Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-12-14
Kept His
Son
ASeCret

the Tbunli Tribe living the of the Salonga
- River deep in the Belgian Congo always buried in
European cusommade collins the world might have
known that Africa had produced ninefeet and two
and three-quarters inches tall.
There have been taller but this the biggest
that has yet out of the longer dark continent
though there at least tribe in the vicinity of Lake
Victoria where fooers anyone less
than six feet is rnt The average stature of number of
African peoples is about feet but there have been
such giants as this one until now.
Recently exhausted Tbunlans arrived Coquihat-
vile, principal city Saonga region a
than miles The three counsellors
three young warriors headed straight for the undertaking
establishment of Henri Mechelen years
building wooden collins for the Royal Family did his
predecessor before him.
Whenever a Tbuni committee to Coqulhatvie
for coffin they bring thin pole cut to the exact length
of the dead person This time M Henri Mechelens eyes
popped when he bhed the length of the pole extended
him by the aged leader 1t long that he had throw
his head all the way back took up the end OF
The white tufted wrinkled committee chairman begged
mortician to keep the matter secret For 10
the tribe had hidden from the world the fact that
their chiefs second monstosity The undertaken
readily consented but the Tbun with masculine conceit
overlooked making the request of Madame Mechelen
who had been present at the interview and who was burst
ing to tell her neighbors all the amazing details
Within few hours all Coquihatville knew about the
big negro youth who had just died and next morning
party of the curious started for the dead lads village TO
ascertain the truth about his exceptional height one Of
the party a man named Reulve. who pur-
chase the corpse preserve alcohol exhibit
fairs all Africa He figured rightly thou
sands of the curious would good money to this
ebony giant.
Reuves proposition the curiosity of the other whites
enraged old chief Bonop the dead boys father that he
would tell the story his dead sons life urged and
threatened TO summon his spearmen and clear ms entire
dominion of whites fight averted only by the time
y arrival of Dr. Albert Jumage who had treated the giant
Dr. Jumage assured Chief Bonop that while the whites
could not force him to sell his sons remains he would have
peace until the story told the whites would
keep coming back through the nfamed with
curiosity the longer the story was withheld.
Reluctantly then, Bonop granted Dr. Jumaigc permits
sion to tell the story of his The boy called Ncbt was
every respect But at six months the baby was Is inches
at old 81 inches tall at four he
stood inches although he had yet to
speak his intelligent He eight before he
could what passes for Tbunan sentence and at 10
his vocabulary and intelligence only par with
todders of four Ave- much to the shame Of his dis
tinguished father.
In other respects Neb appeared healthy enough
in proportion to his size and could lift grown
At 10 he could tear young tree by its roots He could
go long stretches without sleep working at tasks within
his understanding without firing more than his COM
rades who worked but eight to ten hours He rated
the strongest in the tribe and dared cross
him. for fear of what he might do to them.
On the often complained TO his father
the back his neck the small of his back and
thighs Dr. Jumaige attempted various treatments but
nothing helped these pains The boys eyesght and
hearing almost poor his understanding.
Although natives express desire for
rage by earlier Nebt reached 10 without any interest
in opposite
Idocity among Congo negroes and the boy
confined to village hidden whenever strangers
preached No word of him reached the outside for the
people oySl and Dr. Jumaige was sworn to
secrecy.
The doctor attempted TO trace the boys ancestry to
the of his giantism lay there His grand
great grandparents all normal in size
intelligence and healthy far could be learned His
mother was small but his father of normal size Nebs
elder brother tall his father five feet and
inches and another inch by the time he is
Nebts younger brother H. is just over five feet
Nebits only sister, aged IS is five feet tall
Tribal history had instance of diocty within the
last four or five generations the alles that any
one could recall was sub-chef who lived about 1885 but
only feet and five inches in height