Pygmies of Africa Pt II (1930s)

in wandering through the vast Dark Forest about them the pygmies long ago learned to call stored up by wild bees to collect it for food and for an article of barter here they have discovered a Bee Tree a giant lyana or Vine forms a natural ladder for those who climb the tree meanwhile their comrades on the ground make a basket to store the honey the framework is of interlaced vines inside which leaves will be placed the tree climbers use a smudge to drive away the bees while their comrades finish their most practical receptacle for the sweet honeycomb although many pygmies lose their lives in such dangerous climbing it still is a popular Pursuit for honey is a delicacy to add to their food supply and Beeswax is valuable as an article of trade a little snack now even before allowing their tribesmen in the village to join them the leader dos out the delicious morsels to his helpers the inner bark of the maluma tree is used to fill the pygmy's clothing wants which as we have seen are simple after the tree is failed the bark is peeled off whole and preparations are made to separate the worthless outer bark from the inner this is done simply by stripping it back leaving the inner bark in one piece this is folded back upon itself and pounded with a piece of solid Ivory scored at the bottom the pounding thins out the tough cross fibers and is repeated until the cloth acquires the desired texture this operation completed the bark cloth is hung up in the Sun the warmth AIDS in expelling moisture left in after pounding is finished and also toughens the fibers thus the inner bark becomes a fairly soft durable cloth provided by Nature now for material to dye the cloth these pygmies are using a piece of kula wood which has a rich warm Brown tone they rub it upon the surface of a stone applying water from time to time when enough dye has been secured it is rubbed well into the bark cloth until an even color is obtained from this bark cloth the pygmies make their clothing and they sometimes use it for trade with cloth beeswax and other articles of barter on hand it is decided to go on a trading Expedition the sultani now leads his men to one of the hiding places of their most valued possessions elephant tusks eager for a safe journey to the Trading Post he warns of threatening clouds the approach of the rainy season all speed must be employed the tusks represent many elephant hunts although the pygmies are little more than 4T tall they are exceptionally strong and are skilled Hunters of the vicious African elephants they often move their villages in order to stay close to their huge Quarry elephant meat is another of their foods and neighboring tribes provide a ready Market for Ivory now the tusks are all accounted for three dozen of them hundreds of pounds of iory which eventually will find its way to many parts of the world the sulani urges his men back to the village with the tusks final preparations must be made quickly for transporting the articles of barter through the dense forest to the most easily available trading Village it is an occasion of real excitement for the entire Village women and children welcome the party each member now goes quickly to his Hut to assemble and pack other articles which are to be used for trading since the trip is vitally important the sulani asks the tribe's witch doctor to pray to mongu the great God of this hunting people of the forest for safe passage for the party at the little Shrine of mongu the witch doctor makes careful preparations for his prayers Leaf trays are arranged inside on these offerings will be placed when the trading party has returned and now leafy paths for the feet of mongu a path of leaves all about the shrine so mongu will not fail to find it and leafy paths to and from the shrine to guide moongo coming in and going out and now all is ready for the witch doctor's prayer hold back the wicked rain omu grant us safe passage on our journey in the village all is in Readiness packages are being tied this cloth neatly folded may be traded for a bunch of bananas which do not grow wild and for which therefore the pygmies must barter the witch doctor reports having completed his Priestly task he is not above shouldering a Tusk and doing his share of work now the party can depart on their long journey securing the belief that they will obtain good Bargains in trading and that they will return safely word has reached the chief of a nearby tribe that the party of PES is approaching and he has all his articles of trade neatly arranged here we can see how small the pygmies are by comparing them with these Congo natives of normal size greetings are exchanged between the sultani of the pygmies and the native Chief handshaking is a common practice among these African tribes trading day is an occasion of importance and the barter begins only after each group is seated the pygmy sultani First shows the Wares he has brought we have seen the preparation of bark cloth by the pygmies these pieces have had designs added to them we have seen them making bows of which they now offer their Surplus one of their members has caught a toothsome anteater which he now exhibits with some difficulty Village children run in to watch as the other Chief shows his Wares his tribe cultivates plans here are dried plans for grinding into flour his tribe has cultivated bananas also and here are manok Roots which are a common food in this region his Craftsmen have made Iron pointed Spears and knives of iron refined by the natives themselves and slender Keen blades to be bound to sticks and used as axes now the two chiefs bargain the pyy sultani offers a prime Tusk of ivory what will the chief give him well perhaps two iron headed Spears valuable in elephant hunting this is not enough then uh two axe blades also the pygmies need such tools still not enough well perhaps a large Keen knife in a leather case with a handy shoulder strap this clinches the trade finally loaded down with Bunches of bananas dried plantin tools of iron and packages of precious salt the pygmy trading party arrived back at their Village the products of trade will be distributed to all everyone is pleased with the outcome of the Venture the witch doctor is sent at once back to the shrine of mongu to offer thanks thanks for a safe journey and for good Bargains going immediately to the little Shrine of mongu great god of the forest he offers dried plantin one of the most delicious pygmy Foods Salt most precious of all Goods to the little Forest people also is offered on a mango Leaf the witch doctor's faith in mongu is clearly evident so likewise is his Delight that mongu has protected the party on his journey and has brought it safely back eagerly the witch doctor offers thanks to moongo of the shy little brown skinned people the nomadic Hunters of this tropical forest