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The Country of the Dwarfs
The Country of the Dwarfs

Chapter XXI

Chapter 21 of The Country of the Dwarfs is here in full — 73 sentences across 15 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Paul B. (Paul Belloni) Du Chaillu • Curated US English Learning Edition
Cover illustration for The Country of the Dwarfs
Context Illustration Reading 1/14 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
GREAT EXCITEMENT IN THE VILLAGE.--A DESERTED TOWN.--THE INHABITANTS FRIGHTENED AWAY.--AFRAID OF THE EVIL EYE.--THE AUTHOR TAKEN FOR AN ASTROLOGER.--LOST AMONG THE PLANTATIONS.
ON the morning of the 10th of June there was great excitement in the village of Mokaba.
The Apono, headed by Kombila, were ready to take me to the Ishogo country.
All the porters wore the red caps I had given them, and had put on their necklaces of beads.
At a quarter past ten o'clock, just as we started, I ordered guns to be fired, to the immense delight of the Mokaba people.
0:00 / 0:00
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The Country of the Dwarfs

Chapter XXI

Chapter 21 of The Country of the Dwarfs is here in full — 73 sentences across 15 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/14 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
GREAT EXCITEMENT IN THE VILLAGE.--A DESERTED TOWN.--THE INHABITANTS FRIGHTENED AWAY.--AFRAID OF THE EVIL EYE.--THE AUTHOR TAKEN FOR AN ASTROLOGER.--LOST AMONG THE PLANTATIONS.
Line 2
ON the morning of the 10th of June there was great excitement in the village of Mokaba.
Line 3
The Apono, headed by Kombila, were ready to take me to the Ishogo country.
Line 4
All the porters wore the red caps I had given them, and had put on their necklaces of beads.
/ɔːl ðə ˈpɔːrtərz wɔːr ðə red kæps aɪ hæd ˈɡɪvən ðem ənd hæd pʊt ɑːn ðer ˈnekləsɪz ʌv biːdz/
Line 5
At a quarter past ten o'clock, just as we started, I ordered guns to be fired, to the immense delight of the Mokaba people.

Learner Dictionary

These definitions explain words found in the current reading and keep every example grounded in its original sentence.

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, and audio.

astrologer noun US /əˈstrɑːlədʒər/

someone who predicts the future by the positions of the planets and sun and Moon

From this reading “GREAT EXCITEMENT IN THE VILLAGE.--A DESERTED TOWN.--THE INHABITANTS FRIGHTENED AWAY.--AFRAID OF THE EVIL EYE.--THE AUTHOR TAKEN FOR AN ASTROLOGER.--LOST AMONG THE PLANTATIONS.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
beads noun US /biːdz/

several beads threaded together on a string

From this reading “All the porters wore the red caps I had given them, and had put on their necklaces of beads.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
caps noun US /kæps/

plural of “cap” — a tight-fitting headdress

From this reading “All the porters wore the red caps I had given them, and had put on their necklaces of beads.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
headed adjective US /ˈhedəd/

having a heading or course in a certain direction

From this reading “The Apono, headed by Kombila, were ready to take me to the Ishogo country.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
inhabitants noun US /ɪnˈhæbətənts/

plural of “inhabitant” — a person who inhabits a particular place

From this reading “GREAT EXCITEMENT IN THE VILLAGE.--A DESERTED TOWN.--THE INHABITANTS FRIGHTENED AWAY.--AFRAID OF THE EVIL EYE.--THE AUTHOR TAKEN FOR AN ASTROLOGER.--LOST AMONG THE PLANTATIONS.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
necklaces noun US /ˈnekləsɪz/

plural of “necklace” — jewelry consisting of a cord or chain (often bearing gems) worn about the neck as an ornament (especially by women)

From this reading “All the porters wore the red caps I had given them, and had put on their necklaces of beads.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
plantations noun US /ˌplænˈteɪʃənz/

plural of “plantation” — an estate where cash crops are grown on a large scale (especially in tropical areas)

From this reading “GREAT EXCITEMENT IN THE VILLAGE.--A DESERTED TOWN.--THE INHABITANTS FRIGHTENED AWAY.--AFRAID OF THE EVIL EYE.--THE AUTHOR TAKEN FOR AN ASTROLOGER.--LOST AMONG THE PLANTATIONS.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
porters noun US /ˈpɔːrtərz/

plural of “porter” — a person employed to carry luggage and supplies

From this reading “All the porters wore the red caps I had given them, and had put on their necklaces of beads.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

Word partnerships in these lines

English keeps certain words together, and knowing the pair is worth more than knowing each word alone. Every partnership below was counted across our whole published library, and earns its place by appearing far more often than two unrelated words of the same frequency would.

