THE PYGMY IN THE UNITED STATES. 55 



hypsistenocephalic. * (The vertical diameter is compared with the 

 transverse diameter ; when the former is equal to or exceeds the 

 latter, the skull is hypsistenocephalic.) Notwithstanding his age 

 (according to his count he is nearly seventy years old) he is quite 

 strong and active. Mr. A. E. Davenport says that these negritos 

 of the Southern States, notwithstanding their diminutive stature, 

 are very strong and exceedingly active. De Quatrefages says 

 the same of the Andamanese. I have examined a large number of 

 these American pygmies, and have been very much surprised at 

 their strength and agility. 



In a number of localities, notably in Florida and Louisiana, 

 the negrito has abandoned civilization and relapsed into sav- 

 agery. He supports himself by hunting and fishing, and never 

 leaves his haunts in morass and forest, unless compelled so to 

 do by lack of ammunition or other necessary supplies. He is 

 a devil worshiper, paying more attention toward propitiating 

 the Evil One, in order to " keep out of his clutches," than 

 to God, who does not need propitiation because he is good and 

 merciful. Youdou and Walla- walla dances and incantation cere- 

 monies are of almost nightly occurrence among these people. 

 Every hollow tree, every tangled brake, and every miry morass 

 is the dwelling place of either a ghost or an evil spirit. The 

 fetich is greatly in evidence, every hunter carrying about with 

 him some peculiarly formed root or stone, or perhaps a "con- 

 jure bag," which he wears securely tied about his neck, and 

 which has been furnished him by some noted "conjure doctor." 

 So much afraid of ghosts and spirits are these negritos that they 

 will rarely leave their hovels at night. Whenever they do go out 

 at night they never go alone, but always in companies. Court- 

 ship and marriage among these half-savage negritos possess some 

 peculiarities which have partially originated with themselves; 

 yet some of their customs in these social rites seem to be only 

 modifications of similar ceremonies handed down to them by 

 their ancestors. For instance, the young negrito man will leave 

 a basket of fruit at the door of his sweetheart's hut some time 

 during the night ; if she takes it in the next day, he knows that 

 his suit has met with favor. The SaMes of India and Obongos of 

 Africa go through the same performance. Marriage, however, 

 especially among the Florida negritos, is simply a mating of the 

 two individuals. Where these little people still live in the neigh- 

 borhood of towns and thickly settled portions of the country, 

 they generally seek the services of a minister or magistrate, 

 though not always. 



The dead present awful and awe-inspiring attributes to the 

 pygmies ; the ghost of the departed is his bete noire ; hence, when 

 one of these individuals departs this life, his body is treated 



