Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-11-05
IN PIGMY LAND.
Weird Dances-Fresh Account OF
the Little People.

HOndOn LeaderJ
DR. w. ]. Ansorge, medical officer TO the
Uganda protectcrate, has given press
representative some interesting details OF
his record journey from mid-Africa TO
England.
THE fact that 1 came down the congo
on my way home" said the Doctor, was
due to my being at Fort George, when is
at the extreme northern end Of Lake
Albert Edward. L was summoned home.
and consequently took what | believed
would be the shortest route. Altogether,
the Journey from Fort George to Ply
mouth occupied exactly eleven weeks ana
two days, certainly the quickest on re-
cord. 1t was a mere matter OF luck,
though, owing 10 the various things In
the journey fitting In"
OF the famous race Of pigmies, DR.. An
sorge Observed THE pigmies inhabit
the region between Fort Beni and Ava
Kubi, and are called Wambuu. Some are
considerably taller than others; in fact.
many are about the same height as the
crowds Of ill-nourished poor whom you
see I'm the East End of London.
Some, however, are absurdly short, not
much taller, indeed, than an English
child of or Z. Some OF them have
boards, although / did not find every one
Of them with huge, long, flowing boards,
nor did / find them at all shy. which was
not to be wondered at. seeing the number
of white Congo State officials who are
constantly travelling UP and down the
route.
when l was there they came and per-
formed one OF their curious dances at
Olinga and Mohalla. The men were the
principal singers, and the dancers fol-
lowed each other in a circle. performing
one. two, three steps, and advancing
ana then, one, two, three steps without
advancing. While all this was going on
the women clapped their hands from time
10 time, producing a loud, cracking,
wooden noise.
"At Olnga the sound appeared to be a
constant repetition of 'No, wo, wo,' We
we, we and 'Yo, 20. yo. At Mohalla
their songs evidently contained words as
the tune was far from dsagreeab,e. Two
Of the dwarts could speak a little ks
wahih. They were all very scantily COW
cred. but not one was nude.
The typical Wambuti has a receding
forehead, bushy eyebrows, and thick.
pouting lips. Some have a totally differ
ent type Of feature, a fact which leads
me to believe the different tribes are
now confounded under the general name
OF Wambuti.
Several officials have assured mo that
8.
VINO mas nad good opportunities 0L sI.uy-
Ing them. does not think that they are.
ana II anything of the kind did take
pace 1t would naturally be practiced
WITH the utmost possible secrecy.
According to Mr. Ericsson, a party Of
women not long ago were surprised by
Nambuti and all but one succeeded I'm
naA.n5 good their escape. They heard
the shrieks Of the captured woman. and
10 ~ b. fYHf 81
OF olood and other evidences that their
companion had been chopped to pieces
and carried aWav
Sueh OF the Wambuu as / saw, how
ever, were perfectly friendly. Al Afohalla
they gave me live antelope as a present.
intended to have IL brought home wiki
me Tor the Geological Gardens, but found
mat II was impossible to Keep il alive. as
both its front legs had been broken in
trap.
Ihere is one REGULARITY about their
weapons. I'm that they use a leaf in place
OF feather in their arrows. which, like
their bows are exceedingly small"
IN reference to The trade Of the Congo.
Or. Ansorge said: Major LOthaire is
manager Of the most important of the
private companies az salary OF g2JyJ
per annum, addition TO percentage Of
bonus and profits.
The quantity OF ivory which comes
oo"h the river IS simply astounding. In
the vessel IN which / travelled there WAS
something like 800 tusks, and l was told
that this had been going on Tor months
indeed, SO huge IS the trade that they
nave been compelled to put on extra
steamers.
Everything goes 10 the government
but the officials are allowed at the end OF
their three years engag cement 10 take
ivory 10 the value Of $40 but If they shoot
an elephant the government takes every
thing. The really valuable part Of the
trade. however. IS the rubber industry,
which has marvellous future.
THE steamers are unable TO carry all
that has been tapped, and there is
splendid opportunity for private enter
prise"