Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-09-01
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ACa,aiaibai Feast.

A late Mar3eillcs (Fr) newspaper con
tains a minute account Of an cxtiaordina-
ry instance Of idolatry and cannibalisln,
| which occurred at negro settlement on
the Eastern Coast Of Africa. The facts
are stated on the authority Of crcditable
persons, who witnessed the revolving
| which are described.
The substance OF the story is that the
chief or King of a negro village of Grand
Bassa, situated on the right bank ofthc ri
yer of that name-a village which had
placed itself under the protection of the
French; and where French fort was es-
tablished-dctermined to celebrate the
creation Of new centre of population,
recently established in the ncighborhood.
He arranged programme for a feast ac-
cordngly; and, in order to conciliatc the
idol god which he and his tribe worship
ped. he resolved to immediate a human
victim, who, after the sacrifice, should
serve to crafty the ierocious appetites of
his cannibal people. To accomplish his
purpose, the King, whose name is Peter,
purchased IN one of the interior villages n
black captive, who was caryiedto to Grand
Bassa, tied hands 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 III the
French fort, where he was concealed in
the house occtpicd by some Of the natives
in the service Of the post. Peter, howcv-
or, discovered the retreat Ct the fugitive,
and Immediately entered into negotiations
with native corporal whom he well
knew, and whom he succeeded in bribing,
to deliver the victim again into his hands.
AT 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 cxpecta-
tions, and notwithstanding the menaccs of
the corporal, the occupants of the house
obstinatcly refused to deliver up the poor
slave He. however, fearing that his pro-
tcctors might be induced at last TO submit
him to his fate, or be overcome by the cor
poral', men, took the opportunity TO leave
| the house, and sought another asylum a.
mong some black Scncgals, with whom he
ventured to cntrust himself. They proved
faithless, however, and bound him, as he
was bound when first brought into the vii
lagc, and delivered him once more into the
hands of his old enemies This was all
done without the knowledge Of the French
authori ties at the fort.
Peter having accomplished his object,
and again become master of the slave
whom he had doomed as a sacrifice to his
idol, assembled his principal chiefs upon
the great square ofthc village, duly bedeck
ed ana accoutrcd for the barbarous scenes
they were to enact. The wretchcd slave
was tied to an idol-trec, while the chiefs
surrounded him with frantic dances and
hidcous yclls, accompanied by the harsh
sounds of an enormous gong. The scene
of cannibulism followed, amid the fcro-
cious shouts of savage people. Each war
rior, in turn, inflicted ghastly wound up
on the unfortunate prisoner, thus murder
ing him, as it were, by inches; and when
his cries ofagony had at length ceased, his
head was severed from his body and plan
ted upon pole, erected in the centre of
the square, amid the ferocious hurrabs of
the cannbal multitude.
A frightful feast succeeded this sacrifice.
The body was cut up in small pieces and
boiled in a great kettle, and each OF the as
sistants partook, with vcrocious avidity, of
the abominablc repast. The corporal,
through whose basencss the poor slave
had been restored, after having once es-
capped from the cannihals, was one of the
most greedy guests at this feast. The re-
maindcr of the day was spent in dancing
around the decollatcd head.
The commander of the French fort, it
is said, had ordered an inquiry into the
conduct Of the treachcrous corporal. He
had also demanded OF the negro King, an
explanation 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 fine
Of twenty ounces Of gold, and an agree
mcnt to supply the fort with a certain
quantity Of beef and mutton, and this
seems to have cifcctually quoted the be-
ncvolcnt horror Of the Frcnchmen at the
inhuman Outrage which had been commit
ted under their eyes, and in some sort in
defiance Of their authority.