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Italic text is denoted by _underscores_ and bold text by
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Small uppercase have been replaced with regular uppercase.
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[Illustration: DU CHAILLU AND KING QUENGUEZA. [See p. 43.]]
THE
COUNTRY OF THE DWARFS.
BY
PAUL DU CHAILLU,
AUTHOR OF
"ADVENTURES AND EXPLORATIONS IN EQUATORIAL AFRICA," "A JOURNEY TO
ASHANGO LAND," "STORIES OF THE GORILLA COUNTRY," "WILD LIFE UNDER THE
EQUATOR," "MY APINGI KINGDOM."
[Illustration]
_NUMEROUS ENGRAVINGS._
[Illustration]
NEW YORK:
HARPER & BROTHERS, PUBLISHERS,
FRANKLIN SQUARE.
1872.
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1871, by
HARPER & BROTHERS,
In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.
_TO_
_FLETCHER HARPER, ESQ._
_DEAR SIR:--I dedicate this volume to you, not only as an
acknowledgment of many kindnesses which I have received from you during
the years in which you have been the publisher of my books, but also as
a token of the personal affection and esteem of_
_Your friend_,
_PAUL B. DU CHAILLU._
_North Cape, Norway, August, 1871._
[Illustration]
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
How Paul set out for the Country of the Dwarfs, and what he took
with him. Page 11
CHAPTER II.
On the African Coast.--Meeting with old Friends.--Changes in
Four Years.--The Captain's Misgivings. 20
CHAPTER III.
Landing Goods.--Among the Breakers.--King Ranpano.--Loss of
Instruments.--King Quengueza.--A Palaver.--Changing Names. 31
CHAPTER IV.
Honest Africans.--Distributing Presents.--Quengueza's
Diplomacy.--Another Palaver.--A new Settlement.--Rabolo's
Monda.--Ranpano's Superstition. 41
CHAPTER V.
Departure of the Mentor.--Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Chimpanzee.--Thomas
in London.--Left alone in Africa.--Departure from Plateau.--A
Tornado.--Nengué Shika.--Traces of Gorillas.--Nengué Ncoma.--King
Olenga-Yombi.--The Ipi. 52
CHAPTER VI.
Hunting for the Ipi.--Camping out in the Woods.--Capture of an
Ipi.--Description of the Animal.--A new species of Ant-eater. 64
CHAPTER VII.
Life at Nkongon-Boumba.--Gorillas and Plantains.--Odanga scared
by a Gorilla.--A captive Gorilla.--Superstitions respecting the
Leopard. 72
CHAPTER VIII.
Wounded Gorilla and her young ones.--Taking their
Photographs.--Tom and Minnie.--Arrival of my Vessel.--Hurra for
Baring Brothers.--A smoking Ship.--King Quengueza goes on
board.--Preparations for Journey. 80
CHAPTER IX.
Down the River in a Canoe.--A strange Passenger.--Talk with a
Gorilla.--Landing through the Breakers.--Preparing to cross the
Continent.--The Departure. 91
CHAPTER X.
A royal Welcome.--Departure from Goumbi.--The Story of Nchanga
and Enomo.--Ascending the Ovenga River.--A hostile Barrier
removed.--The Advice of Quengueza. 105
CHAPTER XI.
Bustle in the Camp.--A magic Horn.--Quengueza's Idol.--A living
Skeleton.--Terrific Thunder-storm.--A Gorilla Family.--Stupendous
Cataract. 111
CHAPTER XII.
The Death of Remandji.--A singular Superstition.--Outbreak of the
Plague.--A touching Incident.--Dying off by Scores.--Death of
Olenda. 112
CHAPTER XIII.
Burial of Olenda.--A desolated Valley.--Suspicions
aroused.--Robbery.--Paul in perplexing circumstances.--Freeing
a Man from the Stocks.--Ravages of the Plague. 131
CHAPTER XIV.
Departure from Ashira Land.--A silent Leave-taking.--Thievish
Porters.--A cunning old Rascal.--Misfortune on
Misfortune.--Without Food in the Forest.--A desperate
Plot.--Feasting on Monkey-meat.--Out of the Woods. 139
CHAPTER XV.
