THE RELIGION OF THE PIGMIES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13485, 11 May 1907, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE RELIGION OF THE PIGMIES.

Major Powell-Cotton', during his long &t»j " j among the pigmies of the Ituri Forest, discovered that the tribe has a religion of its -. ,\ own. In some of the inmost recesses of the forest, he reports, imposing rites taK* place. On certain occasions an altar _is ] erected and sacrifices are offered, the.pig* . j mies themselves sitting round' in a lienit* j circle performing their devotions. Wlw" 1 the camp is moved to a fresh .site in the . forest the little people offer a sacrifice to the god of their new home to intercede for aid on their hunting expeditions. Bananas, sweet potatoes, mealies, pieces of cooked meat, all steaming hot, are placed on the altar as the offering to the god, and the pigmies sit round, all —men women, and J children—eating. During their honeymoon ■ ■. j Major and Mrs. ■ Powell-Cottoi. had ofW i j tunities of watching the weird dances indulged in by the pigmies. To the music of their own voices and the native torn-toW the groups of dancers shuffle round ui * 1 j 'rough circle. The men atid the women eacn ¥ keep to their own circle—in pygmy-laud P 6 g [sexes never dance together. At evening ; time, when the shadows arc lengthening' ~ this barbaric dwarf donee is fantastic be.vtfJ* _. > - .' " :■.'■ ■':'.■'"' ' .:'■' '■'■■':■:■■:'?s? ,:;.";