Pigmies for the Fair.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 41, 18 February 1904, Page 4

Pigmies for the Fair.

MISSIONARY GOES ON A DANV v , ~ GEapcS ISLAND. J*'*®* ¥or * Herald despatch from ■ TT Ll>ute »ta*« that an exhibit of A/npan pijpj fa, at the Worfd's Fair ■ s.J> practically assured. The Bev Samuel P. Verner, 0 f Tuskaloosai who is heading the expedition SWi&fcfiSSSS?*; expected to reach Las Pnlinas durine - At ias Palmas, which is on the- West Coast of Africa, he will equip Wa little tend for a journey Into the heart o« Congo, on horseback, by boats, on the river, and on Soot. Before ■departing from New York Dr. Verner. mailed a report -of his completed plans to the Anthropology ' Department. He was joined at VWt metropolis by two native Afriwho accompany him and serve ?L"! ie . rpreters and KU'des. These Afrtcluab ard young" man whom Dr Vataer took to the States from Congo a few years ago, wjipn he travelJed through tto interior. l)r. Veri"® 1 - witJ ' l^e Fbwers con--5 trolling, the paries "Hie mission is considered the most dan&erous of ail the World's Fair asrtgnments Men**™ of the expedi- - )L on . ' to cope not only with ™ e dangers of an unhealthy clim- " .• also hostile tribes and wild animals. Even if the party arrives -safely at its destination, the matter of inducing the pigmies to come to j»- will b« difficult. It will be hard to Bersuade Mem to leave tfle|r- country. and diplomacy will be retired in dealing with the Portu- : «ue»e andßritirfi officials who govern the eouiftries it« which they live. It is feared that these officials will raise objections to having th# natives exported, even for a short time and with a guarantee of their safe return.

th * present plans the P»Bmy exhibit will consist of eirtit®f. s P2^f*> with a view or showftfjf.the characteristics of the People. , Dr. Verner is instructed to bringi, first of all, one pigmy patriarch, oW jn jfprs, und the imd of It tribe.- ' h t iS to the ujfe , patriarch and a young marrilatter t0 Pos- -•! nue, son and daughter-in-law of the patriarch. Then he must obtain a ooy, a girl, and two infants. ■ Further, the instructions are for - , £J? ore to be young, and ; including a priest and priestess. All '"J® 8 ® specimens must be taken from , ttae.Batwa and Tuoki tribes. One ™ e of red African from Ndombe, three more red Africans and two more aitives, each of distinct tribes, Complete the list. The town of -K&>mbe, in Central Africa, will the btasis of operations for the expeeLtijom. It is expected that the party will reach there •bout Feb. 1. It will remain one month, assembling the exhibit, and wronging tor its transporting* to •~t» coast. The itinerary provides *l r reaping Lias Ptilm|as on the trit) •bout April 1. , * J _^ r ° m >a^mas the expedition »«U sail for New Orleans, reaching Uj»t port not later than April 20. The ■ rest of the trip will be by boats up the Mississippi River. By the latter date it is thought the ex- : -pettrtions from Patagonia, Central America, and other distant sections of the . globe will have reached the city.