Evening star., 1896-12-19

the wet season the fauna changes as IL by
magic, insects formerly unseen come about
in m sWarms, fresh-water crustaceans crowd
.he cray pans and water holes, caterpillars
IN thousands creep about, the majority of
tnem simply falling a prey to the lizards
frogs and birds which increase with like ra-
paaity. e Al the same time though animal
we is now abundant 1t is composed of rela-
uVeiy rev species, each existing in enor-
nous numbers. Probably toward the close
oI the favorable season a horde of migra-
Tory rats VIII pass like a wave across the
country, disappearing into the depths Of
tue oesert, where they perish. For a time
the small marsupials will be more or less
ABUNDANT, but soon they also will disap-
pear TO aesuvate during the dry season or
TO come out from their hiding places dur
ing the cool of the night-the majority of
them probably perishing before they reach
M maturity: Rapidly the country assumes
the harder fauna which can withstand
the neat and dryness, and the few inhabi-
holes.
People without IA God.
A people has recently been discovered in
the Congo basin, Africa, that, so far as
can be learned, has no religion and no
conception of a Supreme Being. There
Is, also, very little indication of supersti-
ton among them. They are the Banzris,
and the territory occupied by them is most
~ on the northern shore of the Oubanghi
II Is not believed that they number more
tnan o,Wn souls. Agriculture and fishing
Is tnelr occupation, but they live in vii
lages, when not on the water, their habita-
tiohs peng round huts, made of plated
straw, and covered with thatched roofs
canoes, made from trees, serve for their
water craft, and in these they live much
OF the time during the dry season. wnen
tne sandbars in the river are exposed.
Ihey are much given to a gay life, and de-
iight IN singing and racing. At times they
intrIxy hpict
countenanceS are pleasant and intelligent,
with merry expressions and they are we'll
disposed and hospitable toward strangers.
The only feature in adornInent in which
THESE people devote any attention is the
headdress. This Is built up with both the
true and false hair until it becomes an
elaborate affair, the work being done by
the women, who show much good taste and
dexterity in the performance. The warriors
add feather to their headdress, usually
from a parrot When in mourning these
headdresses are laid aside, and the hair
worn In the ordinary way
Fish afford their staple food; but the
men are fond of dog meat, which, how
ever, is denied to the women. Other food
Is bananas and little corn and millet.
These people differ in language, appear
ance and customs from the neighboring
tribes, except one that they resemble in
some respects Altogether, they may be
considered as the finest and most philo-
sophical savages of the present day
"Roclins" I'm High buildings.
Any one who has visited the upper floors
of New York or BestbW or Chicago sky
scrarers" during a9hisR wind. must have
experienced the hl2heasant alton
known as 'rockingaS In other words, he
has felt the building rslsiye yer and even sway
ser sibly beneath hisiTekt The narrower
OF the tall structures are, OF course es-
pecially prone to itroeking7' Mr. Harry
Lawrence tenant OF The notable Ameri-
can Tract Society's htsitding in Nassau
street. New York, Ilsi fesponsi Bile for the
state ment that 'thatagizht edifice sways a
loot In an average highs wind, and during
gale even exceedsat nat limit. - E'Ae7'
The danger attena2at iupon, this "rock-
ing not to spealc Df the rupsetting effect
II produces upon nervous folk, must be at
once az parent. god ~ ~. ~ y '''s'
a, WHOLESALERS MIN hufacturer Of photo
graphic materials, tMright by name has
ihESnffd -ssh ingenidtls method of neIftralo
lzing the danger, at least Mr.. Wright,s s.
estatlist ment is ina aefty building near
9TH avenue, New York. He uses very
heavy machinery, whie HI renders the build
ing topheavy in the extreme. During a
wind, there was always fear of the ma
chiI-ery being driven through the some-
what thin walls, or = windows thereby
wrecking the building and menacing. pass
ersDy. Mr.. Wright was equal to the emer-
gency. he simply caused his floor to be
partially zinc-lined, and converted into a
gigantic tank. This he flooded with wa
ter Then huge pontoons, RATS, were
constructed, and set afioat upon the surface
or this strange twelfth story lake The
sides by heavy chains and rive.s When
these preparations were completed Mr.
Wright had his heavy machinery embark
ed Upon the pontoons. Thus the building
may rock as 1t will, but the dreaded mass
es of steel are safely af1oat, and all danger
from them is neutraliZed.