The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-03-21
The Black Cannibals.

The Black Cannibals.
A WONDERFUL NARRATIVE BT MONS. Do cHAnLo'
THE AFRICAN EXPLORER.
M. Du Chaillu. the celebrated African trav-
eller and hunter, in lecture delivered in New
York last week, gave an account OF his adven-
lures among the Faus, cannibal tribe OF
Africa discovered by him during his explora-
tions Of that continent. Du Chaillu is small
sized, dark complexioned, gentlemanly man,
and spoke with French accent, and not very
fluently, but in simple, direct and pleasing
manner. After Introductory remarks, explain
ing how he came to visit the country OF the
Faus, he said:
sT never before saw such wild men. They
were ali armed to tho teeth with spears, poi
soned arrows and knives. Their bodies were
tattooed all over, their teeth we're dyed black.
and they looked more Like ghouls than men.
On the ground were the skulls Of dead men,
and bones were scattered all through the
streets. The women we're the uglest ever
saw, and were much smaller than the men.
The King did not want to see me, being afraid
that he should die if he saw spirit. The men
did not seem afraid, but the women did. lsaw
one Of the latter run into one Of the huts with
the leg of a man Just cut of. This made me
feel very uncomfortable, and my only consola-
tion was that was very thin and not worth
much for eating. At length the King came to
me, surrounded by his warriors. he was
dressed with the skins Of wild beasts, and held
a spear in his hands. He looked ct me with
wonder, and did the same with him. He
said he was not afraid Of me when surrounded
by his warriors. I put bold face on it, and
said spirits were never afraid also. They gave
me hut to sleep in, but did not sleep that
night-the woman with the leg depressed my
spirits. In the morning when arose and
went out at the back door, Imet with grand
reception. Cannibals from every part OF the
country Lad come TO see me. They got accus-
toned to me in time, and to them, and we
became the best friends. After few days the
Queen came to see me. She was q lovely crea-
ture-teeth sharpened to point, body tattooed
all over. Cooked plantains we're brought to
mo TO eat. ! told them never ate cooked
food: for was afraid that mems flesh had
been cooked in the same pot before. The can
nibalism of the people is Of the worst KIND
but also Of their own people. Aman, howevec'
does not eat the body Of one Of his own family,
but families exchange their dead with each
other. In one case that I knew OF, corpse
Ave dsys dead, was sold for food. They like
their game high. They all agree that woman
ia renderer than msn-not the heart merely,
but the whole body. Boys also, are tender;
but old men are very tough. l myseF couid
see no difference in the appearance OF the
3esh Of the men and that Of the gorilla, ex-
cent that it WAS little finer in texture.
t'But in spite of their cannibaism, they are
in MANY respects the finest tribe in that coun-
try. Their houses are built low, not more than
FIVE feet in height on account OF the tornados.
The walls are made of the bark OF trees; they
have little door in front and back door, but
no windows. Polygamy is common among
them. and the more wives man has the hap
pier he seems to oe. Slavery is known, but Is
not much practiced, because men are scarce;
and they prefer to eat them rather than make
slaves Of them. They work iron IN the most
beautiful manner, make knives, spears, ana
very sharp axes. They are exceedingly given
to fighting, hence their fondness OF WoIklng s, IN
iron, and their eXpertnsss at 1t. Nothing from
the coast reaches them, except few beads
and pieces of copper. They cover the ham
dies of their knives with the skin taken from
the bodies OF men. On parting, the King
made me present of one of these; it had be-
longed to his Iather, and was covered with
human skin.
ssOne day as was lying IN forest, got
kind Of ant. was so much bitten by them
that was half dead. An antelope had been
killed the day before by King Bongo, which !
had intended to eat. But it was now covered
with, oh millions of .,nts They are the most
wonderful insects in the forest. They are the
plague and dread Of every living thing. When
they attack village, the people have to light
fires, pour hot water around, and strew burning
ashes around, to get rid Of these little beasts.
They are really Wonderful-always in single
line. and sometimes the line is miles upon
miles in length. The line is generally two
inches in breadth, and there are officers
throughout the entire length keeping watch.
so that none Of these ants get out OF line.
watched q line passing one particular spot,
and il was twelve hours before the last Of those
ants had passed. And as they 60 through the
forest, at certain signal they spread them
selves out and attack everything that comes
out in their way. They will even 20 to the
tops Of trees; and the insects and everything
else fly away before them. Elephants, ante
as fast as they can. In fact, many time have
been warned Of the coming Of thes, bashi-
uuas by the insects and other creatures flying
away in an opposite direction. I got ready for
them by having the fire lighted. They are
She most voracious little creatures you can
imagine. II they found dead elephant on
theIr line Of march they would attack it, and
in yery short time nothing would be left but
the bones. Sometimes the chiefs will have
man tied up to tree, an N an hour or Two
nothing would be left Of him but the skeleton.
They certainly are the most voraclous crea-
lures ever saw. One singular circumstance
Connected with them is that they are afraid Of
the sun. IF they come to part OF the forest
where the sun is shining, they dig tunnel
under the spot and pass it by that means, and
80 continue their march through the forest, IN
single file, as before"