The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-02-19
ENCOUNTERS WITH PYGM|ES.
CAPT. MAINE REID'S ROMANCING
SUPPORTED.
ON the Upper Amaron-I.ittle Men
Found In Different Parts of Sur

A Boston man lately returned from
South America has brought strange tale
Of race OF pygmies inhahitlnS the valley
OF the Amazon. says the Boston IRAN
script He had not only seen them. but
stayed in their villages, entered their
houses. sat about their camp fires. been
with them on the hunt, and witnessed
Some Of their religious ceremonies
Mr.. Ehen +. Sullivan. who was called
TO South America two years ago ter COM
rnercial purposes which neeessitated his
travelling in little known regions. became
an explorer Of no common order. Fer
months. accompanied only by natives, he
rowed Up the mighty Amazon and its trio-
utaries in a dugout canoe. In this way
lie penetrated to the headwaters OF the
Rio Negro which mingles with the trih-
utaries Of the Oriuoco in Southern Guia-
ma. Here Ii was that he came upon no.
rnadic race OF pygmies.
Mr. r. c. Halliburton, OF Boston. fellow
OF the Royal Geographical Society. has
taken a great interest in MIR. Sullivan
discovery. MIR. Halliburton i one OF the
best authorities In the world on pygny
races. He thinks IL OF the greatest value
10 anthropologists TO have the tradition
of pygny races in South America record
ed by Humboldt in the first years OF this
century so strikingly verified. Humboldt
habit the country at the headwaters OF
the Orinoco, but he did not visit that re-
sion. and suggested that the rumors or
this STRANGE race of men were unbound
ed. Mr.. Halliburton states that Martins
saw a racial dwarf at Para. and that but
little further has been learned on the
subject. though Markham gives the names
of two dwarf tribes with the list or IN
dian tribes in the valley Of the Amazon.
published by the Anthropological institute
of London. January. 1875.
In Mr.. Haiburtons opinion Mr.. Sulli-
vans Observable clear up the subject
and leave no doubt as to the existence or
numerous pygmy tribes in Guiana and
Venezuela.
II will ask you to excuse the limited In
formation 1 possess on the subject of pyg-
my races" said Mr.. Sullivan. recently.
for my trip TO South America was not
for scientific purposes. but merely COM
mercial. | met while on the Rio Negro
one of the tributaries OF the Upper ANA
zon. a race of remarkably small people.
who were more likely OF an Indian than
of a negro origin. judging from their hair
and peculiar color Of the skin. which was
a brilliant livid reddish yellow
They were very ugly in shape; their
stomach. which is distended in the back
as wei as In front, is big and out OF all
proportion to their tiny, spindling arms
and legs. | think this Is caused by their
anaconda-like practice OF gorging. After
a hunt they will eat like animals, and then
lay about listlessly in the tropical sun for
days till hunger again impels them to
set more game.
CAUTIOUSLY enough. they appear TO be
metal workers. and tip their darts with
bits OF hardened iron or steel made from
native ores. These darts are projected
from a blowgun like boys toy. but with
deadly effect. They can actually propel
"a light dart several hundred feet by
the mere power of their lungs in blowing
through a tube. They are a race of rowing
hunters and warriors. In conversing with
them as to the extent of their tribes, they
make a gesture TO impress one with their
vast numbers. and point to the west and
southwest as their home. This would In
dictate from the point where / was the
headwaters of the Orinoco or else that
part Of Venezuela near the Brazilian Dor
der or Rio Negro watershed. l think
they may number ten thousand 10 fifteen
thousand souls.
These people are not over four feet
eight inches in height and the women are
less than this. Clothing is only worn by
adults. and consists OF merely a cloth
over the loins. The hair Is done up and
stuck together by mud In a most gro
tesque and repulsive fashion. They have
tribal marks that cover the upper body
and head made by Sits in the skin.
Their huts are sometimes constructed
Ct mud. in which case they are low and
resemble a half egg with an opening at
one end called massongos. The same name
applies 10 their huts when made from
poles and woven grass
They are. I believe. all pagans. al
though ! am informed that some of them
have some idea of Supreme Spirit or
power. They have many fetish gods or
idols which represent animals. and are
very ugly specimens OF clay pottery. They
have fetish doctors also who dress in IN.
worst possible fashion and perform cures
Of anything their patient wishes by apply
ing 10 particular god. according To the
patients ability TO pay.
1T was my misfortune while going by
sea to the city OF Nickerl to lose over
board travelling bag containing many
photographs and valuable data as to my
entire journey We're Il not for this mis-
hap / should be able TO give more definite
and undoubtedly valuable information on
this subject. As 90 the names Of these
pFgmy people. they We're as ] remainder
them, Makalak Nalaka and Malakrat I
saw them In different parts OF Surinam
They all appear to be OF the same race.
give the same location for their homes.
and try 10 impress one with the greatness
III AtAfAR APVtPif
The object Of Mr. Sullivan on his trim
was the exploration and discovery of ne.,y
rubber and mahogany regions. In which
ne was eninently successful He states
that while rubber gathering is now CON
lined largely 20 the forests Of the Lower
Amazon. Il can be extended Indefinitely
along the vast valley reaching almost IN
10 the Andes.
The native rubber CATERERS are very
iadoient and az present VIII work only
enough 70 satisfy the crudeSt wants pu.
when artificial wants are eliminated hy,
iriHkets they display unwoutcd activity
IA order to*earn them. They are i'm the
main a peaceabla lot and stand IN sua
ot white men. The most valua bic rnahog-
any tracts which he found were on the
Rio Negro.
Mr. Halliburton adds some interes.fng
Information about dwarf races IN various
parts OF North and South America "a.
saws that there are RgrysEfF ry,.a. -.