In the open Country at last.--Interview with Mayolo.--Igala falls
Sick.--A Mutiny.--The Otando Prairie on Fire.--Return of Macondai
and Igalo.--Their Adventures.--All together again. 153
CHAPTER XVI.
Terrible Storms of Thunder.--Days of Anxiety.--Shooting an
Antelope.--Brighter Prospects.--Mayolo has a hard time with his
Doctors.--Basket-making. 165
CHAPTER XVII.
Departure from the Otando Country.--Talk with Mayolo.--Living on
Monkey-meat.--Astronomical Studies.--Lunar
Observations.--Intense Heat. 173
CHAPTER XVIII.
Saying Good-by.--A panic-stricken Village.--Pacifying the
People's Fears.--A tipsy Scene.--Majesty on a Spree.--Lunch by a
River side. 184
CHAPTER XIX.
Rumors of War.--Through a burning Prairie.--Imminent
Peril.--Narrow Escape from a horrible Death.--A lonely
Night-watch. 194
CHAPTER XX.
A Deputation from the Village.--A plain Talk with them.--A
beautiful and prosperous Town.--Cheerful Character of the
People.--More Observations. 199
CHAPTER XXI.
Great Excitement in the Village.--A deserted Town.--The
Inhabitants frightened away.--Afraid of the Evil Eye.--The Author
taken for an Astrologer.--Lost among the Plantations. 206
CHAPTER XXII.
First Sight of a Village of the Dwarfs.--A strange and
interesting Spectacle.--An abandoned Town.--A Reverie beside a
Stream.--The Leaf, the Butterfly, and the Bird.--The blessing of
Water. 214
CHAPTER XXIII.
Grotesque Head-dresses.--Curious fashions in Teeth.--A venerable
Granite Boulder.--Interior of a Hut.--A warlike race of
Savages.--Giving them an Electric Shock. 226
CHAPTER XXIV.
Visit to a Village of the Dwarfs.--Walk through the Primeval
Forest.--An ancient Account of this strange Race.--A great
Ashango Dance.--A Watch and a tremendous Sneeze.--First View of
the Dwarfs.--Queer specimens of Humanity. 239
CHAPTER XXV.
Making friends with the Dwarfs.--A Surprise Visit.--A gorgeous
Feast.--Ridiculous Show of Babies.--The Dwarf Language.--A Dwarf
Dance.--The old Fable of the Cranes and the Pigmies. 252
CHAPTER XXVI.
A modern Traveler's Account of the Dwarfs and their Habits.--Where
and how they Bury their Dead.--Hunting for the Dwarfs.--How they
make their Huts. 265
CHAPTER XXVII.
Traveling Eastward.--Measuring Heights.--Instruments used.--Reach
Mouaou-Kombo.--Apprehensions of the People.--Palaver with the
Chief.--An unlucky Shot.--Hostilities commenced. 274
CHAPTER XXVIII.
Retreat from Mouaou-Kombo.--The Attack.--Paul is wounded.--A
Panic.--The Fight renewed.--The Enemy re-enforced.--Lying in
Ambush.--The Enemy repulsed.--A poisoned Arrow.--Mouitchi
safe.--Death of the Dogs. 286
CHAPTER XXIX.
Traveling Westward.--A Night in the Forest.--Paul's Speech to his
Men.--Their Reply.--The Retreat resumed.--Taking Food and
Rest.--Meeting with Friends. 301
CHAPTER XXX.
Conclusion.--Return to the Coast.--Desolation of the
Country.--Fate of old Friends.--Reach the Settlement.--Departure
for England.--Au Revoir. 312
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
ILLUSTRATIONS.
