The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1903-12-04

daub partitions, thus forming separate
tenements. Some of these being on
higher or lower level than the main cave,
are reached by rough staircases or lad
ders."
Sir Harry Johnson, who visited these
cave dwellers some time previous to the
exploration of Maj. Cotton, describes
them as living in state of filth, and the
caves to be so Objectionable that visit
to them would be by no means pleasant
experience, and the hardy intruder
would emerge swarming with f1eas But
Mai. Cotton found himself agreeably
surprised in this particular, and expert
enced no unpleasant effects from his
visit to and inspections of these odd
cavern homes. In fact, he declares that
in respect to cleanliness, the cave dwell
ers' homes compared most favorably
with the majority of native villages; for
no feas molested me, and, beyond goaty
smell, where the focks of goats and
sheep were tethered for the night, the
place was quite sweet. In one house
into which l peeped a weird sight met
my eyes,"
The larger illustration accompanying
this article is faithful reproduction of
drawing made by the explorer of this do
nestle scene. 1t discloses large, roomy
cave, with commodious entrance, which
was screened by the masses of cane and
bush growing at its mouth and almost
effectually hiding the cavern from eve
of the traveller. In the center of the hard
stone floor was the usual native hearth
of three stones, with the fire in the GEN.
ter. At the time of Maj. Cotton's visit
there was no cooking pot upon the tri-
pod, but in its place was suspended an
earthen crock, which contained food, and
which was simmering over the flame,
while the female of the establishment
! carefully tended the fire and watched
to see that the supper did not cook
down or boil over. Strewn about over
the floor were numerous pots and wa
ter vessels of different shapes and
sizes, where they had been left in con-
venient disorder at the time they were
last used. To the African it would be
wasted time to place these vessels in
orderly fashion in regularly appointed
places, for are they not quite as con.
veniently at hand when needed as thew
would be if stored away in some con-
veniept recess? The women have con-
siderable work to perform outside the
home, such as gathering food and fuel,
etc, and for that reason perhaps the
interior arrangements are not as care
fully looked after as would be consid-
cred proper by the most careless house
wife in England or America.
On the walls hung a shield. a bow
and culver, the lord of the home evil
IDENTIFY taking better care of these
weapons than was the case with the
pots and kettles, and well he might
for they are the means of defense and
provide meat for the larder as the ex-
pert archer gets within range of the
antelope, or smaller game. In one cor
ner couple of ugly looking spears re-
flected the freight, and reminded one
of the battlefield where the strong arm
and deft aim of the black warrior make
them formidable weapon against an
enemy One warrior stands with the
tough skin shield, used in warding off
the flight of arrows and the spear
thrusts, held in the right hand, while
he rests upon the spear held in the
other hand. The CULVER of arrows,
which is fastened to the skin covering
and which falls from his right Shout
der. is partly hidden by the shield.
JOHN L. EDWARDS.