I30 In the Heart of Africa 



the genuine pygmy. To anyone who knows both races, to confuse 

 them would be out of the question. The Batwa of Ruwenzori and 

 of Kwidschwi are entirely different from the Batwa of the Bugoie 

 territory. Czekanowski holds that the former are identical with 

 the true pygmies, and I would maintain that this opinion should 

 also apply to the Batwa of the island. 



The Batwa of Ruwenzori and of Kwidschwi possess a height 

 of about 1.42 metres, which they share with the pygmies of the 

 Congo forest. Further, they show the typical distinctive marks 

 of true dwarfs — the round head, the peculiar, penetrating, and 

 unusually large eyes, and the very broad root of the nose — • 

 which betray to the expert their membership of the dwarf 

 families. 



The pygmies of the primeval forest differ from those of 

 Kwidschwi only in the colour of their skin. Whilst the former 

 are exceedingly light in colour, the Kiwu dwarfs have the dark 

 complexion of the negro. Their complexions, however, may 

 possibly be influenced by their different habits of life. The 

 natives of Kwidschwi expose themselves a great deal more to the 

 sun than their fellow-tribesmen of the Aruwimi and Uelle basins, 

 who never leave the darkness of their native forest, and are 

 therefore fairer in complexion. 



The Ruwenzori Batwa, says Czekanowski, as also the pygmies 

 of the Uelle and Ituri basins, speak the Balese language, and 

 maintain that they possess none other. The Batwa of the Bugoie 

 forest are conversant with the language of the Wanjaruanda. 



The weapons of the latter race, which chiefly interests us at 

 present, consist mainly of spears. They also use bows and 

 arrows, the bow-strings being frequently made from the filament 

 of the rotang palm. Like the pygmies, the Batwa exist almost 

 exclusively by hunting and plundering caravans, and do not 

 cultivate the soil. They claim to be very brave hunters, and to 

 be able to spear without fail the buffaloes that lie in the bush 

 after they have been stalked to within a few paces. They 

 appeared to consider it a very impressive pose, just before we crept 

 up to one of the very numerous buffalo herds, to plant one foot 