PAGE
DU CHAILLU AND KING QUENGUEZA _Frontispiece._
SKETCH MAP OF PART OF WESTERN AFRICA _Title-page._
DU CHAILLU MEETS HIS OLD FRIEND ADJOUATONGA 22
CAPTURE OF THE IPI 67
PHOTOGRAPHING GORILLAS 83
THE DEPARTURE 101
SURPRISING A FAMILY OF GORILLAS 117
OLENDA IS DEAD 129
PRISONER IN NCHOGO 136
DECISIVE MEASURES 146
MEETING WITH MACONDAI 159
HUNTING AN ANTELOPE 167
OTAITAI, OR PORTER'S BASKET 171
TAKING AN OBSERVATION 180
APONO AND ISHOGO VILLAGE 208
ISHOGO HOUSES, WITH ORNAMENTAL DOORS 211
HUTS OF THE DWARFS 216
ISHOGO HEAD-DRESSES 227, 228
AFRICAN GOAT, CHICKEN, PARROT, AND IDOL 231
SHOCKING THE ASHANGOS 236
DINNER WITH THE DWARFS 271
INSTRUMENTS FOR OBSERVATION 275
THE FIGHT WITH THE ASHANGOS 289
FRIENDS IN THE DARKNESS 309
[Illustration]
THE COUNTRY OF THE DWARFS.
CHAPTER I.
HOW PAUL SET OUT FOR THE COUNTRY OF THE DWARFS, AND WHAT HE TOOK WITH
HIM.
IN the month of July, 1863, if you had been in London, you might have
seen in St. Catharine's Dock a schooner called the Mentor, a little
vessel of less than one hundred tons' measurement, and if you had gone
on board you would have encountered your old friend Paul Du Chaillu
busily superintending the taking of the cargo, and getting all things
in readiness for the voyage upon which he is now going to take you.
Captain Vardon, the commander of the vessel, was generally by his side,
and I am sure you would have been happy to make his acquaintance, for
he was a very pleasant man.
Every body was busy on board, either on deck or below deck, storing
away the goods. Boxes upon boxes came alongside the Mentor from morning
till evening. These contained my outfit and the equipment necessary for
the expedition.
Paul Du Chaillu had an anxious look, and you need not wonder at it,
for he was about to undertake a journey of explorations of about five
years' duration, and had to think of many things. It was, indeed, no
small undertaking. What an outfit it was! I will give you some idea of
it.
Clothing for five years was to be provided; the very smallest article
must not be forgotten, even to needles, thread, and scissors.
It would never do again to be left without shoes, as I was in Apingi
Land, so I had seventy-two pairs of Balmoral lace-boots made specially
for journeying in the great forest, with soles flexible enough to allow
me to bend my feet while jumping from rock to rock, or from the base of
one tree to another. Besides these lace-boots I had twenty-four pairs
of shoes and twelve pairs of linen slippers. Twelve pairs of leggins
were to protect my legs from thorns, briers, and the bite of snakes; so
you see my feet and legs were to be well taken care of in that journey,
and for my further comfort I laid in twelve dozen pairs of socks. I
took so many because I do not know how to darn socks, and when a pair
became full of holes they would have to be thrown away.
All my shirts were made of light-colored flannel; these were more
healthy than linen shirts, and, besides economizing soap, it saved me
from the necessity of getting under-garments, and consequently allotted
me space which could be devoted to other articles.
With an eye to the great wear and tear of pantaloons, I had ordered six
dozen pairs made of the strongest twisted blue drill that could be got.
Instead of coats I ordered two dozen blouses, made of durable linen
stuff, of a color not easily seen in the woods. The blouse was a very
convenient garment, admitting of numerous pockets, in which I could
keep many things while on the march. Every thing was made for wear and
not for show, and to go through the thickest and most thorny jungle.
Several dozen pocket-handkerchiefs completed my wearing outfit. Besides
their ordinary use, these were to be worn, generally wet, inside the
three fine soft Panama hats I had provided to protect my head from the
rays of a burning sun. No collars, no neck-ties were necessary.
Clothes must be washed, so I took with me one hundred pounds of the
hardest Marseilles soap. That quantity was not much, but then I would
probably be able some time to make my own soap with palm-oil.
