New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-10-15

Purpose of Professor STAIRS Erpe-
ditSon to africa.

Professor Frederick Starr. the enthusiastic
snthropoIogfst of Chicago University, sailed
from New-York the other day for Africa on
Whist is thought to be of the most impor-
tant chronological expeditions Of recent years
his especial mission being years sojourn in the
wilds Of the Central African jungle to invesu-
gate the habits, customs, etc, of the pygmies,
the yellow men and the cannibals of that region.
The remarkable black Iiliputans Of Africa form
one of the enigrnas Of the Dark Continent Pro-
fessor Starr hopes to throw light upon their
origin and ancestry by making a series of plas-
Ter casts, physical measurements, Photographic
records, moving pictures and hundreds of photo
graphic negatives Of them. For this purpose he
takes with him expert young Mexican pho
tographer, Manuel Gonzales.
When asked for an outline of his plans, Pro
lessor Starr said: 81 shall study the little Batwa
pygmies and camp with them In their forest
retreats. The pygInies are in no sense apish, as
popularity supposed. The result of my investi-
cations Will doubt, go far to prove that they
have been an unchanged race from their creation,
and not a degenerate people shall also make an
investigation of the strange yellow and copper
hued race Of Africans recently made known by
Samuel Werner, the missionary scientist now in
that country. He says that the traditions of
these yellow men indicate no white ancestry.
They have a traditional testimony Of I'M
superior in handicraft and culture to the native
blacks. and do not like to marry dark women.
There are about as many of these yellow men
IN Africa as there are negroes in the United
States. They are scattered through many differ
ent tribes 1t is believed that they are the
last survivors Of a migration of peoples centu-
ries ago into Africa from the region of the Nile
and the Red Sea Mr.. Verner's preliminary &C
count both of the Batwa pygmies and the yellow
negroes, practically unknown of man
kind, has awakened widespread desire among |
scientists for a more extended knowledge in re- |
gard to them, which only come from care
ful and prolonged research, such as l propose |
making The field is rare and fascinating one
for the ethnologist The results may open up a |
new chapter of life on the Dark Continent"
Professor Stairs headquarters Will be LOO |
miles in the interior. at Ndombe In the Belgian |
Congo Protectorate, the capital city of King
Ndombe. who will aid him in carrying out his |
Investigations Large bands of the Batwa pyg-
mics live in his territory. They pay him tribute |
by furnishing meat and game to supply his
large household. King Ndombe Is of a copper
color, over 6 feet inches tall and of herculean
build He has a face expressive of kindly in
telligence and a searching pair of brown eyes,
each said to be large quarter of dollar.
King Ndombes domain is about as large as the
State of New-Jersey, and contains some 100 900
Inhabitants. The King is credited with possess
ing thirty-one wives and forty children
Professor Starr viii entertain the royal yellow
sovereign and his colony Of wives with the |
Stereopticon. showing slides of the African VII |