Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1869-03-25
MISCELLANY.
Interesting Description Of
the CaYlnibal Country.

N. Du Chaillu, the celebrated African traveller
and hunter, gave an account OF his adventures
among the Faus, cannibai tribe of Africa,
discovered by him during his explorations OF
that continent The wall behind the speakers
desk was completely covered with pictures on
canvas, illustrative of African scenery, the ami
mails which abound in the forests Of that coun-
try, and the native inhabitants. There might
be seen the monstrous gorilla, the gibbon, the
ourang Outang, the chimpanzee, the termlte,
or white ant. native villages, black men en-
dishabille, and skeletons Of the gorilla and his
cousin placed side by side for comparison. NJ
Du Chaillu is small sized, dark complexioned,
gentlemanly man, and spoke with French
accent and not very fuently, but in simple,
direct and pleasing manner. After introduc-
tory remarks explaining how he came to visit
the country of the Faus, he said " This coun-
try lies in the mountains near the western coast
of Africa. about two degrees north of the equa-
tor. and two hundred and fifty miles from the
coast. The village IA Eau villagel stood on
the top of hill, and when | appeared 1t the
people gathered around me in multitudes.-
They took me for a spirit, and called out
Look at bis feet. they have no toes his feet
are black and his face another color; what Is
the spirit we see? never before saw such
wild men. They were all armed to the teeth
with spears, poisoned arrows and knives
Their bodies were tattooel al! over their teeth
were 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 were the
ugliest ever saw AID were much smaller than
the men. The King did not want to see me,
being afraid that he should die If he saw 4
spirit. The men did not seem afraid, but the
women did. saw one of the latter run into
one of the huts with the leg Of man just cut
off. This made NE feel uncomfortable, and my
only consolation was that was very thin and
not worth much for eating.
At length the king cane to me surrounded
hv his warriors. He was dressed with the
skins Of wild beasts and held spear in his
hand he looked at me with wonder, and
did the same with him. lie said he was not
afraid Of me when surrounded by his warriors
put bold face on it, and said that spirits
were never afraid also They gave me a hut
to sleep In. hut did not sleop that night-the
woman with the leg depressed my spirits
The cannhas got accustomed to me In time
and I to them: and we becamet the best friends
After few days the queen came to see me-
She was lovely creature-teeth sharpcned to
a point. body tatooed all over. The cannibal-
ism Of these peoples of the worstkind. They
cat the bodies not of their enemies only, bui
also Of their own people. A person, however,
does not cat the body Of his OWL family, hut
families exchange their dead with each other.
In one case that | know Of, corpse five day E
dead was sold for food They all agree that a
woman is tendcrer than a man-not the heart
merely. but the whole body. Boys also are
tender, hut old men very tough. | could see
no difference in the appearance Of the flesh oi
men and that Of the gorilla, except that it was
little finer in texture. The houses are built
low. not more than five feet in height, on ac-
count of the tornadoes. The walls are made
of the bark Of trees they have little door in
front and back door, but no windows. Po-
lycamy is common among them, and the more
wives man has the happier he seems to be.
They work iron in the most beautiful manner,
make knives, spears and very sharp axes
They are exceedingly given to fighting, hence
their f,ndness for working in iron, and their
expertness for it. Nothing from the coast
reaches them, except few beads and pieces Of
conner They cover the handles Of their knives
with skin taken from the ! o lies Of men. On
parting the king made me present Of one Of
these i, had belonged to bis father, a-d was
covered with human skin. 1t was considered
a great mark Of respect to receive such pres
ent il was compliment similar to the pre-
.eptotion of diamond snuff box with us
These cap,,ihal tribes are always fighting and
are the dread Of all the people that surround
them. C,nqucung every tribe with whom
they have come in contact. Some ten years
ogo they were some two hundred and fifty
miles from the coast, having destroyed or driv-
on swav all the other tribes between them and
the ocean. What impeIs them to move to-
wards the west could not find out.
Willie among the Faus heard Of other can
n;bal tribes towards the northwest. One day
iourueyed to that country; they were called
the osbaibas. I coull see no difference be
tween them and the Faus; they had the same
appearauce and customs, and their villages
were similar. They told me that there were
other cannibals beyond them. But not feel
inc comfortable among them, ! commenced to
make nv wav towards the coast The Faus
had cot accustomed to me and were very sorry
that should 90, indeed tried to persuade me
,o stav among them. Well at the last lett
tbose good cannibals. and when / made OF
tbey all said Imust come again. large nun
ber oft then. both men and women, accompanied
mo down as far as those tribes where had been
bef,rs nearer the sea shore. They came with
me as far as my friends were, | was very much
touched with their behavior. When they