The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-07-23
PIGMIES FROM AFRICA
 AS EXHIBITED IN ENGLAND

us with her big, black, wondering eyes.
 The tribe marry at eight. The men buy their wives, their usual market value being three or four spears and ten or fifteen arrows. The birth of a boy Is welcome, but when a baby girl arrives the unfortunate infant Is sound- ly lashed by the father with a bunch of plantain leaves
 The old woman. who had attained the same venerable age of 35 as the chief, was sick and was lying on a couch. She was to undergo an operation the next day. She was of a decidedly lower type than the others. and Colonel Harrison told me her appetite was prodigious. She would not only devour in a few mouth fuls her own food, but would clear all that was left on any plate af- ter meal The others did not like her, and cheerfully asked him to allow them to throw her overheard, as she would only be In the way.
 Much has been said and written of this strange tribe. describing them as wild animals nearer monkeys than men. possessed of no language save a few sounds. and chasing them as the miss ing link. Nothing can be further from the truth. Tn. are like diminutive ne- groes in appearance, havo a bright keen eye, and now have learned to smile.
 In their native forest. Colcncl Harri- son told me, all sign of mirth was un- known. They are capable of strong at- tachment; Dr. Parkes, who accompa- nied Stanley. was followed by a pignly princess for many weary mile. He had been good to her in sickness, and the little creature manifested her un- tiring devotion, sitting outside his tent, washing his clothes and when at last he was obliged to send her back to the a ha fAnr rA1 fnr har he was broken hearted. and before parting she gave him an Ivory ring which she wore round her waist.
 Some years afterward Dr. Parkes died in the home of the Duchess of St. AL bans, and he gave to this lady this same souvenir. l have often seen the ivory band worn around her arm, which once encircled the waist of the swarthy princess.
 The little people showed me their spears and arrowheads made of metal, smelted and worked in their own native fastness. They are as sharp as razors. and the arrow heads In the shape of leaves, are ingeniously jagged in such way as to remain in the body of the victim without hope of extracting them. They carry with them the pot of fatal poison, into which they dip their weap- ons. made from the juice of deadly herbs. or in the case of war, from a decaying body.
 These tiny people hunt the elephant, crouching in the grass, and then spring up beneath him and drive their spears into his stomach, following his traii until he falls dead. Then they move camp, for when their prey falls, there they make their home for a while.
 l asked Colonel Harrison and a kind lady who had charge of them wha. astonished them most in this scountry Of wonders.
 Nothing is a marvel for long," they answered. for they believe the great white man can do all things"
 They were evidently pleased at being visited. and when I rose to go they crowded round to shake hands, touch ing their foreheads with their left hand. It seemed strange to be standing with in sound of the trafic of the Strand, greeting these mysterious people from the Congo forest, to which after awhile they will return.
 Colonel Harrison spoke of the good he believed 1t would do the whole tribe to hear from their lips of the kindness they received, and the wonders of the white mans country, and I could not but feel that I hope they will be able to take back some knowledge of the white mans God, for in the dim forest there Is no religion, only a vague fear of a devil called by them Oudah, and as took leave of the small swartly tribe, felt that the kindness and care which surrounds them might interpret to them the meaning of love which has not yet penetrated their land cf twilight.