The New York herald., 1920-01-11

found them Very useful for tracking pur-
poses. nl.
We camped that evening on the slope of
a mountain and while sitting outside our
tent one of our carriers told us that he
had seen two pigmies not far off. Later
on we saw them ourselves and they
gradually came closer to our tent, evil
IDENTITY being drawn by curiosity, and they
eventually squatted down few yards off.
We knew that one of our carriers had a
knowledge of their language and after a
time, when We had persuaded them by a
gift of food and salt that our intentions
were friendly, We got on conversational
terms with them. AS we were going al
most entirely on information received
from the natives regarding the exist
ence of gorillas on Mount Mibreno, we
were anxious to hear what the pigmies
could tell us about them, and after some
time We gathered that there were very
large monkeys on Mount Mibreno, but
there were also larger ones further up
the mountain on the slopes OF which we
were then camped. We came to the con-
clusion that these latter would probably
be chimpanzees, but decided that we
III we found any would ask the pgmes
how they compared with those on Mount
AIbreno.
Guided by Pismies.
Next morning we got away early with
the pigmies in attendance. For the first
few hours we were interested in watch
ing the tactics of these diminutive ma
tives of Central Africa. They were about
four foot in height absolutely naked and
carried n spear apiece. They We're very
suspicious of any sound or action on our
part which they were unable to account
for and on the slightest sign Of danger
est so silently and quickly that IL we were
not looking at them we were quite un-
able To tell in which direction they had
gone but they would always reappear
again in n fow minutes generally few
yards ahead of us.
AS we were making our way through the
forest suddenly there was a great crashing
OF underground. The pigmies, as usual,
and we stood ready for any
thing which might appear. However, we
saw nothing and came TO the conclusion
that whatever animal IL was had made the
noise had decamped. In a few moments
the pigmies reappeared and were standing
quite close to us, when one of them sud-
denly. made n dive into the middle of a
thick bush which was growing about two
yards away, emerging again almost imme-
diately, holding up a small animal about a
foot and a half long which was squealng
and kicking violently. On examination this
proved to be a young giant hog. We exam
ined him with interest, as this species of
pig is very rare and we had never seen one
before They grow TO a great size and are
very shy and difficult to get q shot at. No
doubt. il was the old SOW which we had
heard crashing away. How the pigmy had
spotted the young one in the bush we were
at loss to understand. but there Is no
doubt that they do not miss much in the
shape cf food when it comes within range
Of their eyes. and think they were dis
tended to keep their capture alive.
Up till now we had seen nothing OF Chin
panzeos or any large monkeys, but about
an hour later we saw one on o large tree
which had fallen. The pigmies saw IL first
and pointed it out TO US. We did not shoot
1T, as we merely wanted 10 see one and
make sure the pigmies had seen IL, too.
When the chimpanzee disappeared the pig
mics pointed out to us In some nearby trees
the habitations of these wild monkey men,
which, according to our interpreter. was
what they called them. These consisted OF
platforms about three feet square. built
some distance up the trees OF branches
and sticks, bound together with grass and
n vine which we saw growing around
some Of the trees.
We we're now entirely satisfied that these
we're chimpanzees, so we decided TO ques-
ton the pigmies about the other 'man
InohkcyS Which lived on MOUNT Mibreno
ACtcr some hesitation they said II was wei
known among their tribe that there were
few even larger man monkeys on the be
mountain. but they were so large and OF
such great strength that no pigmy dare
20 near them But.as We had irons whicf
killed all things I'm the forest at grea
distance they would risk taking us TO th'
place where they were on condition thn
we shot much meat for them, OF which
a plentiful supply was TO be found OF
Mount Mibreno In tho shape OF mountain
buffalo. This we promised TO do after they
had shown US the ''ng-agi" which was th'
word our interpreter used I'm speaking OF
gorilas TO distinguish them from moun
Idu,' the native word for chimpanzee.
The High altitude.
Having como to terms with the pigmie'
we turned back toward our camp, which
We reached without incident and spent
the rest Of the day In making arrange
lments for an early start next day toward
Mount Mikeno. The mountains Of Mtken'
and Kissimbi lie close together. with
only a saddle between them. Early next
fternoon found us encamped on tho
slopes Of kisisimbi at an altitude Of about