STANLEY'S RACE OF PIGMIES EXPLORER'S STORY.

Evening Post, Volume LXIX, Issue 119, 22 May 1905, Page 2

STANLEY'S RACE OF PIGMIES EXPLORER'S STORY.

ADVJJNTUKKS AMOXti THK FOREST DWARFS. Bringing with him mx pigmies from the Ituri Forest, generally known as the. Stanley Fotest (Congo Fico State), Colonel JliiiTison, tho well-known explorer, nirived at Khartoum on 11th April from the Sonth. Tho little people (says thecorrespondent ot the Daily Mail), four of whom aio men and two women, me ah between eighteen and thiity-four years of age, and their height is from 3ft Bin to 4ft 6in. They came of their own free will, and will proceed to London. Colonel Harrison has promised to send them buck if they wish it, but he thinks thoy will probably piefer to stiiy in England. Tho pigmies are still Fairly numerous, and live on tho outskiits of the great forest, /arcly penetrating into its interior except for purposes of concealment. Tho colonel found thorn quite friendly when ho had once gained their confidence, but a week before he left they attacked a caravan belonging lo tho Congo Government, killing seventeen porters and escaping into the depths* of tho forest. Tho littlo men are of a wurliko disposition and dwell in small villages, each ruled by an independent chief. Their houf.es consist of erections of sticks covered with leaves. The pigmies wear hardly any clothing. Some of thorn liavo hair on tho biea.st nnd legs, but the large majority are free from it. The maximum age thoy attain is foity years. Most of them appear quite intelligent, and one woman is remarkable for her good figure Their distinguishing features aie thick lips and nosos, while Uieir complexion is sallow. Tho Siidor, Kir Francis Wingate, and several officers paid it visit to the pigmies, helped them to procure clothing, and sent them to the hospital, whcie they were photographed. Colonel Harrison spent three- weeks with the natives hunting okapi, but owing to the denseness *of the forest it was impossible to Shoot any specimens of tho rare animal. Two skins, however, wore procured from tho natives, both badly cut. Even in tho forest tho okapi is now becoming iaro Tho explorer, who was away for tin cc months, Muccedcd in bringing back with him a (small black-haired monkey of exceedingly nivo type, called the colopus. Leaving his steamer at Lado, Colonel Harrison followed tho Nile down to tho Equator, covering in all 1000 miles, and at one time travelling 138 miles in less thnn fivo days. Tho ex.|M'ier cxpiesscd his astonishment at the enormous development anil progress of tho Congo Free State, and thinks 'that tho cry in Mngland against tho alleged atrocities is abso.utely unjustified. People have to' travel lo see for themselves that tho country is vory safe and the natives friendly. Ac a lule he carried no rifle except when' hunting. High tribute is< paid l\y the colonel to tho eneigy and honeM-y of the Administration. He met with every kindness from the officials, who piovided him with boats on tho Nile on the return journey, thus saving him nine days' walking. The uatives are returning from Uganda and building their villages in tho Congo State. Colonel Harrison loaves to-morrow for London, where he expects to arrive at tho end of April Tho pigmies will reach tho capital in tho middle of M*y