Shown as this reading writes them, with the form the library counts, what kind of pairing it is, and how often it occurs.

quarter past noun + noun

In this reading “At a quarter past ten o'clock, just as we started, I ordered guns to be fired, to the immense delight of the Mokaba people.”

1,228 times in 426,211 chapters
red caps noun + noun counted as “red cap”

In this reading “All the porters wore the red caps I had given them, and had put on their necklaces of beads.”

1,119 times in 426,211 chapters
EVIL EYE noun + noun

a look that is believed to have the power of inflicting harm

In this reading “GREAT EXCITEMENT IN THE VILLAGE.--A DESERTED TOWN.--THE INHABITANTS FRIGHTENED AWAY.--AFRAID OF THE EVIL EYE.--THE AUTHOR TAKEN FOR AN ASTROLOGER.--LOST AMONG THE PLANTATIONS.”

1,002 times in 426,211 chapters
past ten noun + noun

In this reading “At a quarter past ten o'clock, just as we started, I ordered guns to be fired, to the immense delight of the Mokaba people.”

1,359 times in 426,211 chapters
GREAT EXCITEMENT adjective + noun

In this reading “GREAT EXCITEMENT IN THE VILLAGE.--A DESERTED TOWN.--THE INHABITANTS FRIGHTENED AWAY.--AFRAID OF THE EVIL EYE.--THE AUTHOR TAKEN FOR AN ASTROLOGER.--LOST AMONG THE PLANTATIONS.”

2,398 times in 426,211 chapters
wore the red verb + article + noun counted as “wear … red”

In this reading “All the porters wore the red caps I had given them, and had put on their necklaces of beads.”

581 times in 426,211 chapters
put on verb + particle

put clothing on one's body

In this reading “All the porters wore the red caps I had given them, and had put on their necklaces of beads.”

49,426 times in 426,211 chapters
IN THE VILLAGE preposition + article + noun counted as “in … village”

In this reading “GREAT EXCITEMENT IN THE VILLAGE.--A DESERTED TOWN.--THE INHABITANTS FRIGHTENED AWAY.--AFRAID OF THE EVIL EYE.--THE AUTHOR TAKEN FOR AN ASTROLOGER.--LOST AMONG THE PLANTATIONS.”

13,034 times in 426,211 chapters

All words in this reading · 71

Every word in these five lines is listed here, and every one of them can be played on its own.

Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

10th

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading ON the morning of the 10th of June there was great excitement in the village of Mokaba.

Pending verification
AdeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading GREAT EXCITEMENT IN THE VILLAGE.--A DESERTED TOWN.--THE INHABITANTS FRIGHTENED AWAY.--AFRAID OF THE EVIL EYE.--THE AUTHOR TAKEN FOR AN ASTROLOGER.--LOST AMONG THE PLANTATIONS.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
AFRAIDadjectiveUS /əˈfreɪd/

filled with fear or apprehension

From this reading GREAT EXCITEMENT IN THE VILLAGE.--A DESERTED TOWN.--THE INHABITANTS FRIGHTENED AWAY.--AFRAID OF THE EVIL EYE.--THE AUTHOR TAKEN FOR AN ASTROLOGER.--LOST AMONG THE PLANTATIONS.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
AlladjectiveUS /ɔːl/

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading All the porters wore the red caps I had given them, and had put on their necklaces of beads.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
AMONGprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/

surrounded by; in the middle of a group

From this reading GREAT EXCITEMENT IN THE VILLAGE.--A DESERTED TOWN.--THE INHABITANTS FRIGHTENED AWAY.--AFRAID OF THE EVIL EYE.--THE AUTHOR TAKEN FOR AN ASTROLOGER.--LOST AMONG THE PLANTATIONS.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ANdeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading GREAT EXCITEMENT IN THE VILLAGE.--A DESERTED TOWN.--THE INHABITANTS FRIGHTENED AWAY.--AFRAID OF THE EVIL EYE.--THE AUTHOR TAKEN FOR AN ASTROLOGER.--LOST AMONG THE PLANTATIONS.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
andconjunctionUS /ənd/

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading All the porters wore the red caps I had given them, and had put on their necklaces of beads.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
Apono

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The Apono, headed by Kombila, were ready to take me to the Ishogo country.

