davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1910-03-05
The Black and Red Aka.

There are two tribes. distinguish ed
as the black and the red Aka The
black PIgmies arc two or three inches
taller than the re d but they are obNi
ouSly an inferior race. not so well
formed nor 80 Jntelligcnt-lookingi as
their ruddy kins men. These are two
distinct tribes, who do not live to.
getbcr or appa rently mingle in any
way, have in common a heavy over
hanging upper lip, and do not tattoo.
Extremely exclusive. shy. and wary
when in tho bush. when taken pris
oners they become fearless and de.
fant. Very vindlctive when they
think themselves unjustly treated,
they arc otherwise faithful AS. an e1
ample OF thciy natural qualities. |
noted that they are remarkably jcal
Gus Of one another; they make no
friends OF their own kind when among
other tribes. bit will become very
friendly with the other natives. A
parallel 10 this quality we flnd in the
animal world, for wild birds Will kill
their tame Kindred, and tho wild
mouse will. if he can get at them. kill
his Gagged and delicate white brothers.
Pigmies have apparently no ties OF
The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1910-03-05

poison. Tho plant had neither flowers
nor leaves when saw it"
Writing In conjunction with DR..
Parke. Mr. Il. L. Holmes. F.L.S-, iden-
unes this as follows; Judging from
the structure Of the stem. and the
character of the single imperfect leaf
brought home by Surgeon Parke. this
Ingredient is composed OF the stems
ot species of Strychnos. probably
>. lca1a. Baillon. The scars on the
stem are oposIte. and indicate oppo-
site leaves. and the venation OF the
leaf Ia characteristic OF the genus
Strycbnos. or this there are several
African species known. but only two
OF these have leaves as large as the
one under consideration. Tho S Icaja.
Ball. IS, NJ Boundou. OF HeckeD is
known to be used IN the Gaboon as an
arrowgpoIson. and by the Pismics.
I'm the Hanbury Hcrbarium there IS
a specimen Of this plant. and on see
Ing Surgeon Parkc's leaf at once rec
ognized the strong resemblance to this
which it possessed On showing the
Hamburg specimen TO Surgeon Parke
he pointed out the acuminatc apex of
the leaf as having particularly at.
tracted bis attention in the growing
plant. and expressed assurance as to
their identity"
The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1910-03-05
No Tribal Organizations.

Each village has n chief, but there
are no gradatlons of rank among the
people Every man fights for his own
chief, and has no knowledge of combi-
nation. only flghting when necessity
demands it. When they attack strnn;
gers in the bush they keep so close
that nothing Is seen OF them except
their arrows, but lathe open they-are
very plucky. Owning no territory. and
having nothing to make for on
their own account. they squat among
this tribe or that. according to con
venience. but they show no particular
attachment to any one. spot. wander-
Ing wee Ishmaelites as they are, Ma.
tive chiefs often try TO get hold Of
Pigmy boys. whom they adopt. and
who become sort of body-guard to
them, and spies on their Owl people.
The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1910-03-05

the Emin Pasha relief expedition. as
the arrow-poIsoE OF the PiSmics. and
is thus alluded TO under article iy In
the doctors paper on the poisons of
Central Africa. There are, however,
several discrepancies in his account OF
the plant and poison, which | have no
difficulty in recognizing by the dia,
grams and Illustrations that accom-
pany his article.
First | will quote DR.. Parkes delin-
cation. in which / recognize the Benge
poison plant
Green Stem-This is obtained from
branching shrub which is very com.
mon in tho forest. II grows 10 a height
OF 10 or IL feet. and the stem in the
thickcst part Ia not more than two
inches in diameter. II is OF dark
green color at the upper part OF the
plant The leaves are dark green on
the upper surface and n paleF tint be-
low; there are three principal veins
or orba; and the lateral veins are
given on at ar acute nnglc from each
OF these. The lcnf is from three to six
or even eight inches long and about
half as broad the large veins being
depressed upon the upper and promi-
nent on the lower surface OF the leaf.
Tho scrapipgs only OF the bark are
used. to the amount OF a dessert
spoonful in preparing teacupful OF
The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1910-03-05
MIR. StanIey's Discoveries.

