The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1891-02-21
LAKE JEWELLERS IN AFRICA.
Thousands Of Blacks who Rear Their Hats
ON Piles In the Dsnhsm wstsrs


Much attention was recently called
to the region around Kotonou. on the
Gull OF Guinea. near which place sew
ersl hundred OF the women warriors
Of the King of Dahomey were killed in
battle by the French troops. One of
the most interesting features Of this
region Is the large native villages aud
towns that have beeu built in the
water. The inhab;tants many wears
ago took this means OF trying. To escape
from the terrible raids OF tho King of
Dahomey. Many hundreds of people
were actually driven by the powerful
King into the water. II happens that
the Dahomians are very supcrstitious
about travelling In canoes or crossing
streams. aud the fugitives took advan-
tagc OF this fact To secure protection
for themselves.
On any good map one may see the
'.Deniiam waters" near Kotonou. This
Is the home OF these lake jewellers.
The towns have each population of
from 200 or 800 souls to AS many thou
sands. Physically the people are fine
and healthy specimens OF Africans,
and rs "A rule they are free from dis
ease. Gov Moloney OF Lagos saws the
houses arc built upon piles or straight
branches OF hard wood three 10 six
inches in diameter. They are driven
into the bottom of the lake. The up
per ends are secured by cross pieces,
on which are laid bamboo fioorlna
two-thrds or one-half OF which Is COW
cred In by house. The uprivhis of
the house arc fixed first aud 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. aud raised 10
its position. The remaining portion
of flooring Is used rs n veranda. In
the construction no nails are used.
These natives are fishermen aud also
n pastoral people. IL is curious fact
that they keep cattle in pens adjoining
their houses built on piles over the
water like their dwellings. Some
times during the dry season the shall
lowness OF the water admits OF the eat
tie being allowed To wander on terra
Trina; but fodder is brought In canoes
10 many less fortunate animals which
are compelled to exc out their exist
ence in these pens surrounded by
water until such time as they are
tethered and transported by canoe TO
the butcher.
The present natives are still in dread
OF the Dohomians. but even II this fear
no longer existed il is probable that
the habit which they and their fathers
before them have long followed would
lead them to prefer these aquatic
residences. II is not known how many
lake jewellers there are. but II Is sup
posed there are at least 10. 600 OF them
among the various tribes whose huts
cover the Denham waters. Once In q
while these tribes make war on one
another, and they conduct their fight
ing In canoes. capable of holding two
or three persons. and their weapons
are guns. harpoons. spears and clubs.
In some other parts OF Africa. par
ticularly In the Congo basin. the habit
Of dwelling IN buts sustained on piles
in lakes or rivers Is very largely fol-
lowed. and perhaps a million or two
OF the people OF Africa are still perpet-
uating the phase of life Of which we
have relies in the rcmaius Of the lake
jewellers Of the prehistoric era.