The Country of the Dwarfs — Edition Insights

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

SURPRISING A FAMILY OF GORILLAS 117

PRISONER IN NCHOGO 136

DECISIVE MEASURES 146

MEETING WITH MACONDAI 159

HUNTING AN ANTELOPE 167

OTAITAI, OR PORTER'S BASKET 171

TAKING AN OBSERVATION 180

APONO AND ISHOGO VILLAGE 208

ISHOGO HOUSES, WITH ORNAMENTAL DOORS 211

HUTS OF THE DWARFS 216

ISHOGO HEAD-DRESSES 227, 228

AFRICAN GOAT, CHICKEN, PARROT, AND IDOL 231

SHOCKING THE ASHANGOS 236

DINNER WITH THE DWARFS 271

INSTRUMENTS FOR OBSERVATION 275

THE FIGHT WITH THE ASHANGOS 289

FRIENDS IN THE DARKNESS 309

THE COUNTRY OF THE DWARFS.

HOW PAUL SET OUT FOR THE COUNTRY OF THE DWARFS, AND WHAT HE TOOK WITH HIM.

IN the month of July, 1863, if you had been in London, you might have seen in St. Catharine's Dock a schooner called the Mentor, a little vessel of less than one hundred tons' measurement, and if you had gone on board you would have encountered your old friend Paul Du Chaillu busily superintending the taking of the cargo, and getting all things in readiness for the voyage upon which he is now going to take you.

Captain Vardon, the commander of the vessel, was generally by his side, and I am sure you would have been happy to make his acquaintance, for he was a very pleasant man.

Every body was busy on board, either on deck or below deck, storing away the goods. Boxes upon boxes came alongside the Mentor from morning till evening. These contained my outfit and the equipment necessary for the expedition.

Paul Du Chaillu had an anxious look, and you need not wonder at it, for he was about to undertake a journey of explorations of about five years' duration, and had to think of many things. It was, indeed, no small undertaking. What an outfit it was! I will give you some idea of it.

Clothing for five years was to be provided; the very smallest article must not be forgotten, even to needles, thread, and scissors.

It would never do again to be left without shoes, as I was in Apingi Land, so I had seventy-two pairs of Balmoral lace-boots made specially for journeying in the great forest, with soles flexible enough to allow me to bend my feet while jumping from rock to rock, or from the base of one tree to another. Besides these lace-boots I had twenty-four pairs of shoes and twelve pairs of linen slippers. Twelve pairs of leggins were to protect my legs from thorns, briers, and the bite of snakes; so you see my feet and legs were to be well taken care of in that journey, and for my further comfort I laid in twelve dozen pairs of socks. I took so many because I do not know how to darn socks, and when a pair became full of holes they would have to be thrown away.

All my shirts were made of light-colored flannel; these were more healthy than linen shirts, and, besides economizing soap, it saved me from the necessity of getting under-garments, and consequently allotted me space which could be devoted to other articles.

With an eye to the great wear and tear of pantaloons, I had ordered six dozen pairs made of the strongest twisted blue drill that could be got. Instead of coats I ordered two dozen blouses, made of durable linen stuff, of a color not easily seen in the woods. The blouse was a very convenient garment, admitting of numerous pockets, in which I could keep many things while on the march. Every thing was made for wear and not for show, and to go through the thickest and most thorny jungle.

Several dozen pocket-handkerchiefs completed my wearing outfit. Besides their ordinary use, these were to be worn, generally wet, inside the three fine soft Panama hats I had provided to protect my head from the rays of a burning sun. No collars, no neck-ties were necessary.

Clothes must be washed, so I took with me one hundred pounds of the hardest Marseilles soap. That quantity was not much, but then I would probably be able some time to make my own soap with palm-oil.

Then came the drugs, and these gave me more embarrassment than any thing else. If it had been only to take medicines for myself, the matter would have been simple enough. A compact little medicine-chest, with an extra quantity of quinine, laudanum, and a few other remedies used in tropical climates more frequently than in ours, would have sufficed; but I had to think of my followers and porters--a retinue that would sometimes number five and six hundred--and accordingly I purchased

75 ounce bottles of quinine. 10 gallons of castor-oil. 50 pounds of Epsom salts. 2 quarts of laudanum.

These were the medicines which would be the most needed; but, besides these, I had pretty nearly all the drugs to be found at the apothecary's.

Of arsenic I took one hundred pounds, to preserve the skins of animals and birds I expected to kill in my journeyings.

