42 THE PIGMIES. 



The Akka women bear a great resemblance to the men. M. 

 Giqltoli speaks of Saida as having a thick waist, short neck, 

 arms neither slim nor long and hands rather large than other- 

 wise. Her complexion, as with Chairaxlah, is that of a mulatto; 

 her hair is of a fuliginous black and the gromerules are not so 

 distinct ; prognathism rather more denned. ( ] ) This description 

 agrees perfectly with the portrait given by M. Chaille-Long, 

 who adds that, in the case of his Tiki-Tiki woman, the breasts were 

 very flaccid, though she vowed never having had any children. ( 2 ) 



The physiological characteristics of Akkas resemble those of 

 most savages. Their senses are extremely acute, and Schweln- 

 furth repeatedly bears witness to their excessive agility. Accord- 

 ing to the Monboukous, these little creatures are wont to bound 

 in the tall grass, after the manner of grasshoppers. ( 3 ) Nsevoue 

 had, in a certain measure, kept up that habit and during the time 

 he stopped with Schwelnfurth, was never able to bring a dish 

 without spilling part of its contents. (*) 



The Akkas are very courageous. " They are men, and men who 

 know how to fight," said Moummeri speaking of his followers. ( 5 ) 

 They are great elephant hunters and w T ill attack them with a very 

 short bow, and spears hardly as high as themselves. ( 6 ) Long- 

 Bet coroborates this statement and adds that the women are as 

 martial as the men and this again fully confirms the information 

 gi\ r en by Battel. ( 7 ) 



JSchweinfuktii draws a miserable picture of the character and 

 intellect of JS t sevoue. He describes him as enjoying the sight of 



(i) Loo: cit., p. 410. 



(•<= ) hoc. cit, p. 269. The traveller however ascribes to her very small hands 

 «• n 1 feet. 



(?) Id., p. 114. 

 (-*) Id., v.- 123. 



(») SCHWEINFURTH, p. 115. 



( 6 ) Vide portrait of BOMBI,- loo. cit. Schweixfurth does not mention that 

 their arrows are poisoned. 



(7) Long-Bey. loc. cit., p. 2G'J. 



