384 THE EXISTENCE OF DWARFS. 



we find the same word entering into the name of 

 the unknown countries situated to the south of 

 Bornou and the Mandara range, and, therefore, the 

 Dukalata of those portions on the west of Africa 

 may correspond with the equally unknown country 

 of the Doko upon the eastern side. 



The accounts, however, lately received of the 

 dwarfs of central Africa, is not new information, 

 but is merely the revival of a very old idea, which 

 in less enlightened times w T as naturally enough 

 entertained by just and properly constituted 

 minds, who acknowledged the greatness of the 

 natural truths which had been demonstrated to 

 them, by thus not refusing to believe that 

 which with their limited knowledge, they could 

 not consistently deny might be possible. It is this 

 which characterizes the humility of genius, and 

 which is rewarded by the light which must result 

 from the inquiries excited by such expectations. 

 But it becomes a proof of no little mental obtuse- 

 ness, when the probability of any popular rumour is 

 insisted upon, after the knowledge of facts has so 

 far accumulated, as to enable us to demonstrate its 

 absurdity. No reasonable being can positively deny 

 the existence of a nation of very short statured 

 men in Africa, but that he must believe because 

 there may be such a people, that the animals 

 described as the Doko dwarfs, are them, is quite out 

 of the question. The real dwarfs may, ultimately, 

 prove to be the Gonga people, and most probably 



