The New York herald., 1879-09-07
African Story Tellers Before the
Anthropological Section.
APoLoGIsTs OF CANNlBALlSM.
An Archbishop's Sermon on
Science and Faith.


Africa found. as Mr.. Arnold says. more than
one distinguished apologist Major de- serpa Pinto
and Count Sayorgnan de Brazza especially
animadverting upon ''the great respon-
sibility" which those travellers who ac-
cused eaters Of exceptional cruelty took
upon themselves. Indeed. high degree OF polish
and very fine delicacy of etiquette is sometimes
found associated with cannibalism-in Malaya'
for instance. II the Autocrat of the Breakfast
Table is not jesting long extracts of the many
addresses would scarcely prove interesting therefore
shall merely make . few extracts Of the more pic
turesque accounts. reported in the London jour
nails. Commander Cameron's account of the people
of Urua very pleasant and chatty description
of . curious race.
COMMANDER CAMRRoN's STORY.
Commander Comeron told how the King of this
people. Casango. claimed divine honors; how it
was supposed by the people that the death of
one king the spirit entered the body of his
successor; and how, on the death Of the monarch.
his wives. with the exception Of one. who remained
to be the pythoness Of his successor. were buried
alive with him with savage rites. As the king has
1000 wives the picture Of slaughter thus suggested
to the imagination was sensational enough
but the tragic scene was subsequently brought
more vividly before us by an account of tho mode
OF interment The course of the river is diverted
to furnish ready grave Here the terrible sacrifice
is made and then the waters sent back into
their original course flow placidly the dread
full tomb. 1t seems that tho religion of those
people centres round an idol which Is said to
be located in an immense jungle Such is the
reverence. or rather awe. In which the people hold
this god that they tear to pronounce its name
soveregns sister, who Is given to the idol wife.
Priests of course guard the grove of this orice and
smaller orrcles of which the people do not stand in
much awe. are consulted on matters OF every day
life. The ventriloQuial powers of the wizards who
carry those idols exercised when the answers
are given A clearly defined caste prevails among
fha CHIEF
presence Of another of superior grade. Each class
wear distinctive apron. Mutilaton Is common
the King Offering to undergo the penalty of having
her ears cut of il she might have
1laee' fae mutilation % was done without giving
much apparent pain or vexation to the lady: Tho
flow Of blood is staunched by an application OF
boiling porridge Their notions of propriety are
peculiar, and will not allow them to cook ut
another persons hre or to drink while another
is looking Tattooing is an elaborate work
Of art in this curious country. and ono Of the
punishment husband may infict on an in
subordinate wife is to cut. say out OF her arm,
Commander Cameron says, Is then obliged to stay
at home She is. not received in society.
the section and by the audience in the infor-
nation as to the skill OF this rude people in com
of Morse telegraphic system. The following is
Captain Cameron's description of wedding in
Urua:-"weddings generally lasted three or four
an opportunity Of witnessing the festivities.
All the people in the village were assembled.
the centre of great circle OF people. who danced
around them. grooming ana howiing and making .
denly at the end OF the third day the BRIDE came out
of hut dressed In all the fnery tho village could
muster She wore o small apron made OF q
piece Of linen which had been given to the chief.
and adorned with feathers. beads and shells
She was carried on the shoulders OF very stout
She brought into the middle OF the dancing
people and jumped up and down on
ber ar Of beads and sholls were given to
her, which she scattered about indiscrim-
naely. and the people scrambled for them, as they
The jumping up and down Of the bride was carried
on so cnergeticaily that the skin was completely
her. Then the husband, great big fellow. came in.
picked up his bride. put her under his arm and
MAJOR DE sEnrA prsro's STORY.
Major de Serpa Pinto, speaking to the section in
the same homey way as Commander Cameron.
but in the French language. gave an account of
the people of Bine and some tribes the west
side of the Zambesi River. The Bihe people,
cording to Major Pinto. slightly cannibal. but
oniy little given to the practice which this sig
hificant epithet implies They never eat each other
except on great occasions On fete days limited
humber OF people sacrificed and their flesh
eaten, mixed with beef. The inhabitants of the
Bihe district not the original residents
of that country. hundred years ago it = de-
serted country. The of the King of Humble
came North with q great many followers to this
country on hunting excursion An encampment
formed. The Prince ono day met Princess
Of the North his travels and taken
with her charms. He resolved to marry her. She
came to his camp bringing with her o train of
maidens The Princess Of the north. who o
daughter of the King of Andulo. could not long be
in her now country without having . following
of her fathers subjects who attached to her.
In like manner the King of Humbo's subjects emf
grated to the north to live with the Of their king
people established under the native name OF
Muhumbes. This was only 100 years ago. Major
1so Of ls the % o. 70
been much taken with their coiffures. which were
the work OF many days. but which, when once
arranged lasted for six months. Il not very
clean. they looked very pretty. Major Pinto
seems to have studied the feminine head gear in
Africa and he promises to set a new fashion when
who wished to marry the Major is an African
beauty without parallel. The Major was un-
trait. but had unfortunately left It in London.
He gave interesting description Of a Of
his when he bronzed by African travel but
whose features were OF the negro type; and OF an
other @ e wSs pu. ~no naa 10
indicate In most puzzling way the mixture Of
The population OF tho Behe. he stated. had gone
there almost within the last century.
THE COUNT DIR BRAzZAs STORY.
''The Count de Brazzas address," says London
correspondent. twas remarkable for its defence Of
thr African cannibals-a defence in which Major
Pinto heartily joined. After this the cannibal
must not be thought so black as he has
however. Count de Braza related that he
also had seen an African race. the Obombas. very
much like the Ambuellas Of Major Pinto. His
idea that they had their origin in the north of
Africa Touching these cannibas. the Count
very severe on Du Chaiu for the man
In which he has treated them. Du Chaillu,
he says, who lived for day In OF their viii
lagos. and had been influenced by the accounts
OF the enemies Of the Fan tribe than by what no
had seen in their midst. He threw dscredit
Du Chaillu's stories of human flesh being exposed
for sale in the villages and OF tho dead from
disease being sold for food. They only partook Of
tho flesh OF their enemies killed In war. and IL
part OF their religious belief that to eat the heart
of brave would increase their own valor.
lie thought that those travellers who, to
give more interest to their works. dilatcd on
the ferocity of the natives incurred great rosponsi
bility. These maigned tribes were capable Of tho
most generous sentiments, and In the case of Count
dc iTazzo not only did they show no desire to cat
him. but they had shown him devotion to which he
owed ms liic One day. when his escort failed him and
he Ilimsrlf fell Hick. he hnlrinndrd hy "A Eau