The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1905-12-02
ArRrcA,s LITTLE PEOPLE.

In view Of the attention excited BY
the expedition which Prof. Starr o
Chicago has organized to go to Africs
and study the pygmy tribes, it is in
teresting to know that there are liv
ing in New York a man and woman
who have penetrated to the heart of the
pygmy country and visited pygmy vii
lagos never before entered by whites
They are the Rev. A. w. Halsey
secretary of the Presbyterian Board
of Foreign Missions, and Mrs. Hal
sey, and their home is now at 41
King street.
DIR. and Mrs. Halsey returned only
a few weeks ago from a trip to the
Presbyterian missions in Western
Africa, which took them far into the
interior. They disembarked at Libre.
vile, in the French Congo, and thence
made long trip up the Gaboon River,
turning aside from time to time tc
ascend tributary rivers. For this
trip they used a naphtha launch, the
Dorothy, given 10 the African mis-
sions by family of Orange, N. j.,
in memory of daughter.
Returning to the coast; they went
to the Benito district further north,
and from there made an overland trip
of $50 miles into the interior. 1t was
during this trip that they visited the
pygmy villages.
At Lolodorf, eighty-one miles from
the coast, native Christian reported
that at a few days journey distant
were twenty one dwarf villages in the
forest. This mission itself at Lolo-
dorf was founded by Scotch woman
who wanted to send the Gospel to the
dwarfs. Only six dwarfs have yet
been reached.
The pygmies dwell apart by them
selves, exercising all their ingenuity
to keep away from the tribes of nor
NAL size, and the other tribes, either
through prejudice or self-interest,
place every obstacle possible in the
way of the missionary's penetrating
to the dwarf villages. At the first
native village encountered after turn
ing from the Government road into
the forest DR. Halsey and his party
were told that there were no dwarf
villages in the direction in which they
were going. They pushed on, how
ever, into the dense forest.
Even at midday it was twilight, u
says DR.. Halsey. "Great trees lay
across our way. Underbrush was SC
thick that it had to be cut away with
a knife.
1T seemed impossible and absurd
to search for anything in that wilder
ness, but our guide. knew what he
was about and at times would stoI
and listen, and at one of these pause:
he heard the faint sound of distant
chopping.
"Telling US to remain where we
were, he went on, and after a long
interval came back with two dwarfs
They eyed US suspiciously. They
are timid race and have been mucf
oppressed.
I'm stature they were somewha
under FIVE feet, in color a yellowisl
black. They had retreating fore
heads, protruding mouths and chins
eyes bright and keen and faces mucl
more intelligent and pleasing than
had expected to find. While tn
lower limbs seemed short and slender
the body was thickset, with loni
arms and general aspect of muscu
lar development.
"Isaw few ornaments among them
One noticed with a bunch of blacl
beads, and another wore an antelop
horn on a string around his neck
He was a rain doctor, and the horl
was rain medicine. The only tattoo
ing saw was a series of irregula
pyramids on the neck and arms.
'It was most interesting when tn
two dwarfs finally decided to conduc
us to their village to watch thei
method of locomotion. Not a site
was broken by their stealthy tread.
Scarcely a leaf moved as the
silently pushed forward into wha
seemed to us a painless forest. Thei
walk spoke volumes as to the secrecy /
which they are obliged to find safely
"The village consisted of fourtee
huts on the bank of stream in
clearing of half an acre. The hu,
cannot be called houses-they al
only shelters.
| "Two poles are driven into th
ground and a cross pole fixed. Again:
this cross pole other poles are Leaned
and the whole covered with sticks an
leaves. One end is enclosed, all tt
rest are open.
"Small beds made of bamboo, risin
a foot from the ground, showed tn;
the little people were not insensib
to comfort. A bamboo bed is not
all uncomfortable.
"An inventory of all the articles
saw in all these huts would includ
aside from the beds, only bows ar
arrows, small cooking pots, sticks fl
kindling fires, monkey steaks, lit
native grasscloth, and quantities
cassava and plantain.
"Not a woman or a child was to
seen. All fed to the forest at o.
J approach. Later, when conhden
was restored, they all returned.
"It did not take us long to get
good terms with our small friend
1t was chilly, and we all sat dov
about the fire. l gave the head nj
a box of matches, having first lit on
t A present of twenty-dollar gol
piece to beggar could not have be