Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-10-23
TO SlUUl HE PYGMIES
Purpose of Professor Stars Ex-
 petition to Africa.
CAREFUL RESEARCH WILL BE MADE

Chicago University AnthropoIogist
 Intends to Camp With the Batva
 Pygmies In Their Forest Retreats.
 Their Entire Life Is Given Up to
 Hunting and Fishing.
 Professor Frederick Starr, the enthu- siastic anthropologist of Chicago uni versity, sailed from New York the oth- CT day for Africa on what is thought to be one of the most important ethno- logical expeditions of recent years, his especial mission being years so- journ in the wilds of the central Af- rican jungle 10 investigate the habits, customs, etc, of the pygmies, the vel low men and the cannibals of that re zion, says the New York Tribune. The remarkable black lilliputians of Africa form one of the enigmas of the dark continent. Professor Starr hopes to throw new light upon their origin and ancestry by making series of plas- ter casts, physical measurements, pho nographic records, moving pictures and hundreds of photographic negatives of them. For this purpose he takes with him an expert young Mexican photog- rapher, Manuel Gonzales.
 When asked for an outline of his plans, Professor Starr said: "I shall study the little Batwa pygmies and camp with them in their forest re- treats. The pygmies are in no sense apish, as popularly supposed. The re- suit of my investigations will, no doubt, go far to prove that they have been an unchanged race from their creation and not d degenerate people. I shall also make an investigation of the strange yellow and copper hued race of Africans recently made known by Samue, Werner. the missionary sci enlist now in that country. He says that the traditions of these yellow men indicate no white ancestry. They have a traditional testimony of an unmixed descent for hundreds of years. They are superior in handicraft and culture to the native blacks and do not like to marry dark women.
 "rhere are about as many of these yellow men in Africa as there are ne groes in the United States. They are scattered through many different tribes. It is believed that they are the last sur vivors of migration of peoples cen turies ago into Africa from the region of the Nile and the Red Sea. Mir. Yer ner's preliminary account both of the Batwa pygmies and the yellow negroes, practically an unknown race of man. kind, has awakened a widespread de- sire among scientists for more ex- tended knowledge in regard to-.them, which can only come from careful and prolonged research, such as I propose making. The field is rare and fas- chatting one for the ethnologist. The results may open up a new chapter of life on the dark continent"
 Professor Starrs headquarters will be HOO miles in the interior, at Ndom- be. in the Belgian Kongo protectorate, the capital city of King Ndombe, who will aid him in carrying out his investi- gations. Large bands of the Batwa pygmies live in his territory. They pay him tribute by furnishing meat and game to supply his large household. King Ndombe is of copper color, over six feet six inches tall and of herculean build. He has a face expressive of kindly intelligence and searching pair of brown eyes. each said to be as large as quarter of a dollar. King Ndombe's domain Is about as large as the state of New Jersey and contains some 100000 inhabitants. The king is credited with possessing thirty-one wives and forty children.
 A band of some BOO pygmles lives on the edge of King Ndombe's town. They dwell In beehive-like huts. formed of bent sticks covered with leaves and palm fibers, with an opening in the bottom just large enough for them to crawl through. The inside would be about the size of two good sized dry goods boxes. This cramped place shel- ters 2 man, wife and half a dozen chill dren. A full grown native cannot stand erect or lie at full length in one of these structures. The more primi- tive pygmies are to be found far in the forest interior, where the tree dwelling tribes exist. Here cannibalism Is met with. and some more or less dangerous and thrilling experiences may result. With pygmy guides and armed native attendants Professor Starr will pitch camp and carry on his observations within range of the deadly poisoned arrows of the tree hiding dwarfs, not yet introduced 10 white men
 Samuel Werner. now awaiting Pro lessor Starr's arrival 10 introduce him 10 King Ndombe. and who was for many months practically a next door neigh bor to the little black dwarfs. says the entire life of inc little people is given up to hunting and fishing. They never till the soil or become agriculturists. Their principal weapon is the primitive bow. with poisoned arrows. The pyg- mics are often shorter than their bows. The poison they use IS one of the most fatal known IT will cause death fin