The Country of the Dwarfs 1

The Country of the Dwarfs 1

The Country of the Dwarfs

Paul B. Du Chaillu

 

_TO_

 

_FLETCHER HARPER, ESQ._

 

_DEAR SIR:--I dedicate this volume to you, not only as an

acknowledgment of many kindnesses which I have received from you during

the years in which you have been the publisher of my books, but also as

a token of the personal affection and esteem of_

 

_Your friend_,

 

_PAUL B. DU CHAILLU._

 

_North Cape, Norway, August, 1871._

 

 

 

 

[Illustration]

 

 

 

 

CONTENTS.

 

 

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

 

[Illustration]

 

 

 

 

[Illustration]

 

 

 

 

ILLUSTRATIONS.

 

 

PAGE

 

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

 

THE DEPARTURE 101

 

SURPRISING A FAMILY OF GORILLAS 117

 

OLENDA IS DEAD 129

 

PRISONER IN NCHOGO 136

 

DECISIVE MEASURES 146

 

MEETING WITH MACONDAI 159