Washington sentinel., 1899-10-14
TT ~ SENTINEL
The African Pigmtes ana their
PeculihrIties.
Captain Crcy BTIr5w5.

Captain GREY BHyy0ogs,
Pigmies are strong, sinewy and
muscular, fearless and daring.
They have a dislike for water, and
are not cleanly M their habits as
are other tribes. Nerv few of them
can swim, and probably they know
nothing Of the art, living as they
do, chiefly as they do, on dry land.
The dress of the Pigmies is very
simple. They men wear a plain
STRIP Of cloth round their loins, the
women simply a bunch Of leaves.
They have no ornaments Of any
kinda fact which shows their low
development, tor women, as a rule,
desire and use ornaments as attrac-
tions in savage life as we'll as in
civilized. Possibly when the new
pigmy women arrives she will in
troduce necklaces and earrings.
Musical instruments are unknown
to them. Even their dancing is
conducted without any sweeter
sound than the rhythmical tapping
OF a bow with an arrow Their
whole idea Of dancing is 20 strut
round in a circle, with their legs
quite stiff, beating time with bow
and arrow, as just mentioned, and
adding absurd emphasis TO the
general effect by their set and sol
emn countenances Having no
religion, no family ties, no JOY in
sports or games, and no t1Ned
homes, their one object and occu-
patton IS hunting, at which they
are such adopts that il is a sight to
see them handle their small bows
and arrows, which are not pois-
oned. Asa rule the
pigmies take up their abode near
a village Of some big chief, where
they are sure Of finding large BAN
ana plantations. Though they
grow no food of any kind on their
own account, they are extremely
fond of the unriDe long banana,
and their method OF obtaining this
delicacy is simple. On returning
from a days hunting the pigmv
eareiuilv wraps up several small
pieces OF meat IN grass or leaves,
betakes himself to the nearest ban
ana plantation, and, havinr Sc
lected the punches Of bananas he
requires, shins up the tree, cuts
down the branches he selected.
and in payment aftixes one of the
small packets Of meat TO the stem
by a little wooden skewer. BY
this means he satisfies his con-
science, and can declare that he
has not stolen the bananas, but
only bought them, for the pigmY,
as we we have seen, is very angry
at the merest suggestion Of theft.
Each village has chief, but there
are no grajations Of rank among
the people. Every man fights for
his own chief, and has no lSnowl-
edge Of combination. only fighting
when necessity demands il. When
they attack strangers IN the bush
they keep so close that nothing is
seen of them except their arrows,
but in the open they are very
plucky. Owning no territory, and
having nothing TO make war tor on
their own account. they SQUAT
among this tribe or that, accord
ing to convenience, but they show
no particular attachment to any
one spot, wandering wee Ishmael-
ties as they are! Native chiefs
often try to get hold OF pigmy
boys, whom they adopt. and who
become a sort Of bodyguard to
them, and spies on their own peo-
pie.
While was staying at Nigan-
CARA Station Du Brency came in
to spend few days. He also had
pigmy BOY in hts service, being
content like myself to suffer the
troubles he caused for the sake Of
having such a good servant. But
two pigmies in the same station
were productive of more excite
ment than was pleasant. At first
they regarded one another some
what shyly, not TO say with suspi-
cion, and would have nothing to
do with each other. From severe
neutrality II came to defensive
hostility, and before long 90 open
warfare. Both were vindictive
little wretches, never so happy as
when quarrelling. AS it was a
wise policy to be on good terms
with the soldiers and "iood ser
wants" they reserved their spite
for their own kind, and were az
one another's throats all day long,
and on the most trivial grounds.
One would get a little more food
than the other; there would be
sufficient reason for a fight. and
they would race each other IN bolt
ing their banana in order 70 get in
the first blows; but fighting was
always subservIent to feeding.
When they had battered each
others little heads with their puny
fists Houssa, or perhaps a white
officer, would come out to see what
the din was about, and would sep
arate the combatants. "Well. why
should he have more food than I
had1" would be the proud explain
alton. Alter all, he's only
pigmyW This with great scorn.
and the necessary vows Of ven
geance from the victim OF outraged
dignity.
They had no objection TO being
scolded in genuine anger, and took
a rating maniully; but TO be treated
as children, or, worst of all, 20 be
laughed at, was more than they
would stand. A soldier was look
ing on amusedlV ar one of their