Pending verification
asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading At a quarter past ten o'clock, just as we started, I ordered guns to be fired, to the immense delight of the Mokaba people.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ASTROLOGERnounUS /əˈstrɑːlədʒər/

someone who predicts the future by the positions of the planets and sun and Moon

From this reading GREAT EXCITEMENT IN THE VILLAGE.--A DESERTED TOWN.--THE INHABITANTS FRIGHTENED AWAY.--AFRAID OF THE EVIL EYE.--THE AUTHOR TAKEN FOR AN ASTROLOGER.--LOST AMONG THE PLANTATIONS.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
AtprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading At a quarter past ten o'clock, just as we started, I ordered guns to be fired, to the immense delight of the Mokaba people.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
AUTHORnounUS /ˈɔːθər/

writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)

From this reading GREAT EXCITEMENT IN THE VILLAGE.--A DESERTED TOWN.--THE INHABITANTS FRIGHTENED AWAY.--AFRAID OF THE EVIL EYE.--THE AUTHOR TAKEN FOR AN ASTROLOGER.--LOST AMONG THE PLANTATIONS.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
AWAYadverbUS /əˈweɪ/

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading GREAT EXCITEMENT IN THE VILLAGE.--A DESERTED TOWN.--THE INHABITANTS FRIGHTENED AWAY.--AFRAID OF THE EVIL EYE.--THE AUTHOR TAKEN FOR AN ASTROLOGER.--LOST AMONG THE PLANTATIONS.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading At a quarter past ten o'clock, just as we started, I ordered guns to be fired, to the immense delight of the Mokaba people.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
beadsnounUS /biːdz/

several beads threaded together on a string

From this reading All the porters wore the red caps I had given them, and had put on their necklaces of beads.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading The Apono, headed by Kombila, were ready to take me to the Ishogo country.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
capsnounUS /kæps/

plural of “cap” — a tight-fitting headdress

From this reading All the porters wore the red caps I had given them, and had put on their necklaces of beads.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
countrynounUS /ˈkʌntri/

a politically organized body of people under a single government

From this reading The Apono, headed by Kombila, were ready to take me to the Ishogo country.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
delightverbUS /dɪˈlaɪt/

give pleasure to or be pleasing to

From this reading At a quarter past ten o'clock, just as we started, I ordered guns to be fired, to the immense delight of the Mokaba people.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
DESERTEDadjectiveUS /dɪˈzɜːrtɪd/

forsaken by owner or inhabitants

From this reading GREAT EXCITEMENT IN THE VILLAGE.--A DESERTED TOWN.--THE INHABITANTS FRIGHTENED AWAY.--AFRAID OF THE EVIL EYE.--THE AUTHOR TAKEN FOR AN ASTROLOGER.--LOST AMONG THE PLANTATIONS.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
EVILnounUS /ˈiːvəl/

morally objectionable behavior

From this reading GREAT EXCITEMENT IN THE VILLAGE.--A DESERTED TOWN.--THE INHABITANTS FRIGHTENED AWAY.--AFRAID OF THE EVIL EYE.--THE AUTHOR TAKEN FOR AN ASTROLOGER.--LOST AMONG THE PLANTATIONS.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
EXCITEMENTnounUS /ɪkˈsaɪtmənt/

the feeling of lively and cheerful joy

From this reading GREAT EXCITEMENT IN THE VILLAGE.--A DESERTED TOWN.--THE INHABITANTS FRIGHTENED AWAY.--AFRAID OF THE EVIL EYE.--THE AUTHOR TAKEN FOR AN ASTROLOGER.--LOST AMONG THE PLANTATIONS.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
EYEnounUS /aɪ/

