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The Country of the Dwarfs — Edition Insights
(3 User reviews)
919
Project Gutenberg
2015
Not confirmed
Africa, West -- Description and travel; Negrillos
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Project Gutenberg digital edition
en
Edition facts
Words
82,998
Reading time
361 min
Text sections
10
For The Country of the Dwarfs — Edition Insights, the stored edition analysis reports 82,998 words, 6 hr 1 min estimated reading time, and 10 detected text sections.
The text analysis averages about 17.9 words per sentence, while the detected sections provide another way to judge how the source is divided.
Project Gutenberg metadata also associates the work with “Africa, West -- Description and travel,” connecting these edition facts with the source record’s subject description.
Source:
Project Gutenberg record #48643
Du Chaillu's 1871 narrative of his expedition into equatorial Africa, blending travelogue, natural history, and ethnographic observation. The catalog subjects 'Africa, West -- Description and travel' and 'Negrillos' only partially capture the text's focus on gorilla hunting, local politics, and the author's self-promotion as 'Oguizi'.
Editorial Edition Score
4.9/5
★★★★★
★★★★★
Calculated from edition completeness, EPUB availability, text structure and catalogue metadata. Not a user rating.
How this score is calculated
- Description quality20 pts
- Title & short description10 pts
- Source metadata20 pts
- Text length15 pts
- Chapters / structure15 pts
- EPUB file integrity20 pts
Total of 100 points, scaled to a 2.5-5.0 range. Editions with an empty description or a missing EPUB file are not scored.
Edition quality
Read the Text
CHAPTER I. How Paul set out for the Country of the Dwarfs, and what he took with him. Page 11
CHAPTER II. On the African Coast.--Meeting with old Friends.--Changes in Four Years.--The Captain's Misgivings. 20
CHAPTER III. Landing Goods.--Among the Breakers.--King Ranpano.--Loss of Instruments.--King Quengueza.--A Palaver.--Changing Names. 31
CHAPTER IV. Honest Africans.--Distributing Presents.--Quengueza's Diplomacy.--Another Palaver.--A new Settlement.--Rabolo's Monda.--Ranpano's Superstition. 41
CHAPTER V. Departure of the Mentor.--Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Chimpanzee.--Thomas in London.--Left alone in Africa.--Departure from Plateau.--A Tornado.--Nengué Shika.--Traces of Gorillas.--Nengué Ncoma.--King Olenga-Yombi.--The Ipi. 52
CHAPTER VI. Hunting for the Ipi.--Camping out in the Woods.--Capture of an Ipi.--Description of the Animal.--A new species of Ant-eater. 64
CHAPTER VII. Life at Nkongon-Boumba.--Gorillas and Plantains.--Odanga scared by a Gorilla.--A captive Gorilla.--Superstitions respecting the Leopard. 72
CHAPTER VIII. Wounded Gorilla and her young ones.--Taking their Photographs.--Tom and Minnie.--Arrival of my Vessel.--Hurra for Baring Brothers.--A smoking Ship.--King Quengueza goes on board.--Preparations for Journey. 80
CHAPTER IX. Down the River in a Canoe.--A strange Passenger.--Talk with a Gorilla.--Landing through the Breakers.--Preparing to cross the Continent.--The Departure. 91
CHAPTER X. A royal Welcome.--Departure from Goumbi.--The Story of Nchanga and Enomo.--Ascending the Ovenga River.--A hostile Barrier removed.--The Advice of Quengueza. 105
CHAPTER XI. Bustle in the Camp.--A magic Horn.--Quengueza's Idol.--A living Skeleton.--Terrific Thunder-storm.--A Gorilla Family.--Stupendous Cataract. 111
CHAPTER XII. The Death of Remandji.--A singular Superstition.--Outbreak of the Plague.--A touching Incident.--Dying off by Scores.--Death of Olenda. 112
CHAPTER XIII. Burial of Olenda.--A desolated Valley.--Suspicions aroused.--Robbery.--Paul in perplexing circumstances.--Freeing a Man from the Stocks.--Ravages of the Plague. 131
CHAPTER XIV. Departure from Ashira Land.--A silent Leave-taking.--Thievish Porters.--A cunning old Rascal.--Misfortune on Misfortune.--Without Food in the Forest.--A desperate Plot.--Feasting on Monkey-meat.--Out of the Woods. 139
