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A BRAVE GERMAN AMONG THE CANNIBALS 391 



coat and breeches in one. He carried in his hand a sickle-shaped 

 scimitar, which served as a sceptre, and by his side were two Httle 

 tables covered with refreshments for his royal use, hidden by napkins 

 of fig-bark. He was about forty years of age, slim and erect, with 

 regular features, but a hard, cruel look in his eyes and about his mouth. 



The presents, consisting of a telescope, silver platter, porcelain 

 vase, a piece of carved ivory to show how the material was worked, a, 

 book with gilt edges, a mirror, and a large quantity of magnificent 

 beads, were then exhibited; but the king, though carefully looking at 

 them, did not say a word of approval. The next morning Munza sent 

 the traveler a house in a rather peculiar way. Twenty natives 

 appeared' carrying the walls, woven with reeds, and others came behind 

 carrying the roof. They then gravely put this together, and there was 

 the house deposited close to Schweinfurth's tent and ready for use! 



After Mohammed had concluded his bartering with the king, he 

 wanted to push on farther south to obtain more ivory, and this journey 

 was intensely desired by Schweinfurth, who hoped to be able in this 

 way to reach the Congo, and at last emerge upon the European colonies 

 in the southern latitudes ; but Munza would not permit this southward 

 march, as he wanted to keep all the traffic to himself, and finally the 

 traveler had very reluctantly, in company with Mohammed and his 

 party, to turn his face northwards again. It was while at the Mon- 

 buttoo court that he first saw an actual specimen of the race of Pygmies 

 similar to those seen by Du Chaillu. The king had a regiment of 

 several hundred of these little warriors, who belong to the Akka tribe, 

 living in a territory toward the south ; and one day Mohammed seized 

 hold of one of them, and', despite his energetic resistance, carried him 

 to Schweinfurth's tent for inspection. *T looked," says the traveler, 

 "and there, sure enough, was a strange little creature, perched upon 

 Mohammed's right shoulder, nervously hugging his head, and casting 

 glances of alarm in every direction. Thus at last was I able veritably 

 to feast my eyes upon a living embodiment of the myths of some thou- 

 sand years !" He was dressed' like the Monbuttoo, and had a minia- 

 ture lance and bow and arrows. His stature was 4 feet 10 inches, 

 probably above the average height of his nation. He jumped about 

 with extraordinary agility, and the interpreter said that the Akka leap 



