Ten years in Equatoria; . uring tribes, bartering game,but make the shields themselves, by plaiting strips of Indian shield has a long oval form, about 20 inches high and a footbroad. The use of the arrow is general, and is their characteristicweapon. The habit of carrying the shield and spear is imitatedfrom the neighbouring tribes, and is confined to a small number ofindividuals, principally for hunting purposes. The skill of theselittle men in handling the bow is really astonishing : a quick eye,a clever hand, rapidity in shooting, and bravery make them in-comparable archers. They
Ten years in Equatoria; . uring tribes, bartering game,but make the shields themselves, by plaiting strips of Indian shield has a long oval form, about 20 inches high and a footbroad. The use of the arrow is general, and is their characteristicweapon. The habit of carrying the shield and spear is imitatedfrom the neighbouring tribes, and is confined to a small number ofindividuals, principally for hunting purposes. The skill of theselittle men in handling the bow is really astonishing : a quick eye,a clever hand, rapidity in shooting, and bravery make them in-comparable archers. They are not afraid of confronting the elephant; and afterhaving destroyed his sight by wounding both eyes with arrows,the body of hunters fall upon the gigantic animal and spear himto death ; then they encamp upon the spot and remain there tillthe victims flesh is entirely consumed. They kill the buffalo in a similar way, and also destroy smalleranimals and birds with arrows, and seem to have no idea of the use E»^aj,-;:K-». THE PIGMIES AS WARRIORS. 109 of nooses and nets for that purpose. The pigmies skill in fishingis very limited, for it consists of simply enclosing a part of a smallstream by dykes, which, being emptied, they clear off the fish thatremain at the bottom. The soil is not cultivated by them, andlovers, as they are, of vegetable food, they raid upon the neighbour-ing tribes, and carry off corn, bananas, sweet potatoes, manioc, andbeans. The warriors take up advanced positions, and occasionallyfight the owners of the fields, while the women pick up anythingeatable, and making bundles, tie them with grass or large leaves,and slink away quickly to their homes. The Akka are very much appreciated as warriors, on account oftheir dexterity as archers, their nimbleness, and instinctive bravery.
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, bookpublisherlondonfwarneandco
