Pygmies of the Congo.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 91, 21 April 1904, Page 4

Pygmies of the Congo.

A CUIUOIJS PEOPLE.

DERLIN, March 8. tog the north-east of the Congo Bt **«' i? tbc interests of a Belgian MsocjiaKwn, has sent to friends in Germany an interesting account of tribe of pygmies he has encounterThew diminutive people are known as Wambutti. and they inhabit thc district of the Upper Ituri. They hide m the dense undergrowth on the approach of strangers, but Dr. DaWd often came across their little ten Mike dwellings in solitarv places where game is plentiful, and' on the banks of rivers and streams. The St"' %** Dr -, D; "' id . are good-look-ing. Tlieir clothing consists of a cap of leopard skin, ornamented with wild boar bristles, monkeys' tails, and feathers, diminutive leather aprons, and a narrow strip of leopard fur just Mow the knees. They are mentally and physically active, and are rarely seen sitting down. Their lips are thin, and all usually curlv hair. A few have beards, but the chests of most are covered with wavy hair. The Women, adds Dr. nnvul, are inferior to the men. ** h l ?, SUa J hcight of the men is atfout 4ft Tin., and that of the women about 4ft Sin. In colour they resemble the ordinary natives but unlike these, they seem to possess no fetish houses. Their arms consist of arrows, with wooden points tipped with deadly poison, and'with a leaf let in the other end. The number of the Wambulti is estimated at several thousands.