Mr. Stanley classes them as kins-
men of the Cape Bushmcn. and indeed
there are many external evidences in
support OF this theory. Welsmann
considers the connection between the
two races TO be unquestIonable: and
|the few dcviatlons in their physical
appearance arc no doubt 10 be attri-
buted to the influence Of climate or
|the difference of environment II we
compare Fritchs observations on the
Bushmen with those OF other travel
ers on tho Aka. We cannot fail TO
attach considerable credencc to, the
theory OF their relationship.
Their height brings them to about
the shoulder Of man OF average stat
uTe. but they arc by no means uniform
In size Some ore not higher than the
chest. while I have found others as
toll aa n negro OF medium height; but
they differ from the negroes in many
points. They arc lighter in complex
ion. and while the hair OF the negro
invariably curly and black OF the
deepest hue, among the Aka II Is not
lnfrcqucntly dark. rusty brown. Nor
nre they so hairy as most negroes.
The black PIgmies, IT is true. are, COY,
cred with down, but the red have sci.
dom very hlrsute bodies. They are .
wcllp-oportioned race. and. with tho
exception OF their remarkably short
stature. may be regarded as normal
md we'll developed. not degenerate. as
has often been stated, though socially
inferior TO other tribes
The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1910-03-05
NV Nomadic Servant.

A striking instance OF their disrc-
gard for home and its memories was
afforded when | had occasion TO re
visit the birthplace OF my piSmy boy.
as I returned through the Mabodc
country. He was with me at the time,
but as we approached the village (they
were still on the same cncampment
ground, or very near iU, he showed
not the least pleasure at the sight OF
the place. 1t might have been his
first visit TO the district TO Judge by
the absence of any display OF emotion.
or outward sign that the settlement
had once been the scene of his daily
life However as he had served me
very well. apart from the natural lazi.
ness of his kind. thought ! might do
him good turn by Offering him free
dom to return TO his people.
To my surprise he besought me to
tell him what wrong he had done, to
be discharged like this. I explained
that, so far from having done wrong.
he had pleased me so well that If he
liked he might go back 10 his own
people He looked at me for NOM
ent In bewilderment; then he threw
up his head with proud gesture and
walked away, thus intimating that he
had not very high opinion OF the
manner in which proposed TO reward
faithful service.
/ called him back.
You may stay II you like" I said:
but bear in mind that you may go ff
you like, and that IL you don't go now
it may be impossible to do so later,
even II you wish"
But | don't want to co. he pro-
tested.
| accepted this. and he went out.
A few minutes later he returned.
Evidently he had thought me angry
with him. and 1t puzzled him to Mt
cause for this, and SO. in default of
satisfactory explanation, he thought 1t
best 10 propltiatc me.
The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1910-03-05

family affection, such as those of
mother to son. or sister To brother.
and seem to be wanting in all social
qualities. asking nothing more than TO
be let alone; TO "live and let live"
Their Villages. II such they can be
called, consist OF groups OF perhaps 30
small beehlye-shaped huts. each about
four feet high; the entrance is a small
opening foot and half high. allow
ing just room enough for them 10
creep through. They make their beds
Of stIcks driven into the ground at
four corners. with other sticks placed
across, the whole being raised a few
inches from the floor Each village is
under the leadership OF head-man or
chief
The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1910-03-05

use the root, and never to my knowl-
edge the green bark Tho root, OF
course. is solid throughout. while the
green stem Is hollow, and was for
tunately able to bring back with me
several specimens OF It. with a view
10 going deeper into the matter The
wood is hard. yellow. and fibrous; the
root when FIRST pulled up. Is Of
bright red hue, the stem above ground
being green 1t is from this red coat
ing that the poison is obtained; the
stem is scraped, and the poison made
after the manner described by DR..
Parke
The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1910-03-05
Rowing, Wandering Nomads.

Nomads by nature. the communities
OF the Aka are at homo In no parttc-
ular country. but wapder from place
TO place. supporting thcmsclyes by
hunting. Though one place seems 10
be much tho same as another to them
and 10 be valued only according to Its
possibilities as hunting ground, these
little people have a marked prefer
cncc for the territories Of certain
tribes and an aversion to others, With
In whose confines they are seldom
seen. They avoid the MeSc. for In
stance. and show prediction for
living In the neighborhood OF the Ma.
bode or Nomvus settlements. where
they are treated with something more
than mere federation.
The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1910-03-05
The Authors Observation OF
PoiSons.