CHAPTER XV. In the open Country at last.--Interview with Mayolo.--Igala falls Sick.--A Mutiny.--The Otando Prairie on Fire.--Return of Macondai and Igalo.--Their Adventures.--All together again. 153
CHAPTER XVI. Terrible Storms of Thunder.--Days of Anxiety.--Shooting an Antelope.--Brighter Prospects.--Mayolo has a hard time with his Doctors.--Basket-making. 165
CHAPTER XVII. Departure from the Otando Country.--Talk with Mayolo.--Living on Monkey-meat.--Astronomical Studies.--Lunar Observations.--Intense Heat. 173
CHAPTER XVIII. Saying Good-by.--A panic-stricken Village.--Pacifying the People's Fears.--A tipsy Scene.--Majesty on a Spree.--Lunch by a River side. 184
CHAPTER XIX. Rumors of War.--Through a burning Prairie.--Imminent Peril.--Narrow Escape from a horrible Death.--A lonely Night-watch. 194
CHAPTER XX. A Deputation from the Village.--A plain Talk with them.--A beautiful and prosperous Town.--Cheerful Character of the People.--More Observations. 199
CHAPTER XXI. Great Excitement in the Village.--A deserted Town.--The Inhabitants frightened away.--Afraid of the Evil Eye.--The Author taken for an Astrologer.--Lost among the Plantations. 206
CHAPTER XXII. First Sight of a Village of the Dwarfs.--A strange and interesting Spectacle.--An abandoned Town.--A Reverie beside a Stream.--The Leaf, the Butterfly, and the Bird.--The blessing of Water. 214
CHAPTER XXIII. Grotesque Head-dresses.--Curious fashions in Teeth.--A venerable Granite Boulder.--Interior of a Hut.--A warlike race of Savages.--Giving them an Electric Shock. 226
CHAPTER XXIV. Visit to a Village of the Dwarfs.--Walk through the Primeval Forest.--An ancient Account of this strange Race.--A great Ashango Dance.--A Watch and a tremendous Sneeze.--First View of the Dwarfs.--Queer specimens of Humanity. 239
CHAPTER XXV. Making friends with the Dwarfs.--A Surprise Visit.--A gorgeous Feast.--Ridiculous Show of Babies.--The Dwarf Language.--A Dwarf Dance.--The old Fable of the Cranes and the Pigmies. 252
CHAPTER XXVI. A modern Traveler's Account of the Dwarfs and their Habits.--Where and how they Bury their Dead.--Hunting for the Dwarfs.--How they make their Huts. 265
CHAPTER XXVII. Traveling Eastward.--Measuring Heights.--Instruments used.--Reach Mouaou-Kombo.--Apprehensions of the People.--Palaver with the Chief.--An unlucky Shot.--Hostilities commenced. 274
CHAPTER XXVIII. Retreat from Mouaou-Kombo.--The Attack.--Paul is wounded.--A Panic.--The Fight renewed.--The Enemy re-enforced.--Lying in Ambush.--The Enemy repulsed.--A poisoned Arrow.--Mouitchi safe.--Death of the Dogs. 286
CHAPTER XXIX. Traveling Westward.--A Night in the Forest.--Paul's Speech to his Men.--Their Reply.--The Retreat resumed.--Taking Food and Rest.--Meeting with Friends. 301
CHAPTER XXX. Conclusion.--Return to the Coast.--Desolation of the Country.--Fate of old Friends.--Reach the Settlement.--Departure for England.--Au Revoir. 312
DU CHAILLU AND KING QUENGUEZA _Frontispiece._
SKETCH MAP OF PART OF WESTERN AFRICA _Title-page._
DU CHAILLU MEETS HIS OLD FRIEND ADJOUATONGA 22
CAPTURE OF THE IPI 67
PHOTOGRAPHING GORILLAS 83
Du Chaillu presents himself as 'Oguizi,' a spirit or wonder-worker, a role that shapes his interactions with African rulers like Quengueza and Mayolo. The narrative opens with a dedication to publisher Fletcher Harper and a table of contents promising gorilla encounters, 'superstitions,' and a journey 'toward where the sun rises.' Yet the catalog subjects—'Africa, West -- Description and travel' and 'Negrillos'—suggest a straightforward geographical or ethnographic account. The excerpts reveal a more complex blend: Du Chaillu defends eating monkey as 'delicious and delicate food,' photographs a wounded gorilla, and records Mayolo's recovery from illness as a political event. The text is as much about Du Chaillu's persona as about the region.
