Their home is one vast, impenetrable forest which extends about one hundred and twenty miles north to south and nearly two hundred miles east to west; without intermission its vegetation has assumed abnormal proportions; out of dense, tangled undergrowth the trees have forced their way, and, as if to find breathing space and shake themselves free of the crush and their tiresome parasites, have reached a gigantic height. But the rubber plants, ivy, and creepers have proved equal to the task, and pushed their way up the tree trunks, have crawled along from branch to branch, until only glimpses of sunshine and sky appear through the thick foliage. Doubtless this obscurity and the seclusion of their environment have acted as a narcotic on the development of the people. Although small of stature they are by no means dwarfs, for their little bodies of four feet to four feet eight inches are perfectly proportioned. A very close view shows them to be covered with an almost imperceptible downy hair; on the arms this meets at the elbow as in monkeys. It may be due to their habit of sitting with arms crossed round their neck while the rain constantly drips down upon them through the trees. Their features are not prepossessing—in fact they are really ugly; a very broad bridgeless nose and two wide protruding lips appropriate as much space as the face can spare. They possess no permanent homes, but are constantly on the move, never spending more than three to five days at one spot. They burrow among the thick undergrowth, and make clearings round the trees in order to erect their tiny grass huts, which are built in less than an hour, with saplings stuck round in a circle and tied at the top; grass and leaves are then thrown over as roofing. Very few adopt any clothing. Each man travels about with a bow and quiver of poisoned arrows in order that he may keep the family supplied in food. Although peaceable among themselves, there is no civil cohesion among the pigmies. They recognise no king or chief; each man is perfectly free to control his own household. There are no class distinctions; but the best huntsman will have the largest following because with his spoils he is able to effect exchanges with the near neighbours of the tribe—the Bambuba, a sturdy, thick-set race varying in height from four feet eight inches to five feet, who live on the north-east fringe of the Forest. [Illustration: THE BA-AMBAS: NEAREST NEIGHBOURS TO THE PIGMIES.]