The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1893-07-05
ETHIOPIAN DWARF GIRLS.
Two Pigmies from the Central Africa
Forest Taken to Europe.

Two Pigmies from the Central African
Forest Taken to Europe.
Two interesting young people from
central Africa have just been brought
to Europe. They are pigmy girls from
the forests through which Stanley's ex-
pedition wandered. They are Aka
dwarfs. and a description of them
printed in England says that they are
the first specimens of their race
brought to Europe. This is mistake,
says the N. Y. San, for several Aka
dwarfs have been taken to Italy, but
none of them thrived there.
DIR. Stuhlmann and his companions,
while members of DR.. Emin's expedi-
tion, rescued these two young girls
from the hands of their Arab captors.
They are supposed to be between II
and 20 years old, are we'll proportioned,
and about as tall as boys of years.
They bore the sea voyage from Zanzi-
bar to Italy well. Neither was aff1ict-
ed with seasickness and they became
very fond of the ship and the sea, of
which they had never heard before.
They were sent to Europe in charge of
young Swahili coast native from
the neighborhood of Zanzibar, who had
been DR.. Stuhlmann's man servant for
five years. They learned to speak the
Swahili tongue and thus were able to
communicate through the interpreter
with the whites they met upon landing
in Italy. They are on the way to Ger
many, where they will be taken before
all scientific societies interested in an
thropological research. The intention
is to take them back to Africa in a few
months, as they might not endure the
winter of Europe.
The young women have small heads,
prominent foreheads, with lustrous
black eyes, a copper-colored complexion
(few of the pigmies of Africa are
black), hair which grows in Separate
tightly twisted curls, fiat noses, and
protruding red lips. Their eyes are
very wide open, their hands and feet
are small, and the forearm aud wrist
are perfectly shaped. The spine curves
strongly inward, making the back hol-
low. and the stomach protrudes pro-
portionately, which is characteristic
OF their race. In behavior they are de-
scribed as infantile, wild, and shy.
One of them is rather cross in disposi-
ton, while the other is of a sunny
temperament and was much pleased
with the bead bracelets and other
trinkets that were given to her. While
in Naples they were taken to the house
OF wealthy man and number of peo-
pie were invited to meet them. The
sunny-faced girl showed her apprecia-
ton of chocolate bonbons, and was
proud of the red lining of her blue
frock, and kept showing it and her red
afnokinnQ fn tho 70
They made capital dinner on rice
and meat eating heartily as long as
they were alone with their attendant
and the white man servant, but stop
ping at once when any member of the
family came into the room. At first
they ate with their fingers, but, see-
ing the forks, picked them up and
helped themselves with those instru-
ments. They would not touch oranges,
and the Italian man servant had to
taste every dish before they or the
Swahili boy would partake of it. 1t is
evident that they were suspicious of
being poisoned in that strange land,
and followed the practice of African
chiefs, many of whom have all their
food tasted before they eat it.
After dinner the little women were
led into pretty garden, where they
sat under fine palm tree. They en-
joyed the sunshine, gradually acquired
confidence, and allowed themselves to
be photographed, arm in arm, with
the little son of their hostess. The
sunny-faced girl shook with laughter
while the photograph was being taken,
but the cross girl still looked glum
and suspicious. They showed neither
wonder nor admiration of the people
and things around them. They will
attract great attention in Germany,
and ethnologists will be particularly
glad to improve this opportunity to ac-
quire a better knowledge of the
language of the Akkas,