All these details given by DR.. Parke
as to the appearance and structure Of
the plant agree entirely with my own
observations. We differ, however. In
one important respect. The poison Is
obtained not from the bark. but from
the root Of the plant. which is scraped
to obtain the ingredient. and al
though / cannot say anything about
the poisonous property OF the stem. l
can assert that the natives invariably
The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1910-03-05
Their Dress and Habits.

The low state of their mental de-
yelopmcnt Is shown by the following
facts, They have no regard for time,
nor have they any records OF tradi.
tions OF the past: 10 religion is known
among them, nor have they any fetch
rights; they do not seek TO know the
future by occult means. as DO their
neighbors: In short, they are. to my
thinking. the closest link with the orig
inal Darwlnian anthropoid ape cxtant
Plgmies arc-strong. sInewy and mus
The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1910-03-05
Pigmies Have Giant Appetites

One OF the most astonishing charao
teristics of these strange people IL
their abnormal appetite for all sorts OF
food. Bananas are their chief delight
a Pigmy, ] have no hesitation In say
ing, cats as a rule twice as much ai
will suffice a full-grown man. He Will
take a stalk containing about 81
bananas. scat himself and eat them all
at a meal-beSides other food. Then
he will lie and groan throughout tho
night, until morning comes. when HI
is ready TO repeat the operation. A
consequent and characteristic feature
of his race is the dstended abdomen;
but. that considered. 1t is difficult Il
imagine where he manages to stow thu
epormous quantity of food he can con
sumo at q meal. Occasionally. wher
/ have expressed surprise (when. fol
instance, he has surpassed even him
self he has assumed an uDtDterestef
air. as though the matter were merely
the most commonplace occurrence iu
the world. and the question one to bs
waived.
Yes" he has said cnrelessly; there
were a few bananas there on bunch
and ate them. suppose that is whaA
they we're there for. There's nothing
to be surprised about / should like
some more IL there are any TO be had.'
The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1910-03-05
Keen Observers and Natural MINI
les.

Their power OF observation. as may
be readily understood, is wonderfully
keen. Accustomed 10 depend upon
keenness OF sight for bis daily food
and by his hunters life brought into
close contact with the dangers of the
bush. It is not surprising that tho
Pigmy should have cultivated quick,
ness of sight and kcenncss OF percep-
ton TO a degree found among no other
race OF human beings Mimicry. too.
plavs large part in the formation
and development OF his character.
eyInclug itself not only in his droll
humor, but also In the serious facts
OF his everyday life. for he copies the
weapons OF his noighbors. and even
their habits and customs, where these
do not clnsh with his own.
His mimicry is aided by good
memory, capable of retaining the most
insignificant details for long periods.
The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1910-03-05
DANGEROUS Warriors.

fhey are, indeed. considered as val
liable allies whose assistance Is worth
having against en- outside foe; and, In
spite OF their small numbers. they arc
feared as well as respected from their
Teveneeiu, nature and their hardihood
In war. Thoy on their part are quito
willing TO fight Loyalty for the chief
under whose nominal rule they lead
their sipsy life. end viii remain In his
district on these terms as long as re-
lations between themselves and the
chief are friendly. Otherwise they
abandon their buts and move on at
once to the neighborhood OF another
The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1910-03-05

history has ever had strange attrac-
ION for ethnoloeists. Stanley saw and
ook stock OF them. and succeeded in
interviewing one OF their prlncesses,
who. with her people lived in the
gloom OF the great Central African
|orest. But long before Mr. Stanleys
Inc Herodotus recorded their exist
ence and customs He tells us. In his
bvn half-serious. half-humorous fash
on. OF certain Inflated warrior who
Eoiled through the pillars Of Hercules.
bnd after failing to double the Cape
bi Lydia. then supposed 10 be sur
Founded by water, returned TO Egypt,
|lnd thence to the court OF Xerxcs.
|Nhcrc. in detailing his adventures, he
spoke Of "a nation Of little men who
wore garments made Of palm leaves,
|hnd who left their cities and lcd TO
he mountains on the approach of the
INVADERS The Father OF History"
S quite concise on this point, speak
| rg with more authority than he does
concerning the Troglodytcs. who could
|bnly "screech like bats" or the fabled
Phoenix he so quantity mocks at.
The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1910-03-05

chief. where they settle niresh and
continue 10 live under a similar taclt
agreement.
They ore. however. quite in6epend-
ont. and consider themselves under
no obligation TO the people OF the tribe
they may for tho time be associated
With Thus they preserve their free
dom. OF which they arc intensely teal,
Gus, and hold themselves entirely aloof
from other natives. among whom they
neither marry nor are given in mar
riage
The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1910-03-05
Among the African Pigrnies
ptan Guy Burrows Formerly Comma Congo

