608 A PREMIUM ON MURDER. 



of all men ; but they did not try to conceal their craving for 

 human bodies, and were unquestionably the most bloodthirsty 

 people he had ever seen ; other men would kill in war or in 

 anger, these would kill for pleasure. A group may be seen : one 

 steps forward and puts a scarlet feather on the ground, and 

 challenges those near to stick it in the hair ; the man who accepts 

 this challenge must kill a man, to be entitled to wear the scarlet 

 feather. There is another custom which forbids any one to 

 wear the skin of the muskcat unless he has murdered somebody. 

 It was very clear that they would take great pleasure in killing 

 every one of the strangers, if the guns were not in the^way. 

 And it is hardly wonderful that such a disposition existed 

 toward the large body of their visitors. Dr. Livingstone had 

 tried vainly to check the cruelties of the traders, and various 

 reports, which reached him from time to time, convinced him 

 that some of them were beginning to see the wisdom of his advice. 

 The Manyuema were not long in finding out that guns did not 

 always kill, and with every discovery of that sort their own 

 weapons rose in their appreciation, and they frequently ventured 

 to join battle, sometimes with considerable loss to the traders. 

 This added to the fact that their murderous policy really failed 

 to procure for them the coveted ivory, it was earnestly hoped 

 would produce a change in the conduct of the traders. This 

 was not realized, however, w r hile it was in Dr. Livingstone's 

 power to profit by it. 



Next, probably, to the people themselves, the most interesting 

 object which came under the notice of Livingstone at this time 

 was an animal resembling the gorilla. These strange creatures 

 find their choice haunts in the tall strong grass, which we have 

 mentioned as usurping so promptly every square foot of ground 

 reclaimed from the forests. They often go erect, with their 

 hands resting on the head, as if to steady them as they walk ; 

 and a more unattractive specimen of animal life cannot be 

 found. The doctor was firmly convinced that one of these in- 

 dividuals would do admirably standing for a picture of the 

 devil. He is described as having the most disgusting bestiality 

 of appearance. Livingstone, speaking of him, says : "His light 

 yellow face shows off* his ugly whiskers ; his forehead, villanously 

 low, with high ears, is well in the background of the great 



