Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1851-10-03
From the Bo ston Traveller.
"A Cannissaa Feast.

balIsm, which occurred al negro settle
mtDt on the eastern coast of Africa
| The facts are stated on the authority Of
creditable persons who witnessed the
revolting scenes which are described
, he substance of The story is that the
chief or king of negro village OF
Grand Bassa, situated on The right bank
of the river of that nape--a village
| which had placed itself under the protec-
ton Of the French, and where French
| Fort was eslablished-d determined TO
celebrate the creation of new centre
OF population recently established in his
neighborhood. He arranged pro-
gramme for the feast, according, aud in
order 10 coneiiate the idol god which
lie and his tribe worshippcd, he resolved
To lmmolate human victim. who, after
sacrifice should serve to crafty the fero-
cious appetite Of his cannibal people.
To accomplish his purpose, the king.
whose name is Peter, purchased in one
of the interior villages, a black captive.
who was carried 10 Grand Bassa. lied. !.
hand and feet. and confined in The house
of one of the war chiefs.
/ BY some means, not probably withon,
assistance, the poor captive escaped. from
! his confinement, and took refuge in The
French fort, where he was concealed in
lthe house occupied by some Of the ma.
uees in lbe service of the post. Peter.
however, discovered the retreat of the
| fugitive, and Immediately entered into
negotiations with native corporal.
whom he well knew. and with whom he
succeeded III bargaining TO deliver the
! victim again into hts hands.
I Al an hour agreed upon, a number of
armed men presented themselves AT the
house where the fugitive was concealed,
having the unworthy corporal at their
head. Contrary, however, to expecta-
ton, aud notwithstanding the menaces
Iof the corporal. the occupants of the
house obs,Inately refused To deliver up
the poor slave. He, however, fearing
ihat his protectors might be induced at
last TO submit him TO his fate. or be over
come By the corPorafs men, took the
opportunity TO leave the house, and
sought another ASYLUM among some
black Senegals, with whom he yen,ured
to en'rust hin self. They proved faith
less. however, and bound him, as he was
bound when first brought into the village,
and delivered him once more into the
hands of his old enemies. This was
all dome without the knowledge Of the
French authorities at the lort.
Peter having accomplished his objec,
and again become master of the slave
whom he had doomed as sacrifice to
his idol, assembled his principal chiefs
upon The great square of the village. dn-
~ hedeeked and accoutred for the bar
barons scenes they were to enact. The
wretched slave was tied on an idol.tree,
while the chiefs surrounded him with
frantic dances and hideous yells. accom-
panied by the harsh sounds of an enor-
nous gong, The scene of caunihalism
followed, amidst the ferocious shouts of
he savage people. Each warrior, in
torn, inflicted a ghastly wound upon The
unfortunate prisoner, thus numbering
him, as it were. by inches; and when his
cries bad a, length ceased, his head was
severed from his body and planted upon
apole erected in the centre of the square.
amidst the lerocious hurrahs OF the can
nibal multitude.
A frighiful feast succeeded this sacri-
fee. The body was cut up in small
pieces and boiled in great kettle, and
each OF the assistants pariook with fero-
ci"ns avidityeof this abominab!e rrpast.
The corporal, through whose bascuess
the poor slave had been restored, after
ha,ing once escaped from the cannlbals,
was one of the most greedy guests AT
Tins least The remainder at The dav
was spent in dancing around The deeoIia,
ted head.
The commander of the French fort.
it is said had ordered an inquiry into The
conduct Of The treacherous corporal.-
lie also demanded of the negro king an
explauation of his conduct, aud being
refused. threatened 10 direct The batteries
of the fort against the village. Peter
was at length frightened into the paw
meni ot fine of twenty ounces Of gold,
and an agreemen, 30 supply The fort with
Ia certain quantity of beef and mutton:
and this seems to have elfeclually quiet
ed the benevolent horror of Frenchmen
at the inhuman outrage which had been
committed under their eyes, aud in some
Sort in defiance of their authority.