File:A voice from the Congo - comprising stories, anecdotes, and descriptive notes (1910) (14783633525).jpg

Identifier: voicefromcongoco00ward (find matches)
Title: A voice from the Congo : comprising stories, anecdotes, and descriptive notes
Year: 1910 (1910s)
Authors: Ward, Herbert, 1863-1919
Subjects: Ward, Herbert, 1863-1919 Africa, Central -- Description and travel Africa, Central -- Social life and customs
Publisher: New York : Charles Scribner's Sons
Contributing Library: University of Connecticut Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: University of Connecticut Libraries

View Book Page: Book Viewer
About This Book: Catalog Entry
View All Images: All Images From Book
Click here to view book online to see this illustration in context in a browseable online version of this book.

Text Appearing Before Image:
small sensation, I was surprised to find that littleheed was paid to me, and I was allowed to wanderunmolested among the huts. Almost immediately after sunset a series of hugebonfires were lit at one end of the principal village.Hastening forward I found a gathering of two orthree hundred natives, with fluttering feather head-dresses and clanging metal ornaments, dancing in astate of absolute frenzy. The sound of their deepbass voices as they sang, the incessant drum-beat-ing, and the distant wailing of the mourners createdan indescribable uproar. The air was filled withdust and was tainted with the smell of heated Af-rican bodies and a sickly odour from the log fires.The evening breeze occasionally wafted the columnsof smoke across the wild revellers, momentarily hid-ing them from view. By the lurid glow of thehuge log fires, despite the almost fiendish appearanceof the savages, I was deeply impressed with thevivid effect of the scene, with its action, and withits striking contrasts.
Text Appearing After Image:
o §• P= 2 THE FUNERAL OF AN AFRICAN CHIEF 63 As my eyes grew more accustomed to the sur-roundings I observed many natives dancing at theedge of a deep hole which had been recently dugin the ground. Whilst leaning forward to obtain aclearer view, and conjecturing upon the object of thewild proceedings, I was startled by a mighty shoututtered from hundreds of hoarse throats. Turn-ing, I saw several men forcing their way throughthe multitude in the direction of the dark abyss.A jingling sound of bells heralded a procession ofdancing figures, whose forms stood forth in boldrelief as they passed in front of the blazing fires.A space was cleared in front of the hole and ina few moments there bounded forward the greatcharm-doctor, painted and bedecked with leopardskins and rattling charms, outward tokens of theabsolute ruler of the destinies of heathen Africansavages. This hideous looking creature, with whitened eye-lids and body smeared with fowls brains and blood,commenced the dance of

Note About Images