the organ of sight

From this reading GREAT EXCITEMENT IN THE VILLAGE.--A DESERTED TOWN.--THE INHABITANTS FRIGHTENED AWAY.--AFRAID OF THE EVIL EYE.--THE AUTHOR TAKEN FOR AN ASTROLOGER.--LOST AMONG THE PLANTATIONS.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
firedadjectiveUS /ˈfaɪərd/

having lost your job

From this reading At a quarter past ten o'clock, just as we started, I ordered guns to be fired, to the immense delight of the Mokaba people.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
FORprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading GREAT EXCITEMENT IN THE VILLAGE.--A DESERTED TOWN.--THE INHABITANTS FRIGHTENED AWAY.--AFRAID OF THE EVIL EYE.--THE AUTHOR TAKEN FOR AN ASTROLOGER.--LOST AMONG THE PLANTATIONS.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
FRIGHTENEDadjectiveUS /ˈfraɪtənd/

made afraid

From this reading GREAT EXCITEMENT IN THE VILLAGE.--A DESERTED TOWN.--THE INHABITANTS FRIGHTENED AWAY.--AFRAID OF THE EVIL EYE.--THE AUTHOR TAKEN FOR AN ASTROLOGER.--LOST AMONG THE PLANTATIONS.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/

acknowledged as a supposition

From this reading All the porters wore the red caps I had given them, and had put on their necklaces of beads.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
GREATadjectiveUS /ɡreɪt/

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading GREAT EXCITEMENT IN THE VILLAGE.--A DESERTED TOWN.--THE INHABITANTS FRIGHTENED AWAY.--AFRAID OF THE EVIL EYE.--THE AUTHOR TAKEN FOR AN ASTROLOGER.--LOST AMONG THE PLANTATIONS.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
gunsnounUS /ɡʌnz/

plural of “gun” — a weapon that discharges a missile at high velocity (especially from a metal tube or barrel)

From this reading At a quarter past ten o'clock, just as we started, I ordered guns to be fired, to the immense delight of the Mokaba people.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading All the porters wore the red caps I had given them, and had put on their necklaces of beads.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
headedadjectiveUS /ˈhedəd/

having a heading or course in a certain direction

From this reading The Apono, headed by Kombila, were ready to take me to the Ishogo country.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading All the porters wore the red caps I had given them, and had put on their necklaces of beads.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
immenseadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈmens/

unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope

From this reading At a quarter past ten o'clock, just as we started, I ordered guns to be fired, to the immense delight of the Mokaba people.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
INprepositionUS /ɪn/

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading GREAT EXCITEMENT IN THE VILLAGE.--A DESERTED TOWN.--THE INHABITANTS FRIGHTENED AWAY.--AFRAID OF THE EVIL EYE.--THE AUTHOR TAKEN FOR AN ASTROLOGER.--LOST AMONG THE PLANTATIONS.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
INHABITANTSnounUS /ɪnˈhæbətənts/

plural of “inhabitant” — a person who inhabits a particular place

From this reading GREAT EXCITEMENT IN THE VILLAGE.--A DESERTED TOWN.--THE INHABITANTS FRIGHTENED AWAY.--AFRAID OF THE EVIL EYE.--THE AUTHOR TAKEN FOR AN ASTROLOGER.--LOST AMONG THE PLANTATIONS.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Ishogo

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The Apono, headed by Kombila, were ready to take me to the Ishogo country.

Pending verification
JunenounUS /dʒuːn/

the month following May and preceding July

From this reading ON the morning of the 10th of June there was great excitement in the village of Mokaba.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
justadverbUS /dʒʌst/

and nothing more

From this reading At a quarter past ten o'clock, just as we started, I ordered guns to be fired, to the immense delight of the Mokaba people.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Kombila

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The Apono, headed by Kombila, were ready to take me to the Ishogo country.