Most of these and my wearing apparel were packed in japanned tin boxes, which would be serviceable afterward for the preservation of my butterflies and stuffed birds. Tin boxes were safer than wooden ones; the white ants would not be able to pierce through them.

Though I did not set out to make war, I felt that I ought to be prepared for any emergency. Besides, I was to hunt, and I must have guns. After a great deal of thinking it over, I came to the conclusion that, for such a wild country, where I might get short of cartridges, the greater part of my guns should be muzzle-loaders, so I bought four splendid English muzzle-loaders, four long muzzle-loading rifles, two very short smooth-bore muzzle-loaders, and two very short muzzle-loading rifles.

Then I took a magnificent double-barrel breech-loading rifle which could throw steel-pointed bullets weighing more than two ounces. I had Dean and Adams's revolvers, magnificent arms that never got out of order, and several long, formidable hunting-knives.

These guns were for my own special use, and they were supplied with moulds for making bullets, etc., etc.

Besides these, I had ordered in Birmingham two hundred and fifty cheap guns for my body-guard and the native king, to whom I might desire to give one. Most of them were flint-locks, and of the pattern called the Tower.

I had great trouble in knowing what quantity of ammunition to take, for lead is heavy; but, then, what would a man do in a savage country without powder and bullets?

The great difficulty with rifle muzzle-loaders is, that when the charge has been driven home the bullets can not be easily withdrawn. So it is with the revolvers; and a great deal of ammunition would be lost on that account.

My ammunition consisted of 15,000 cartridges for my revolvers, in soldered tin boxes of fifties; 15,000 bullets for my guns and rifles, and lead for 20,000 more, for the practice of my men before starting into the desert; 1000 pounds of small shot of different sizes, for birds; 400 pounds of fine powder; 50,000 caps. I also took 200 10-pound barrels of coarse powder for my body-guard and to give away to my friends, or as presents.

So you see the warlike and hunting apparatus of the expedition was very heavy, but we were to depend in a great measure on our guns for food. Elephants, antelopes, hippopotami, gazelles, crocodiles, and monkeys would be our chief diet. Then came the scientific instruments:

4 strong, splendid hunting-case watches, by Brock, London. 1 watch made by Frodsham, London. 48 spare watch-keys and 24 spare glasses. 3 sextants, 8, 6, and 4 inches radius. 1 binocular yachting-glass. 1 telescope. 1 universal sun-dial (a magnificent instrument). 1 aneroid. 2 compasses, prismatic, with stand, shades, and reflector three inches in diameter, to take the bearings of land, etc., etc. 2 pocket compasses. 1 set drawing instruments (German silver). 2 dozen drawing-pens. 2 artificial horizons, folding roof, improved iron trough, and bottles containing quicksilver, in sling case. 1 hypsometrical apparatus. 2 bull's-eye lanterns, copper boiler, three reservoirs for spirits, oil, or candles. 3 thermometers for measuring heights and boiling water. 2 thermometers for the sun (to know its power). 2 thermometers graduated Fahrenheit and Centigrade. 1 thermometer graduated Centigrade and Reaumur. 1 powerful electro-magnetic machine, with 90 feet of conducting wire or cord. 2 large magnifying-glasses. 7 pounds of mercury, in a bottle, as a reserve supply. Parallel rule (German silver). Protractor, circular, with compass rectifier, in a mahogany box. 3 rain-gauges and spare glasses, to tell the amount of rain falling at a given time. Scale, 18 inches, metal, graduated to inches, and sub-divided to tenths and hundredths, in a box. Tape, 100 feet, to measure trees. 75 sheets of skeleton maps, ruled in squares, to mark out in the rough my daily route as determined by compass.

4 Nautical Almanacs, 1863, '4, '5, '6, to be used in my astronomical observations; and several other scientific books. 12 blank books for keeping my daily journal. 10 memorandum-books. 10 quires of paper. Ink, pens, pencils, slates.

For illumination I provided 100 pounds of wax candles, 10 gallons of spirits (alcohol) for lamps, thermometers, etc., etc.; 12 gross of matches in boxes, each dozen boxes inclosed in a separate soldered tin box. Though I had fire-steel and flint, the matches could light a fire much quicker, and they were "big things" with the natives.

So you see I had a complete set of instruments, and in sufficient number, so that in case of accident I could replace the injured one; and accidents I knew were sure to happen.

