Page:Africa by Élisée Reclus, Volume 3.djvu/595

 THE KIOKOS. 491 from tlie north-west, whereas the Ba-Luba claim to have arrived from the regions situated towards the south-east. Scattered in isolated groups in the midst of the forests are numerous Ba-Twa communities, who, however, maintain excellent relations with their Ba-Kuba neighbours. The Ba-Twa aborigines of both sexes measured by Wolf ranged in stature from 4 feet 4 inches to 4 feet 9 inches in height. But notwithstanding their diminutive stature, they were all symmetrically built with good proportions, a yellowish- brown complexion, and, like the Akkas of Monbuttu Land, noted for their marvellous agility. These Ba-Twa tribes are ignorant of agriculture, living entirely on the produce of the chase. In exchange for a portion of the game they obtain from their neighbours the manioc, arms — such as arrows, swords, and knives — and all other articles of which they stand in need. The Upper Kassai basin has not yet taken in the history of Central Africa the position to which it seems entitled, and which it cannot fail some day to acquire. The waterparting running parallel with its upper valley, between its affluents and those of the Zambese, is already marked out as the chief highway leading from the Atlantic province of Benguella to the region of the great lakes in the Upper Congo Valley. This route has already been followed by numerous Portu- guese caravans, as well as by Livingstone, Cameron, Capello, and Ivens in their journeys across the continent, and all alike speak of the fertility of the land and the peaceful disposition of its inhabitants. In the south-western region watered by the numerous streams flowing to the Kassai the dominant people are the enterprising Kiokos, or better Tchibokos, who seem destined sooner or later to take a leading part amongst all the tribes dwelling south of the Congo. At the time of Livingstone's journey, the Kiokos had not yet reached the Kassai basin ; yet in many places they are already masters, although yielding a certain homage to the Muata Yamvo. The unanimous testimony of their neighbours indicates the southern region as the land of their origin, and for at least three centuries and a half before the recent migrations, they appear to have occupied the upland tracts lying about the sources of the Cuanza and of the Cuando, one of the great aflluents of the Zambese. Here they dwelt by the side of the Gang- uellas, whom* they greatly resemble in speech and customs, while also betraying certain affinities with the Lundas, whom, however, they certainly surpass in enter- prise and intelligence. The Kiokos are great hunters, but rely chiefly on industrial pursuits for their support, being specially noted as skilled forgers and manufac- turers of arms and wicker work articles. The chief market in the region lying between the Kioko and Lunda territories is Kimbundu, which stands at an altitude of 4,100 feet above the sea on the left bank of the Lu-Vo, which flows through the Lua-Nge to the Kassai. But since 1876, when Kimbundu had a few European structures belonging to a Portuguese merchant, the centre of traffic has been displaced more in the direction of the Kassai, where several villages, occupied by local chiefs, have popula.ions larger than that of Kimbundu. North of the Ba-Kuba territorv the Kassai and the Lua-Nge traverse the lands