The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1891-05-16
LADY AMONG sAvAeEs.
Observations of the First white Womi
Among African Natives.

OD8eTNhblOnA oil the tlfAb hnlIe NOhith
Among African Natives.
1t is queer sensation, to those not
used TO it, to be the center of attraction
to hundreds of people, to be surrounded
by sea of faces, and all staring hard
at you with different expressions of
wonder, curiosity, and amusement
But then was the first white woman
that the Duallas of the Cameroons river,
West Africa, had ever seen, and so 1T
was no wonder that they were aston
ished at my appearance in their village.
Everybody left off their different oc-
cupations and followed us wherever we
went shouting and laughing, and all
struggling to get near me. Crowds of
them ran on in front, and then, turning
round to stare for few seconds, would
rush on again TO keep up with us.
But my embarrassment at being the
cause of such excitement soon wore off
for l., in my turn, had much to see ane
wonder at in a West African village.
The people were about the same heigh,
as Europeans, their skin very dark and
sometimes nearly black. Neither men
nor women wore anything but a waist
of a rich material and bright color.
Most of the people were tattooed, espe-
cially the young girls, whose cheeks,
noses, and foreheads were strongly
Marked and thought very beautiful.
The most fashionable of these girls
wore their hair (Which was crisp and
yyoolly) cut into the shape of circles
eliminating at the top of the head, and
between each two of the rows were
bright-colored beads and brass orna-
ments. Huge brass pins were stuck
into the wool just behind the ears.
They also wore very long and large
brass earrings, and quantities of colored
beads round the neck and wrists.
The streets were straight and spot
lessly clean, and the little bamboo
houses with palm-thatched roofs on
either side the road were very neat and
pretty; and here and there were lovely
palm-trees and huge cottonwoods.
1.-THE families cook and eat under
these trees" said Mr.. A, who acted
as our guide, 'for you see the houses
have neither windows nor freplaces
Just peep in here, and you will see the
only furniture is the bamboo bed ano
these few stools and calabashes."
Just then slim, good-lool1ing CIR
broke through the crowd, and rushing
up to Mr. A, seized hold of his arm
and began talking very fast and earn
estly, as if begging some favor. Hei
great black eyes looked so sad and wist
full that my heart went out to her, ant
/ felt so glad to see Mr.. A smile "a
if willing to do what she asked. Sh'
lust gave him one look of thanks anC
then was gone.
"Who is that girl; and do tell me wha
she was wanting you to do?" asked.
"She says her mother is very i'll, ant
she wants me to make her we'll 1ol
know have studied medicine for SOM
time, and the people here think l cur
by magic. The Duallas have horribl.
cruel custom with their sick; if the pa
tient does not get well in week o
two, he or she is taken out into the busl
about four or five miles from the town
placed upon a rude bamboo bedstead
and left utterly alone, woman coming
once day to give the patient food an
water, and to light fire. The poo
wretch of course soon dies of fright a
being left to the mercy OF the will
beasts, whose growls and yells alon
break the monotony of the long drear
night.
But the Baptist missionaries hav
nearly got the people to do away wit
this wicked custom, and the more hol
rible one of beating to death the unfol
tunate person who is said by tn
n'gambi man (fortune-teller) to hav
! bewitched the sick person. When W
Europeans are kind and unselfish it
wonderful how much influence we &c
over these people. But the Dualla
! have some sentiment in them, for the
bury the dead under the houses whic
, they occupied when alive, and the
would think it most cruel and unfeelin
! to cast the deceased out of their homes.
{ A large, fat, mportant-looking maj
with striped waist-cloth, now cam
up to us, and asked us if we should lik
to see dance. He possessed four Eur'
pean chairs (for he was great chief
and we sat down under the shade of
,. beautiful cotton wood, and the danC
. began.
: A ring was formed of boys of a
+ sizes, who, with their elbows draw
n close to their sides, walked slow
h round, twitching every muscle of tt
= body, while the women and girls, forr
l. ing an outer ring, stood around clappir
k their hands to sort of measure. Th
= dance was curious, but neither beaut
e full nor inspiriting.
6 We were next shown big woode
!. drum, which Mr.. A called the Dual
q telephone, and he explained to us hoy
= by different ways of beating it, co
# versation could be carried on by nativ
G two miles apart.
n Just as we were about to go (for Il
e sun was setting, and we had to G
d down to the river where our boat w
J. waiting for us), Mr.. A motioned
i me to look at two girls standing clio
by, one of whom was doing somethii
to the others eye with what look
like a sort of bodRin.
rs "She is taking out an eyelash
laughed he. "dave you not motto
rs that none of the Duallas have ey
r. lashes? They think they destroy Il
:, sight, so they pluck out the hairs
is soon as they grow"
D. Crowds of people followed us to t
j. river, and l found it very mortifying
h my dignity to be snatched up and CT
ID ried to the boat like baby. Two 9th
a boatmen took Mr.. Kerr and Mr.. A
IN on their backs and carried them also
NJ board, for to say nothing of the croC
- dies, chill in West Africa mea
" fever, and we had had too much