Pending verification
LOSTadjectiveUS /lɔːst/

no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered

From this reading GREAT EXCITEMENT IN THE VILLAGE.--A DESERTED TOWN.--THE INHABITANTS FRIGHTENED AWAY.--AFRAID OF THE EVIL EYE.--THE AUTHOR TAKEN FOR AN ASTROLOGER.--LOST AMONG THE PLANTATIONS.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading The Apono, headed by Kombila, were ready to take me to the Ishogo country.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
Mokaba

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading ON the morning of the 10th of June there was great excitement in the village of Mokaba.

Pending verification
morningnounUS /ˈmɔːrnɪŋ/

the time period between dawn and noon

From this reading ON the morning of the 10th of June there was great excitement in the village of Mokaba.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
necklacesnounUS /ˈnekləsɪz/

plural of “necklace” — jewelry consisting of a cord or chain (often bearing gems) worn about the neck as an ornament (especially by women)

From this reading All the porters wore the red caps I had given them, and had put on their necklaces of beads.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
o'clockadverbUS /əˈklɑːk/

according to the clock

From this reading At a quarter past ten o'clock, just as we started, I ordered guns to be fired, to the immense delight of the Mokaba people.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
OFprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading GREAT EXCITEMENT IN THE VILLAGE.--A DESERTED TOWN.--THE INHABITANTS FRIGHTENED AWAY.--AFRAID OF THE EVIL EYE.--THE AUTHOR TAKEN FOR AN ASTROLOGER.--LOST AMONG THE PLANTATIONS.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ONprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading ON the morning of the 10th of June there was great excitement in the village of Mokaba.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
orderedadjectiveUS /ˈɔːrdərd/

having a systematic arrangement; especially having elements succeeding in order according to rule

From this reading At a quarter past ten o'clock, just as we started, I ordered guns to be fired, to the immense delight of the Mokaba people.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
pastnounUS /pæst/

the time that has elapsed

From this reading At a quarter past ten o'clock, just as we started, I ordered guns to be fired, to the immense delight of the Mokaba people.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
peoplenounUS /ˈpiːpəl/

(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively

From this reading At a quarter past ten o'clock, just as we started, I ordered guns to be fired, to the immense delight of the Mokaba people.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
PLANTATIONSnounUS /ˌplænˈteɪʃənz/

plural of “plantation” — an estate where cash crops are grown on a large scale (especially in tropical areas)

From this reading GREAT EXCITEMENT IN THE VILLAGE.--A DESERTED TOWN.--THE INHABITANTS FRIGHTENED AWAY.--AFRAID OF THE EVIL EYE.--THE AUTHOR TAKEN FOR AN ASTROLOGER.--LOST AMONG THE PLANTATIONS.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
portersnounUS /ˈpɔːrtərz/

plural of “porter” — a person employed to carry luggage and supplies

From this reading All the porters wore the red caps I had given them, and had put on their necklaces of beads.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
putverbUS /pʊt/

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading All the porters wore the red caps I had given them, and had put on their necklaces of beads.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
quarternounUS /ˈkwɔːrtər/

one of four equal parts

From this reading At a quarter past ten o'clock, just as we started, I ordered guns to be fired, to the immense delight of the Mokaba people.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
readyadjectiveUS /ˈredi/

completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress

From this reading The Apono, headed by Kombila, were ready to take me to the Ishogo country.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
rednounUS /red/

red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood

From this reading All the porters wore the red caps I had given them, and had put on their necklaces of beads.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
startedverbUS /ˈstɑːrtɪd/

past form of “start” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading At a quarter past ten o'clock, just as we started, I ordered guns to be fired, to the immense delight of the Mokaba people.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
takeverbUS /teɪk/

carry out

From this reading The Apono, headed by Kombila, were ready to take me to the Ishogo country.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
TAKENadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/

understood in a certain way; made sense of

From this reading GREAT EXCITEMENT IN THE VILLAGE.--A DESERTED TOWN.--THE INHABITANTS FRIGHTENED AWAY.--AFRAID OF THE EVIL EYE.--THE AUTHOR TAKEN FOR AN ASTROLOGER.--LOST AMONG THE PLANTATIONS.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
tennounUS /ten/

the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system

From this reading At a quarter past ten o'clock, just as we started, I ordered guns to be fired, to the immense delight of the Mokaba people.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading GREAT EXCITEMENT IN THE VILLAGE.--A DESERTED TOWN.--THE INHABITANTS FRIGHTENED AWAY.--AFRAID OF THE EVIL EYE.--THE AUTHOR TAKEN FOR AN ASTROLOGER.--LOST AMONG THE PLANTATIONS.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading All the porters wore the red caps I had given them, and had put on their necklaces of beads.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading All the porters wore the red caps I had given them, and had put on their necklaces of beads.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
thereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading ON the morning of the 10th of June there was great excitement in the village of Mokaba.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
toparticleUS /tuː/

