Putsykovich F.F.: Negroes. A Reading for the People

Title

Negry. Chtenie dlia naroda, Sankt-Peterburg 1897

Negroes. A Reading for the People

Keywords

Summary

This pamphlet is part of the series “Studies in ethnography”, which offered the Russian public news on the world’s most various populations. Contrary to what one would imagine, the author talks about the entirety of the African continent, describing the different climate zones, flora and fauna, and natural resources. Only after this overview, the author shifts his attention to the “negro population”, which he characterises as the true African natives (tuzemtsy), as opposed to the non-native population who has moved there (pereselentsy). Noticing that there are significant differences amongst the “negro tribes”, Putsykovich nevertheless proceeds by describing their common traits. He outlines their appearance, way of life, clothes (or lack thereof), jewellery, dwellings, economy, religion and savage customs, like anthropophagy. He also adds some general traits, like their supposed penchant for chit chat and music. A map of Africa is provided at the beginning of the pamphlet.

Bio

Feofil Putsykovich was a Russian writer, pedagogue and teacher, brother of the journalist and editor Viktor Putsykovich. He studied at the faculty of Law of Saint Petersburg University, but was expelled for failing to pay the fees. He worked as a teacher for twenty years, at the same time publishing manuals and popular literature dedicated to the most various subjects – from ethnography to history, geography, religion, orthography and grammar. Among his many publications, there stand out the series “Bible stories” (consisting of 20 pamphlets), and “Studies in ethnography” (consisting of 40 pamphlets), which were widely read.

Sources

“Putsykovich, Feofil Feofilovich”, in Entsiklopedicheskii slovar’ Brokgauza i Efrona, t. 25a, Sankt-Peterburg 1898, p. 821;

Russkie pisateli. 1800-1917, t. 5, Moskva 2007, p. 185.

A.F.