Then came the drugs, and these gave me more embarrassment than any
thing else. If it had been only to take medicines for myself, the
matter would have been simple enough. A compact little medicine-chest,
with an extra quantity of quinine, laudanum, and a few other remedies
used in tropical climates more frequently than in ours, would have
sufficed; but I had to think of my followers and porters--a retinue
that would sometimes number five and six hundred--and accordingly I
purchased
75 ounce bottles of quinine.
10 gallons of castor-oil.
50 pounds of Epsom salts.
2 quarts of laudanum.
These were the medicines which would be the most needed; but,
besides these, I had pretty nearly all the drugs to be found at the
apothecary's.
Of arsenic I took one hundred pounds, to preserve the skins of animals
and birds I expected to kill in my journeyings.
Most of these and my wearing apparel were packed in japanned tin
boxes, which would be serviceable afterward for the preservation of my
butterflies and stuffed birds. Tin boxes were safer than wooden ones;
the white ants would not be able to pierce through them.
Though I did not set out to make war, I felt that I ought to be
prepared for any emergency. Besides, I was to hunt, and I must have
guns. After a great deal of thinking it over, I came to the conclusion
that, for such a wild country, where I might get short of cartridges,
the greater part of my guns should be muzzle-loaders, so I bought
four splendid English muzzle-loaders, four long muzzle-loading
rifles, two very short smooth-bore muzzle-loaders, and two very short
muzzle-loading rifles.
Then I took a magnificent double-barrel breech-loading rifle which
could throw steel-pointed bullets weighing more than two ounces. I had
Dean and Adams's revolvers, magnificent arms that never got out of
order, and several long, formidable hunting-knives.
These guns were for my own special use, and they were supplied with
moulds for making bullets, etc., etc.
Besides these, I had ordered in Birmingham two hundred and fifty cheap
guns for my body-guard and the native king, to whom I might desire to
give one. Most of them were flint-locks, and of the pattern called the
Tower.
I had great trouble in knowing what quantity of ammunition to take,
for lead is heavy; but, then, what would a man do in a savage country
without powder and bullets?
The great difficulty with rifle muzzle-loaders is, that when the charge
has been driven home the bullets can not be easily withdrawn. So it is
with the revolvers; and a great deal of ammunition would be lost on
that account.
My ammunition consisted of 15,000 cartridges for my revolvers, in
soldered tin boxes of fifties; 15,000 bullets for my guns and rifles,
and lead for 20,000 more, for the practice of my men before starting
into the desert; 1000 pounds of small shot of different sizes, for
birds; 400 pounds of fine powder; 50,000 caps. I also took 200 10-pound
barrels of coarse powder for my body-guard and to give away to my
friends, or as presents.
So you see the warlike and hunting apparatus of the expedition was very
heavy, but we were to depend in a great measure on our guns for food.
Elephants, antelopes, hippopotami, gazelles, crocodiles, and monkeys
would be our chief diet. Then came the scientific instruments:
4 strong, splendid hunting-case watches, by Brock, London.
1 watch made by Frodsham, London.
48 spare watch-keys and 24 spare glasses.
3 sextants, 8, 6, and 4 inches radius.
1 binocular yachting-glass.
1 telescope.
1 universal sun-dial (a magnificent instrument).
1 aneroid.
2 compasses, prismatic, with stand, shades, and reflector three
inches in diameter, to take the bearings of land, etc., etc.
2 pocket compasses.
1 set drawing instruments (German silver).
2 dozen drawing-pens.
2 artificial horizons, folding roof, improved iron trough,
and bottles containing quicksilver, in sling case.
1 hypsometrical apparatus.
2 bull's-eye lanterns, copper boiler, three reservoirs for
spirits, oil, or candles.
3 thermometers for measuring heights and boiling water.
2 thermometers for the sun (to know its power).
2 thermometers graduated Fahrenheit and Centigrade.
1 thermometer graduated Centigrade and Reaumur.
1 powerful electro-magnetic machine, with 90 feet of
conducting wire or cord.
2 large magnifying-glasses.
7 pounds of mercury, in a bottle, as a reserve supply.
Parallel rule (German silver).
