Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-05-22
FIRST WHITE WOMAN.
CURIOSITY OF SAvAGES AT THE
SIGHT OF AN AMERICAN.
Mrs. David ker Tells About Her Travels
in the Heart of West Africa = Queer
Customs of the People She Saw.

| dneds of neonle Tn he surrounded nv a sea
of faces and ali staring hard at Won with
| different expressions of wonder curiosity
and amusement But then I was the first
white woman that the Duallas of tho Cam
Groom. river. West Africa. had ever seen.
and so it was no wonder that thew were as
ton,sbed at INV snnearance in thei, VILLAGE
EVERYBODY left of their different occupa-
lions 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
keen up with u.s.
But nv embarrassment at being the
cause of such excitement soon wore off, 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 a waistcloth, which in the case
of chiefs was of rich material and bright
color Most of the people were 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 woolly) 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.
"The families cook and eat under these
trees" said Mr.. A.. who acted 40 our
guide. .sfor YOU see the houses have neither
windows nor freplaces. Just peep in here,
and you will see the only furniture is the
bamboo bed and these few stools and Gala
bashes."
Just then slim. good looking girl broke
through the crowd, and rushing up to
Mr.. A.. seized hold of his arm and he
gan talking yery fast and earnestly as If
begging some favor. Her great black ewes
looked so sad and wistful that INV heart
went out to her. and felt so glad Tn see
Mr.. smile as if willing to do what
she asked. She lust gave him one look of
thanks and then was gone
'Who is that girl: and do tell me what
she is wanting you to dosn asked
"She says her mother is yery III. and she
wants me to make her well. You know
have studied medicine for some time. and
the people here think cure bv MAGIC Tbe
Duallas have horribly cruel custom with
their sick. If the patient does not get we'll
in a week or two he or she is taken ont into
the bush about four or five miles from tba
town. placed upon a rude bamboo he'd.
stead. and left utterly alone won,n
coming once day to give the patient food
and water and to light a fire. The moor
wretch of course soon dies of fright at
being left to the mercy of the wild beasts.
whose growls and wells alone break the
monotony of the long dreary night
THE SICK AND THE pEaD
"But the Baptist missionaries have near.
ly got the people to do away with this
wicked custom. and the more horrible one
of beating to death the unfortunate psrson
who is said by the n,eambi man fortune
teller to have bewitched TIE sick nersop
When we Europeans are kind and unsel-
fish it is wonderful how much ipf,nencs
we get over these people. But the Duallas
have some sentiment in them for thew
bury the dead under the houses which thew
occupied when alive. and they would think
it most cruel and unfeelipe to cast the de.
ceased out of their homes
A large, fat. important looking man
with striped waist cloth. now came nm to
us and asked US If we should like to gee a
dance. He possessed four European chairs
(for he was a great chief and we sat down
under the shade of a beautiful cottonwood
and the dance began.
A ring was formed of bows of all sizes.
who with their elbows drawn cIose totbeir
sides. walked SLOWLY round. twitcbino
every muscle of the BODY. while the women
and girls. forming an outer ring, stood !
around clappinp their hands IN q sort of |
This dance was cprious but
neither beautiful nor Inspiring.
A PRIMITIVE TEIEpuoNE
Wewere next shown a big wooden drnm
which Mr.. A called the Dualla tele.
phone. and he explained TO Ms how bv diff.
could could be carried on by natives two miles