MYSTERIOUS RACE OF GIANTS

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 5, 7 January 1922, Page 19

MYSTERIOUS RACE OF GIANTS

TWO CODLD KILL AXD EAT AN ELEPHANT. Some details of a mysterious race ot giants scarcely known to Europeans, is given by Mr. It. E. Salkeld, Senior Commissioner, who writes from his offlce at Kismayu to the "Geographical Journal." •Discussing the Inhabitants of Jubaland, Africa, be states that at Port Durnford, on the coast, SO miles south of Klsmayn, there are the remains of a great circular stone wall—with a few remnants of stone houses —capable of containing a large population. This place Is called Rendlle, and its Ms- | tory is said to have ended ln sev.-n years of pestilence, followed by seven years of war. Utterly broken, the survivors of the tribe retreated Inland and north-west, apparently finding an asylum in the deserts only when they had been driven north of Ueso Ny'ro and tbe Lorlan Swamp. The Gurre are reported" to have occupied the country peacefully because the previous Inhabitants had disappeared through constant civil wars. This must have been fortunate for the Gurre, as the earlier people are reported to have been giants, two of whom could not only kill an elephant with spears, but eat It afterwards. These mysterious people, the Commissioner points out, are known by tradition to nearly all tbe local natives, but seem unknown to Europeans. They must have been heard of, however, as their name appears on old maps. A War Offlce map published ln 1903 records the name of the people— Maanthlnle. Mr. Salkeld says be first came across traces of this obscure race ln marching from Kismayu to Nairobi via Mount Kenya in 1913-14. Again this year, whilst inspecting the unknown country between Port Durnford and the Lower Tana, he heard of them, and he thinks they occupied the whole conntry west of the Juba between tbe Webl Dawa, ln the north, and the Tana, ln tbd south, as far west as the Lorlan. His attention was aroused by the discovery of some artificial waterholes. The wells at Wajhier cut through the solid rock are attributed to this strange race. Great cairns of stones are also a remarkable feature of this little-known territory, and are supposed to have been built by the Maanthlnle. One was opened, but there were no signs of a grave. The Lorlan Swamp Is said to have been made through this people damming the Uaso Nyiro. It is generally reported that this giant race cultivated large areas, conserved the water supply, owned camels, lived ln round bnts, came from Abyssinia, and finally that they were Christian. Tbeir hoes are said to have been so large that a man of the present day could not lift one. A story Is told of one, writes the Commissioner, who visited Klsmayn, and being annoyed with the Inhabitants, pulled up the anchors of tbe dhows ln the harbour, dragged tbe boats across tbe bay into deep water, and let them drift. They wouia have been a menace to their neighbours but for tbe fact that they seemed very peaceful. Vet they apparently fonght among themselves with the utmost ferocity. The legend of tbe beginning of the end OI this race Is that a man and girl quarrelled. The man beat the girl and cut her nose off; tbe girl's brother killed ber lnsulter, and I tbe quarrel spread.