If I did not explain to you why I took five watches, I am sure you would say that I was foolish to spend so much money in watches. Then let me tell you that I bought so many because I was afraid that if I took only one or two, they might stop running, and in this event it would have been impossible for me to know my longitude, that is to say, how far east or west I might be, and to ascertain the day and month, should illness have caused me to forget the calendar. No watch can be safely depended upon to run for five years in such a climate without cleaning. But as four of them had been made specially for the journey, I felt assured that at least one or two out of the five would run till my return.

But we have not yet done with my equipment. There were 18 boxes containing photographic apparatus, with tent, and chemicals for 10,000 photographs. The transportation of these alone would require twenty men.

All that I have enumerated to you constituted but a small proportion of the things that came on board, and were for my special use, with the exception of the 250 common guns and a great part of the ammunition.

There are yet to be mentioned the presents for my old friends, who had been so kind to me in my former journeys, and whom I hoped to see again. These were the chiefs whose hospitality I had enjoyed, and my dear hunters Aboko, Fasiko, Niamkala, Malaouen, Querlaouen, Gambo, dear old Quengueza, Ranpano, Rikimongani, and Obindji, the Bakalai chief. Presents, too, were indispensable for the people who were to take me from tribe to tribe, and the right of way I knew would often have to be bought. So more than two months had been spent by me in the London clothing, hardware, and dry-goods establishments, finding what I wanted.

I bought more than 5000 pounds of beads of different sizes and colors, several hundred pieces of cotton goods, some pieces of silks, coats, waistcoats, shirts, 2000 _red caps_, a few umbrellas, files, knives, bells, fire-steels, flints, looking-glasses, forks, spoons, some _stove-pipe_ hats for the kings near the sea-shore, straw hats, etc., etc.

Then, to impress the wild people with what I could do, I bought several large Geneva musical boxes, one powerful electrical battery, several magnets, and six ship clocks, etc., etc.

The abundant results of the sale of my "Adventures in Equatorial Africa," and the proceeds arising from the disposal of my gorillas, and my collection of beasts, birds, insects, and shells, alone enabled me to undertake this new expedition, for not one dollar has ever been given by any scientific society to help me in any of my travels or explorations; but I was very happy in expending a part of my means in the interest of science and for the enlargement of our knowledge of unknown countries. I only wish now I could have done more, but really I think that I did the best I could.

Years had passed away since I had gone first to Africa, my parents were both dead, I was alone in the world and the world was before me, and I thought I could do nothing better than make another exploration.

I had made up my mind, without confiding my purpose to any one, to cross the continent of Africa near the equator, from the west to the head waters of the Nile, and to set out from the Commi country. I knew my old negro friends would help me. That was the reason my outfit was on so large a scale.

The only thing that worried me before my departure was our civil war, but then I thought it was soon to end.

ON THE AFRICAN COAST.--MEETING WITH OLD FRIENDS.--CHANGES IN FOUR YEARS.--THE CAPTAIN'S MISGIVINGS.

ON the 5th of August we sailed from London. I will not weary you with a narrative of the voyage. The days passed pleasantly on board the Mentor. By the end of the month of August we were not far from the Tropic of Cancer. September glided away calmly, and on the 7th of October Captain Vardon said that the following day we should come in sight of land.

Accordingly, the next morning I heard from the main-top the cry of "Land! land!" Two hours afterward from the deck I could discern the low lands of the Commi country. Nearer and nearer the coast we came, until we could see the white surf breaking with terrific force on the shore, and hear the booming sound of the angry waves as they dashed against the breakers. The country was so monotonous in its outlines that we could not make out exactly where we were; we only knew that we were south of Cape Lopez, and not very far from it. I thought it strange that I could not recognize the mouth of the Fernand Vaz or Commi River.

No canoes could ride through the surf, so no natives could come on board. In the evening we stood off the land and shortened sail, and afterward we cast anchor.

The next morning we sailed again in a southerly direction, and at last we saw a canoe pass through the breakers; it came alongside, and the negroes in it shouted in English, "Put down the anchor! Plenty of ivory, plenty of every thing; load the ship in a fortnight."

We had passed the Fernand Vaz, having sailed too far south. The mouth of the river itself is very difficult to discover. Perhaps you may recollect my having formerly described it as discernible only by the white surf combing over its bar, by large flocks of fish-eating birds hovering in the air above it, and by a long, white sandy point forming the extremity of the land on the left bank.[1]

[1] Explorations in Equatorial Africa.