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading The Apono, headed by Kombila, were ready to take me to the Ishogo country.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
TOWNnounUS /taʊn/

an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city

From this reading GREAT EXCITEMENT IN THE VILLAGE.--A DESERTED TOWN.--THE INHABITANTS FRIGHTENED AWAY.--AFRAID OF THE EVIL EYE.--THE AUTHOR TAKEN FOR AN ASTROLOGER.--LOST AMONG THE PLANTATIONS.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
VILLAGEnounUS /ˈvɪlədʒ/

a community of people smaller than a town

From this reading GREAT EXCITEMENT IN THE VILLAGE.--A DESERTED TOWN.--THE INHABITANTS FRIGHTENED AWAY.--AFRAID OF THE EVIL EYE.--THE AUTHOR TAKEN FOR AN ASTROLOGER.--LOST AMONG THE PLANTATIONS.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading ON the morning of the 10th of June there was great excitement in the village of Mokaba.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading At a quarter past ten o'clock, just as we started, I ordered guns to be fired, to the immense delight of the Mokaba people.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading The Apono, headed by Kombila, were ready to take me to the Ishogo country.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
woreverbUS /wɔːr/

inflected form of “wear” — be dressed in

From this reading All the porters wore the red caps I had given them, and had put on their necklaces of beads.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

Chapter 21 of The Country of the Dwarfs by Paul B. (Paul Belloni) Du Chaillu holds 73 sentences, grouped into 15 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the source edition, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.

What does chapter 21 of The Country of the Dwarfs contain?

Chapter 21 holds 73 sentences of The Country of the Dwarfs, unabridged, divided into 15 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 21 of The Country of the Dwarfs by Paul B. (Paul Belloni) Du Chaillu exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 73 sentences, grouped into 15 sections of at most 5 sentences so that a reader can take the chapter in steady, finishable pieces. The chapter also stores a coverage record mapping every one of its sentences to a part of the work, which is how the edition demonstrates that no line was dropped.

How do I study chapter 21 of The Country of the Dwarfs?

Work through the 15 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 15 sections in this chapter is short enough to read once, hear once, and then re-read with the vocabulary in view. Tapping a word plays it alone and opens its dictionary entry with IPA, part of speech and meaning, so the reader is never forced to guess a pronunciation from spelling. Working section by section keeps a long chapter from becoming an undifferentiated wall of text, which is the usual reason a reader abandons a work of this period.

Can chapter 21 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 21 can be played aloud in United States English.

Audio covers the whole chapter: any sentence can be played, and any single word within it can be played on its own. The voice uses United States English. For a work of this period that matters, because spelling is an unreliable guide to pronunciation for vocabulary that has fallen out of daily use, and a learner who guesses wrong tends to keep the error. Hearing the word in its own sentence, and then alone, settles it.

Questions about reading The Country of the Dwarfs

Common questions about reading The Country of the Dwarfs by Paul B. (Paul Belloni) Du Chaillu on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Country of the Dwarfs?

Yes. All 3774 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #48643 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Country of the Dwarfs is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #48643, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Country of the Dwarfs take to read?

About 314 minutes of reading across 755 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Country of the Dwarfs section by section

How to work through The Country of the Dwarfs section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 29 chapters of The Country of the Dwarfs to begin.

  2. Read one section

    Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.

  3. Listen and tap

    Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.

Vocabulary met early in The Country of the Dwarfs

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Country of the Dwarfs, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Italic
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Country of the Dwarfs; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Denoted
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Country of the Dwarfs; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Underscores
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Country of the Dwarfs; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Equal
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Country of the Dwarfs; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.