The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-05-05

FIRST WHITE WOMAN.
CURIOSITY Or SAVAGES AT THE
SIGHT OF AN AMERICAN.

MS. DaSlu mex AeAs Aoouk Her IfaSeS
in the Heart of West Africa-cueer
Customs OF the People She Saw There.
How the Sick Are Treated.
1t is queer sensation, to those rot used
to it, to be the center Of attraction 10 hun
dreds of people, to be surrounded by a 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 Cam
eroons river, West Africa, had ever seen,
and so it was no wonder that they were as
tonished at my appearance IN their village.
Everybody left OFF their different occupa-
tons 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 20
keep up with US.
But my embarrassment at being the
cause of such excitement soon wore of, for
!, in my turn, had much TO see and wonder
at in a West African village. The people
were about the same height as Europeans,
their skin very dark and sometimes nearly
black. Neither men nor women wore any
thing but waistcloth, which in the case
of chiefs was of a rich material and bright
color. Most of the people We're tattoed. es-
pecially 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 woollv) 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 ornaments. 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 PEOPLE
The streets were straight and spotlessly
clean, and the little bamboo houses with
palm matched 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 fireplaces. Just peep in here,
and you will see the only furniture is the
bamboo bed and these few stools and Gala
bashes"
Just then a slim, good looking girl broke
through the crowd, and rushing up TO
Mr.. A., seized hold of his arm and be-
gan talking very fast and earnestly, as il
begging some favor. Her great black eyes
looked SO sad and wistful that my heart
went out to her, and felt SO glad to see
Mr.. A smile as if willing 10 do what
she asked. She just gave him one look of
thanks and then was gone.
who is that girl; and do tell me what
she is wanting you to doi" asked.
''She says her mother is very Ill, and she
wants me to make her well. You know /
the people herethink cure by magic. The
Duallas have horribly cruel custom with
their sick. II the patient does not get well
in week or two he or she is taken out into
the bush about four or five miles from the
town, placed upon rude bamboo bed
stead, and left utterly alone, a woman
coming once a day to give the patient food
and water and to light n fire. The poor
wretch of course soon dies OF fright at
being left to the mercy of the wild beasts,
whose growls and yells alone break the
monotoDy of the long dreary night
THE SICK AND THE DEAD.
"But the Baptist missionaries have near
~
wicked custom, and the more horrible one
of beating to death the unfortunate person
who is said by the n'gambi man fortune
teller to have bewitched the sick person.
When we Europeans are kind and unset
fish it is wonderful how much influence
we get over these people. Bat the Duallas
have some sentiment in them, cor they
bury the dead under the houses which they
-ba, a hau = hfpL-
it most cruel and unfeeling TO cast the de-
ceased out of their homes"
A large, fat, important looking man,
with a striped waist cloth, now came up 20
us and asked us if we should like to see
dance. He possessed four European chairs
(for he was great chief and we sat down
under the shade of beautiful cottonwood
and the dance began.
4 ring was formed Of boys of all sizes,
who, with their elbows drawn close TO their
sides, walked slowly round, twitching
every muscle OF the body, while the women
and girls, forming an outer ring, stood
around clapping their hands 10 a sort OF
measure. This dance was curious, but
neither beautiful nor inspiriting.
A PRIMITIVE TELEPHONE.
We were next shown a big wooden drum.
WHICH MI. A tue DUdalt NSif-
phone. and he explained To VS. how by diff
ferent ways of beating IL a conversation
could be carried on by natives two miles
apart.
Just as we were about TO 60 G0r the sun
was setting, and we had 10 get down 70 the
river where our boat was waiting for u.s.
Mr. A. motioned TO me TO look at two
girls standing close By, one Of whom was
doing something to the others eye VITA
what looked like sort Of bodkiD.
''She is taking out an eyelash." laughed
he. Have you not noticed that none Of
the Duallas have eyelashes' They think
they destroy the sight, 50 they pluck out
the hairs as soon as they grow"
Crowds of people followed Us TO the
river, and found it very Notifying 20
my dignity to be snatched up and carried
10 the boat like baby. Two other boat
men took Mr.. Her and Mr.. A on their
backs and carried them also On board, for.
to say nothing of the crocodiles. a chill ia
west Africa means fever. and we had had
too much Of that
The natives, however, came Tading out
by dozens, struggling 20 get the last shake
of my hand, with the Hattering compli-
rnent, Now tina: we have seen the white
woman we can die contented- Mrs. DaTid
Ker in Harper's Bazaar.