The Minnesotian. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1851-1852, 1851-09-17
4 CANNsHAL FEAST,

a C&NNlBAL FEAST,
A late MarseiIes (Fsench) news paper
contains minute account of an extraor-
binary instance Of idolatry and cannibal-
ism, which occurred at a negro settlement
on the eastern coast Of Africa. The facts
are stated on the authority Of credible per-
sons who witnessed The revolving scenes
which are described.
The 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 name---a village which had
placed itself under the protcc,ion Of the
( French. and where a French force was
estabished-determiued 10 celebrate the
creation OF a new centre OF population re-
Gently established in his neighborhooI.
lie arranged programme for q feast, &C
Icordingly, and in order TO conci!iatc the
idol god which he and his tribe worshippcd,
he resolved TO immoate human victim,
who, after the sacrifice should serve 10
crafty the ferocious appctites OF his can
albal people. To accomplish his pur-
pose, the king, whose maine is Pete pur-
chased in one Of the interior villages
black captive, who was carried TO Grand
BaSsa, tied, hand and feet, and confined in
the house OF one OF the war chiefs.
by some means, not probably without
assistance, the poor captive ESCAPED from
his confinement, and took refuge in the
French Tort, where ne was concealed in
the house occupied by some OF the natives
lii the service OF he post. Peter, howcv-
cr discov ercd The retreat OF the fugitive,
AMI imne !iately entered into negotiations
witt! naive corporal whom he we'll knew,
and whom he succeeded in bribing, to de-
liver the victim again into his han is.
AT an hour agreed upon, number OF
IarIned men presented themselves at The
house where the fugitive was concealed,
having the unworthy corporal at their
head. Contrary, however, to expecta-
lions, and Notwithstanding the menaces of
The corporal; the occupants Of the house
obsiinatcly refused 10 deliver up the poor
slave. He, however. fearing that his pro-
, tectors might be induced at last to submit
him 10 his fate, or be overcome by the
corporal's men, took the opportunity to
leave the house, and sought another asv-
lum among some black Senegals, with
whom he venturcd to entrust himself
They proved ilithless, however, and
bound him, as lie was bound when first
brought into the village, and delivered h.m
once more into the hands OF his old enc
mics. This was all done without the
knowledge Of the French authorities al
the fort.
, Peter having accomplished his object
and again became master Of the slave
whom he had doomed as a sacrifice TO his
idol, assembled his principal chiefs upon
the great square of The village, duly be-
decllcd and ACQUIRED for the barJarous
scenes they were TO enact. The wretched
: slave was tied to an idoi-trec, while the
chiefs surrounded linn with frantic dances
and hileous yclls, accompanied By the
harsh sounds Of an enormous gong. The
scene of canuibalIsn followed. amidst the
/ teroc,ous shouts OF savage people. Each
warrior, in turn, inflicted a ghasty wound
upon the unfortunate prisoner, thus mnr-
dering bin, as it were, by inches and
when his cries Of agony had at length
ceased, his head was severed from his
body and piante" upon pole, erected IN
! the centre Of the square, amidst the Zero
c,ous hurrahS of the cannibal multitude.
A irightiul feast succeeded this sacr-
flee. The body was cut up into small
pieces and boiled in great kettle, and
each OF the assistants partook, with fero-
cious avidity, OF the abominable repast.
The corporal, through whose baseness the
poor slave had been restored to, after nav
ing once escaped from the cannibals, was
one Of the most greedy guests at the feast.
The remainder Of the day was spent in
! dancing around the decollated head.
/ The commander of the French gort it is
said, had ordered an inquiry into the con-
duct of the trcacherous corporal. lie had
also demanded OF the negro king an ex-
panation OF his conduct, and being re-
+ fused, threatened to direct the batteries Of
the fort against the village. Peter was at
last frightened into the payment Of d fine
Of twenty ounces OF gold and an agree
ment TO supply the fort with certain
quantity Of beef AID mutton; and th.
seems TO have effectually quieted the be-
ne, client horror OF the Frenchmcn at the
! inhuman outrage which had been commit
ted under their eyes, and in some sort, in
diiarce OF their authority.
| INJUNCTION UPON THE MICHIGAN CEN
TRIAL RAILROAD CoMPANY.--We sec it
stated by some of our cotem poraries, that
Judge Chamberlain, of the OH Judicial