Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1907-06-20
PEACEFUL TRIBE WHERE ONE Ex-
PECTs ONLY cANNIBALs.
THE DELIGHTFUL MOUNDAN
They Carry No Weapons, Expect no
Presents and Greet Travellers With
CordiaIity-Their Curious Towns
What d French Expedition Found
to the South of Lake Tchad.
TRANSLATED from LIlIustration) .

If it is difficult to imagine the di-
versity of the populations among
whom they have just completed a So
journ of a year and a half in Central
Africa.
At Nola, whittier the steamer Val
erie had brought the travellers by
way of the Sangha, the march be-
gan. They first penetrated the dense
forest OF N'Biemou, which covers the
entire region ebtween the Sangha and
the Cameroun and within which roam
bands of cannibals. For weeks they
trudged through hot, green mazes, get
ting glimpses Of the sky only at rare
intervals when they came to open
spaces sprinkled with little villages
of low huts, clumsily covered with
dried leaves; and all the while they
felt that they were being tracked
through the mysterious semi darkness
by the agile, strong, catlike denizens
of those sorry cabins.
Then they came to the Kdka cOun,
try, a vast plain stippled with little
hammocks and covered with coarse,
prickIy grass, almost as painful to
traverse as the virgin forest. From
hilltop villages warriors watched
them-warriors with spears and bows
in their hands and with arrows upon
their backs.
After leaving that rich country the
march through the land of the Bayas,
which stretches from the Kadei and
the Sangha to the Kounde, seemed a
mere promenade. The route across
she open plains. dotted here and
there with pretty clumps of trees and
glistening now and then with pools of
water, was comparatively pleasant and
easy. At every turning Of the way. a
village appeared, a mass of round
huts with pointed roofs. There the
warriors were grouped in converse
ton. seated in circle, their weapons
within reach indifferent-usually-tO
the passage of the strangers.
Occasionally at a halting place the
ice would be broken and mutual conf
,dence finally established, and the
Bayas would honor their guests with
the spectacle of a tamtam. The men
were agile. the women supple. Ming
ling together they danced in a ring,
singing and swaying to Their rhythm OF
deafening drums which they rested up
on the ground and whose din almost
drowned their mOnOtOnous melodies.
But what the travellers will always re-
call most wildly was the dances of
their 'labbis''-yOuths of a fine type
and splendid bearing, who are or
ganized into religious societies or
athletic clubs (you couldn't tell
which,. to whose membership they
are initiated by means Of mystic
rites and these harmonious dances.
They perform their dance in the even
ing by the lights of burning straw,
their knees adorned with large dried
fruits that click in cadence at each Of
their graceful movements with a
sound like that of castanets.
Crossing the group OF mountains
from which flow all the great water
courses of the regiOn-the Mana, the
Sangha and the Kadei to the south.
the Lagone. the NGou and the Linn
to the east, the Benoue to the north
and the LON to the west-they came
to the land of the Lakas, a straight
featured race, given to the drinking
Of doko "a kind of beer), which in
duces a helIicose intoxication very
perilous for the intruder. At last
they reached the home of the Noun
dams. Here such members of that
peaceful mission as had even the
slightest artistic feeling were to taste
the exquisite joys Of life in land
worthy of the EclOgues.
No one can read the reports of M
Eugene Brussaux, chef d'exploration.
or hear him with fine enthusiasm about
the days spent among the Moundans
without being filled with sympathetic
fondness for that tranquil race Of
hospitable, intelligent farmers and
shepherds. already ripe for civiliza-
ton. Everything about them is pic
turesuue and attractive. Their GUS
toms are not less interesting to eth
biologists than are their statuesque
forms and splendid accoutrements to
artists.
In the basins of the MAYO Kabbi
and the Mayo Sina, they occupy a
vaguely dilimited region round about
several principal centeTs-Lame,
BfDare. Irene. and Lere. where we
maintain a post Their history
their legend would be more precise.
since it consists of traditions hand
ed down from father to sons dim
and obscure. Nevertheless we know
that Lame was founded about 1902 "by
a great chief" Nothing further IS
recorded of this Moundan Romulus,
who doubtless came down from the
north leading conquered tribes that
had been driven from their native
country and were pursued by blood
thirsty victors But the memory OF
his son. SoumboUra. who organized
the Moundan State, is preserved. that
of the father Of Ouandio, the lamido.
or reigning chief. who was called
Cuban and was also "a great chief
The country is a stretch Of vast
plains, intersected by broad valleys,
where. in sandy beds. flow the Mayo
Rabbi and the Mayo Sina. On the
eo,,++ xroC+ ond north II is bounded