The Author as Oguizi: Self-Fashioning in the Field
Du Chaillu repeatedly casts himself as a supernatural figure. Mayolo declares, 'I knew that the Oguizi did not like to see me ill,' and the author accepts the title without correction. This framing serves multiple purposes: it grants him authority, explains his medical interventions, and justifies his requests for porters and food. When Mayolo recovers, he shouts, 'Here I am, alive! The Otando people said I should die because the Spirit had come, but here I am!' The local belief that the Oguizi killed Remandji and Olenda is mentioned without denial. Du Chaillu also uses his 'magic'—an illustrated paper—to astonish his hosts. This self-presentation is a key structural element, not merely a cultural curiosity.
Eating Monkey and Defending the Palate
A striking passage defends the consumption of monkey meat. Du Chaillu anticipates reader disgust: 'Horrible! you will say; the idea of eating monkeys! It is perfectly dreadful!' He counters by describing the 'nchègai, the nkago, the miengai, and the ndova' as 'balls of fat' in season, and claims a haunch grilled on charcoal is 'simply delicious.' He even jokes, 'I wish I had a monkey here, ready for cooking. I would invite you to partake of it.' This rhetorical move—addressing a presumed squeamish audience—reveals the text's dual purpose: to inform and to provoke. The catalog subject 'Description and travel' underplays such vivid, opinionated passages.
Political Theater: Palaver, Presents, and Performance
Du Chaillu's narrative is punctuated by formal 'palavers' and gift distributions. King Quengueza engages in 'diplomacy' over names and settlements; Mayolo delivers a speech lasting 'more than an hour' before agreeing to travel east. The author records these events with attention to protocol: 'Mayolo deferred his answer till the next day. I suppose he wanted to prepare himself for a great speech.' The celebration of Mayolo's recovery involves 'jar after jar of native beer,' dancing, and gunfire. These scenes show that travel in this region required constant negotiation. The catalog subject 'Negrillos' (a term for pygmy peoples) appears nowhere in the excerpts; instead, the text focuses on the author's relationships with village leaders.
Readers should approach The Country of the Dwarfs as a document of 19th-century exploration rhetoric, not a neutral record. Du Chaillu's persona as Oguizi, his defense of monkey-eating, and his detailed accounts of palavers reveal a narrator actively shaping his story. The catalog subjects provide only a starting point; the text itself is richer and more contradictory. Pay attention to what Du Chaillu chooses to emphasize—and what he omits.
I found myself thinking of those long river stretches in The Country of the Dwarfs, the weight of the forest pressing in, and how Du Chaillu’s measured observations felt like a quiet anchor against the unknown. It reminded me of a similar calm in Down the Orinoco in a Canoe — Inside the Classic, that patient way of drifting and noting, letting the current do the talking.
Alexander Rivera
1 month agoOliver Young
2 weeks ago-
Jessica Gaines - 1 month ago
A gripping and unique travel narrative! The author's journey into the heart of Africa is filled with danger, curiosity, and unexpected encounters. I was particularly fascinated by the accounts of the pygmy people and their customs, which are described with genuine respect. The vivid storytelling and the raw adventure make this book impossible to put down. -
Jake Burke - 1 month ago
An interesting historical account of African exploration, with compelling descriptions of the people and landscapes. However, the book is very much a product of its time, with attitudes that seem colonial and paternalistic. If you can overlook that, there's value in the detailed observations. A mixed read for modern audiences. -
Jason Michelle Ross - 2 weeks ago
I found this book to be patronizing and riddled with racial stereotypes. The author's descriptions of the 'dwarfs' and other Africans are demeaning and reflect a colonial mindset. Beyond that, the narrative lacks structure and sometimes feels repetitive. Honestly, I couldn't finish it. Better to read more modern accounts that treat the people with dignity.
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