NEW RACES IN CENTRAL AFRICA.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 60, 20 July 1907, Page 4

NEW RACES IN CENTRAL AFRICA.

MGMIEB WHO LIVE ON THE SUMMITS OF VOLCANOES. London, May 26. Dr. A. F. R. Wollaston has returned to England after a journey in Central Africa, largely through unknown country. He informed a Renter's representative that from Ruwcnzori be worked his way home by the Congo, being accompanied by only one other European, Mr D. Camithcrs. From the south of Lake Albert Edward the expedition proceeded through the Mfunibiro volcanic region, a wild, mountainous, and difficult country, with waterless stretches.

The tops of the volcanoes, which are for the most part extinct, arc covered with dense bamboo, which is inhabited bv a race of pigmies, who make their abode there and live by raiding the village on the lower slopes. Although the expedition spent five weeks among the volcanoes it was not found possible to visit the people at their summits. They arc a diminutive stature, and as they are far from the Congo Forest pigmies they are probably a new race.

The sides of the extinct volcanoes were found to be very thickly populated by people of line physique, very rich in fund, bees and cattle, and living principally on milk and honey. In one village that was visited there were found to be some 300 beehives constructed in dugout tree trunks.

From the volcanic region Dr YVollaston proceeded down a steep descent to Lake Kivii. Tanganyika was reached at the north end at a place called Uvrin, a large Belgian post, where the expedition spent Christmas. Here Dr Wollaston came upon the sleeping sickness country, and from this point through the Mnnyuema country traversed a region devastated by this terrible plague. lie describes the sights as being fearful, with people dead and dying on the roadside. Almost every village presented a revolting spectacle, as it is the custom to leave stricken natives to die. In this country the population are dying by thousands absolutely without any medical attention.

In Uganda alone, over a quarter of a million have succumbed to sleeping sickness since it broke out a few years ago.