278 



THE LIVING RACES OF MANKIND 





The poisons with which these weapons are charged, when fresh, are very deadly and rapid 

 in their action. "One man," says Stanley, "died within one minute from a mere pin-hole, 

 which pierced the right arm and right breast. A headman died within an hour and a quarter 

 after being shot. A woman died during the time that she was carried a distance of 100 

 paces; another woman died within twenty minutes; one man died within three hours; two 

 others died after 100 hours had elapsed. These various periods indicate that some poisons 

 were fresh and others had become dry." The poisons are made from different materials; 

 some are extracted from snake-fangs, and another from the crushed bodies of ants; the chief 

 source, however, is from the root of a species of Strycknos. 



The only vegetable food of the pygmies are bananas, sweet potatoes, cassava, yams, etc., 

 which they purchase or steal from their neighbours. Like most hunting tribes, they can go 

 for considerable periods on very scanty food, and then gorge when they have plenty. Burrows, 

 for example, says he has known one to eat sixty bananas at a meal in addition to other food, 

 and then ask for more. They are reported to practise cannibalism; but the evidence in 

 support of this assertion is insufficient. It is, for instance, denied by Burrows. 



In regard to disposition and character all travellers agree that the Batvva and their allies are 

 intelligent and cheerful. In describing one of them Stanley remarks, "What a cunning rogue 

 he was! How quick-witted! He spoke so eloquently by gesture that he was understood by the 

 dullest of us." While Stanley was discussing arrangements with this pygmy, " the coppery 



face of the nut-brown little maid was 

 eloquent with sympathy in the emotions 

 of the male pygmy. Her eyes flashed 

 joy, a subtle spirit glided over her 

 features with the transition of lightning. 

 There were the same tricks of by-play; 

 the same doubts, the same hopes, the 

 same curiosity, the same chilling fear, 

 were felt by the impressionable soul as 

 she divined what feelings moved her 

 kinsman. She was as plump as a 

 thanksgiving turkey or a Christmas 

 goose; her breasts glistened with the 

 sheen of old ivory; and as she stood 

 with clasped hands drooping below 

 though her body was nude she was 

 the very picture of young modesty." 



If caught young, the pygmies are 

 said to make excellent and industrious 

 servants. Emin Pasha had one who, 

 according to Jephson, " was most in- 

 dustrious, and never seemed to be idle, 

 and was always cheery and good- 

 natured." Burrows describes them as 

 passionate, vindictive, intensely jealous 

 of their personal freedom, and as 

 "having apparently no ties of family 

 affection." Several travellers have re- 

 marked their powers of accurate mimicry 

 and their agility in dancing. Among 

 the primitive Batwa, "their whole idea 

 of dancing is to strut round in a circle, 

 with their legs quite stiff, beating time 



POUNDING RICE, ANTANANARIVO. 