DR.. Junker tells a story OF how he met
an Akka at a camp whom he had
measured for arithroponeiric purposes
four years previously at Rumbek.
His comloal ways" he says. and
quick, nimble movements made this
little fellow tpe clown OF our society.
90. His imita tions Of Fawash Effendi
in a towering rage. storming and abus.
Ing everybody. were n great success;
and he took me on to the life. repro
ducing after fur years. down to tho
minutest' deta Is and with surprising
accuracy my movements when meas
uring his bodlY in Rumbek"
The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1910-03-05

few days. He also had Pigmy boy
in his service, being content like my
self 10 suffer the troubles he caused
for the sake OF having such a good
servant But two PigmieS in the same
station were productive OF moro exc
element than was pleasant. At firss
they regarded one another shyly, not
to say with suspicion. and would hayo
nothing 10 do with each other From
severe neutrality it came to defensive
hostility, and before long to opeI
warfare Both were vindictiye little
wretches. never so happy as wher
quarreling AS it was policy To lie OF
good terms with the soldiers ant luod
servants they reserved their spite fol
their own kind. and were at one an
Others throats all day long. and on tho
most trivial grounds. One, would gel
Httiezmore-food- than the other.
there would be sufficient reason for
fight. and they would race each othel
in boiling their bananas In order "a
get in the first blow; but lighting wa
always suIservient TO feeding, When
they had battered each others little
heads With their puny fists. Houssa1
or perhaps a white officer. would
come ont 10 see what the din wat
about. and would separate the com
batants.
We'll. why should he have mon
food than / had? would be the proud
explanation. After all he's only a
Pigmy!" This with great scorn and
the necessary VOWS of vengeance
from the victim OF outraged dignity
They had no objection to beius
scolded in genuine anger. and tooE 4
rating manfully but to be treated as
children. or, worst OF all. to be laugse.
at. was more than they would stand
The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1910-03-05
SkilIful Hunters and Fishermen.

Fully occupied In hunting. Pigmies
do not cultivate the soil, and for this
reason, among others, as 10 the case
with the Eskimo they stand low in the
scale OF civilization. Skillfui trappers
and hunters. they ean XIII even Gle
plants with their littlo bows and ar
rows, binding the animal FIRST by
shooting at his5eyes. Once ho is
blind. they neyerglcaTe him TIL he
falls, sl7ese lgi5 c1 s t
Thoy arc remarkably clover fisher
mon With o ulor5el Of meat tied 10 a
piece Of string. ard without the aid OF
a hook, thoy WIN succeed In landing
The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1910-03-05

heavy fish, while less,skilled fisher
men. with hooks and lines, may not
be able to secure one.
Pigmies do no work of any sort OF
kind. purchasing their arrow heads
knives and spears from the neighbor
ing tribes in exchange for meat. or for
women whom they have seized In the
hush
The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1910-03-05
TreacherouS and Vengeful.

A soldier was looking on amusedly
at one OF their mimic battles one after
noon In the drill yard, the cause OF
war was battered helmet that one OF
US had discarded My Pigmy had it
on. and was defending his nine points
of the law against his follow Pigmy
The soldier made n jeering commen'
on my boy, who left his own quaTe
and without a moments hesitation
threw half q brick at the head OF tho
soldier with all the force OF which hii
little arm and big rage were capable
It would have hurt the Houssa moro
II it had hit him on the shins; as II
was. 1t merely stunned him. Then tha
young rascal resumed his defense Of
the helmet
The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1910-03-05