Protractor, circular, with compass rectifier, in a mahogany
box.
3 rain-gauges and spare glasses, to tell the amount of
rain falling at a given time.
Scale, 18 inches, metal, graduated to inches, and
sub-divided to tenths and hundredths, in a box.
Tape, 100 feet, to measure trees.
75 sheets of skeleton maps, ruled in squares, to mark
out in the rough my daily route as determined by
compass.
4 Nautical Almanacs, 1863, '4, '5, '6, to be used in my
astronomical observations; and several other scientific
books.
12 blank books for keeping my daily journal.
10 memorandum-books.
10 quires of paper.
Ink, pens, pencils, slates.
For illumination I provided 100 pounds of wax candles, 10 gallons of
spirits (alcohol) for lamps, thermometers, etc., etc.; 12 gross of
matches in boxes, each dozen boxes inclosed in a separate soldered tin
box. Though I had fire-steel and flint, the matches could light a fire
much quicker, and they were "big things" with the natives.
So you see I had a complete set of instruments, and in sufficient
number, so that in case of accident I could replace the injured one;
and accidents I knew were sure to happen.
If I did not explain to you why I took five watches, I am sure you
would say that I was foolish to spend so much money in watches. Then
let me tell you that I bought so many because I was afraid that if I
took only one or two, they might stop running, and in this event it
would have been impossible for me to know my longitude, that is to say,
how far east or west I might be, and to ascertain the day and month,
should illness have caused me to forget the calendar. No watch can be
safely depended upon to run for five years in such a climate without
cleaning. But as four of them had been made specially for the journey,
I felt assured that at least one or two out of the five would run till
my return.
But we have not yet done with my equipment. There were 18 boxes
containing photographic apparatus, with tent, and chemicals for 10,000
photographs. The transportation of these alone would require twenty men.
All that I have enumerated to you constituted but a small proportion of
the things that came on board, and were for my special use, with the
exception of the 250 common guns and a great part of the ammunition.
There are yet to be mentioned the presents for my old friends, who
had been so kind to me in my former journeys, and whom I hoped to see
again. These were the chiefs whose hospitality I had enjoyed, and my
dear hunters Aboko, Fasiko, Niamkala, Malaouen, Querlaouen, Gambo, dear
old Quengueza, Ranpano, Rikimongani, and Obindji, the Bakalai chief.
Presents, too, were indispensable for the people who were to take me
from tribe to tribe, and the right of way I knew would often have to
be bought. So more than two months had been spent by me in the London
clothing, hardware, and dry-goods establishments, finding what I wanted.
I bought more than 5000 pounds of beads of different sizes and colors,
several hundred pieces of cotton goods, some pieces of silks, coats,
waistcoats, shirts, 2000 _red caps_, a few umbrellas, files, knives,
bells, fire-steels, flints, looking-glasses, forks, spoons, some
_stove-pipe_ hats for the kings near the sea-shore, straw hats, etc.,
etc.
Then, to impress the wild people with what I could do, I bought several
large Geneva musical boxes, one powerful electrical battery, several
magnets, and six ship clocks, etc., etc.
The abundant results of the sale of my "Adventures in Equatorial
Africa," and the proceeds arising from the disposal of my gorillas,
and my collection of beasts, birds, insects, and shells, alone enabled
me to undertake this new expedition, for not one dollar has ever been
given by any scientific society to help me in any of my travels or
explorations; but I was very happy in expending a part of my means in
the interest of science and for the enlargement of our knowledge of
unknown countries. I only wish now I could have done more, but really I
think that I did the best I could.
Years had passed away since I had gone first to Africa, my parents were
both dead, I was alone in the world and the world was before me, and I
thought I could do nothing better than make another exploration.
I had made up my mind, without confiding my purpose to any one, to
cross the continent of Africa near the equator, from the west to the
head waters of the Nile, and to set out from the Commi country. I knew
my old negro friends would help me. That was the reason my outfit was
on so large a scale.
The only thing that worried me before my departure was our civil war,
but then I thought it was soon to end.
[Illustration]
[Illustration]