q pastoral people. 1t is a curious fact
that they keep cattle in pens adjoining
their houses built on piles over the
water like their dwellings. Sometimes
during the dry season the shallownes:
of the water admits of the cattle being
allowed to wander on terra firma; bu
fodder is brought in canoes to man.
less fortunate animals which are com
PEELED TO exc out their existence i,
these pens surrounded by water unit
such time as they are tethered ant
transported by canoe TO the butcher.
The present natives are still in drea
OF the Dahomians, but even if this fea
no longer existed it is probable tina
tho habit which they and their father
before them have long followed woul
lead them to prefer these aquatic resi-
dences. 1t is not known how man
lake dwellers there are, but it is sup
posed there are at least 10, 600 OF then
among the various tribes whose hut
cover the Denham waters. Once in
while these tribes make war on on
another. and they conduct their figh'
ing in canoes. capable OF holding tw
or three persons. and their weapon
are guns, harpoons. spears. and club!
In some other parts OF Africa. pa
ticularly in the Congo basin. the hab
of dwelling in huts sustained on pile
in lakes or rivers is very largely 70
lowed. and perhaps million or tw
OF the people OF Africa are still pei
petuating the phase OF life OF whic
we have relics in the remains OF tt
lake jewellers of the prehistoric era
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