cular. fearless and daring. They have
4 DISLIKE for water, and are notcleanly
In their habits 1s arc other tribes
Very few of them can swim. and gen
erally they know nothing Of ihe art.
living, as they do, chiefly on dIy land.
The dress OF the Pigmics s very
simple. The men wear pla n strip
of cloth round the loins. the women
simply a bunch Of leavea. Th,y have
no ornaments of any kind fact
which shows their low development,
for women as n rule use ornaments ns
attractions in savage life as wdl as in
civilized Possibly when the Nbw Pig.
my Woman arrives she will introduce
necklaces and earrings
Musical instruments are unknown to
them, even their dancing is conducted
without any eweetcr sound tlan the
rhythmical tapping OF a bow Tith an
arrow. Their whole idea OF dancing
is to strut round in a circle, with their
legs quite stIn. beating time With bow
and arrow, as just-mentioncd, and add.
ing absurd emphasis TO the general eff
feet by their set and solemn countc-
nances.
Having no religion. no family ties,
no JOY In sports or games, and no fixed
home. their one object and occupation
Is hunting. at which they Sre such
adopts that II is a sight, as has been
said before. to see them ha1dle their
small bows and arrows. They also
carry a short, light spear, +, weapon
they have copied from other lribes. but
no shield. nor do they poison their ar
rows. which arc not tipped With flint.
as has been asserted.
The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1910-03-05

y tho course OF my
travels | came more
than once across
the Plgmies. and
had every chance
OF studying the
make and manners
Of these queer lit
lie freaks. whose
The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1910-03-05

You cannot afford TO have reason
for your unhappiness. for then you
viii be unhappy.
The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1910-03-05
As to Poisoned Arrows and Poi.
son.

The Benge poison is enormously des.
crlbed by DR.. Parke. 'medica! oflcer OF
The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1910-03-05

slgnifyiuG his wish for them when
sufficiently ripe, The owner OF the
tree. In dread OF their dIspleasure.
would never dream Of removing the
fruit or the arrow. but would leave it
there until the Pigmy should come
for both.
The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1910-03-05
Offers to Sell Own Parents.

III tell you what I'll do" he said
''lf you will lend me five soldiers I'll
place two there and two over there
Indicating positions). and I'll go over
there with the other Then Ill call
my father and mother into the ring,
and We Will capture them and bring
them 10 you
| think he was disappointed that /
did not accept this curious PROPOSE
ton, which shed clear light on his
ideas OF the NTH commandment.
The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1910-03-05
Quarrelsome and irritable.

While I was staying Mt Nigangara
station. Du Brcncy came In TO spend
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-12-13
COAL AND WOOD

SPECIAL NOTICE-COAL AT DISCOUNT
We carry only the finest grades All
coal guaranteed both Ia quality and
TO give satisfaction Delivered on curb
Egg. Stove. and Chestnut. SIS
y
Broken Furnace --------------S7-g0
81 OFF FOR CASH on ALL OUR COAL
c. MEREDITH WINSHIP
Col SCI $40 18th St n "
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-12-13
SOuTHERN RAILWAY.

= R-FOll0vTing schedule hsuTez published
only as Information and not guaranteed
E-or Atlanta Birmingham Mobile, Ssw
o-sa--e AshegllIc- 900 a M ana 1913 .
Ssf7Z- 500 a. n daily for Chattanooga All
Memphis. Dining cars
so Roanoke. Knoxville. Caattzzocga
f,1r~-frrFsrr1. New Orleans, 1910 ?. m dziiy.
I-or Fo1uoke. Knoxville Chattanooga. Mem
-Esq Nashville 40 a. m daily tsIcepi1s
- ii7-f-0 4f-er 10 ?. M Dining cars
r. Cshar-clts- spar1a15urg- Atlanta, A11is-
- BIRMINGHAM. 4-i5 =. li- daily. Dining
,T'3-,r,st cars Tor California Monday. Wed
,ss5av- Thursday. Friday saturday. 4:15
= = charlotte. Columbia Charleston a ken
.1,c-,1sfa. Savannah. jacksonville and For
ia points So ?. n Galiy. Diniog cars.
"a and 4-S5 P m week days Tor
Gs--f1Ie TO a. m daily and for Char
1[.-.-y-sfls 80 o. and $40 p m daily,
-. - Zy-s--enton- $50 = > IN Gaiiy and z-5I
40 IN week days Frequent trains 70 an
from j. s. BROWN. General Agent
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-12-13
TO LOAF ON REAL ESTATE
CONTRACTOR AND BUILDER

DROP POSTAL. Tor our estimates On house
repairing AID TeE1Odeli1E- J 2 GIBBS.
49, I st y W Phone n S61I and " 40 -
LET Us GIVE YOU Our ESTIMATE %
building and rgmOdg-iUE- competent us-
chanfcs- CHAS- c KENYON. Is ISrh q.
Phone - 1871