Description
By Paul du Chaillu. The second classic study of African wildlife, culture, and native tribes as they existed in the mid-1800s, written by the first European explorer to confirm the existence of gorillas and African pygmies.
Following on from his sensational Stories of the Gorilla Country, adventurer Paul du Chaillu describes in vivid detail African life before the advent of European colonization—and of the astonishing practices, culture and environment which existed at the time.
This work is particularly valuable as it shows, without prejudice or favor, Africa as it was, as seen by one of the first European explorers to set foot inside the interior of the dark continent.
Read of the “costumes of some African kings” (consisting of old tone shirts obtained from passing European ships, or European shoes handed down for two generations like a holy relic), African witchcraft, and much more.
This is a hand restored and re set addition, complete with original illustrations.
Contents
Preliminary Chapter
Chapter II: Parrot Island.—How the Parrots Build their Nests.—Parrot Soup
Chapter III: An African Creek.—A Leopard among the Chickens.—A Night Watch for Leopards
Chapter IV: Hunting Elephants and Buffaloes.—A Venomous Serpent.—A Snake Charmer.—He Is Bitten.—He Commits Suicide Chapter V: At Court in Africa.—Costumes of the Court.—An African Household.—A False Alarm
Chapter VI: Hunt For Gorillas.—A Large One Shot.—The Negroes Make Charms Of His Brain.—Mourning in a Bakalai Town
Chapter VII: An African Fireside.—A Camp by the Seashore.—The First Gorilla Hunter.—Negro Blarney
Chapter VIII: Hippopotamus Hunting.—We Kill One.—The Men Eat It.—Poor Beef.—What The Tusks Are For
Chapter IX: A Great Gorilla.—We See a Ship
Chapter X: Death in an African Village.—Lamentations.—The Funeral Ceremonies.—An African Cemetery
Chapter XI: A Tornado.—Before the Storm.—Thunder and Lightning.—After the Storm
Chapter XII: A Creek Infested by Snakes.—Snake in the Boat.—An Ugly Visitor
Chapter XIII: Drinking the Mboundou.—How Olanga-Condo Could Do It.—How the Mboundou Is Made.—The Effect of the Poison
Chapter XIV: A Royal Feast.—On the Banks of the Ovenga.—Preparations.—The Bill of Fare.—A Taste of Elephant And a Mouthful of Monkey
Chapter XV: The Terrible Bashikouay.—March of an Ant Army.—They Build Bridges.—They Enter Houses.—Their Habits
Chapter XVI: The Sorrows of the Birds.—Curious African Birds.—The Barbatula du Chaillu.—The Barbatula Fuliginosa.—The Sycorbius Nigerrimus
Chapter XVII: On the Ofoubou River.—Elephants Bathing.—Pursuit through the Swamp.—Escape of the Elephants
Chapter XVIII: Njali-Coudié.—An African Town.—The Chief.—Courtship and Marriage in Africa.—Buying a Wife.—Quarrel Over the Spoils
Chapter XIX: The Feast of Njambai.—The Talking Idol.—Secret Proceedings.—The Women and Their Mysteries
Chapter XX: Sick in a Strange Land.—Adventure with a Snare.—How a Squirrel Was Charmed
Chapter XXI: Witchcraft.—Accusation of Pendé.—Result of His Trial
Chapter XXII: Gorilla Hunting.—Preparations.—We Kill a Male Gorilla.—Bringing Him to Camp
Chapter XXIII: In the Buffalo Country.—The Paradise of Flies.—The Various Species
Chapter XXIV: Elephant Pits.—A Captive.—Dividing the Meat.—The Alethe Castanea
Chapter XXV: A Deserted Village.—Fear of Death.—Wars between Villages.—African Wild Boars.—The Hunt
Chapter XXVI: In the Wild Forest.—Hostile Tribes.—An Intrenched Camp.—Forays for Provisions
Chapter XXVII: We Discover Human Footprints.—We Spy Out the Enemy.—A Female Gorilla.—Maternal Fondness
Chapter XXVIII: How We Were Received at Camp.—Threatened with Starvation.—A Night in Camp.—Malaouen’s Story
168 pages. Paperback.
