Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1884-11-20
CANNI6hLISM.

There is certain weird attractive
ness shout The subject of cannibaism,
a grim fascination in its grisly horrors,
that is not easily 10 be explained,
but which, although few Of us will
admit ii most of Us have experienced. The
aucien; Irish, in more recent than quarter
nary times, ate their own dead; and our
own Saxon forefathers must have possessed
Il knowledge OF the custom if they did not
iu early times actually practice it, Us is
shoWn hy the Saxon word man(eta, which
occurs not infreQuently in their literature.
Tho Padpi, the father Of history also tells
us, ate their relatives when they became in-
curabio; and the Issedones did tie same re-
senDiing III this particular the Tupis OF Bra
Zii. who when the chief despaired ofa mans
recovery TO health, killed and eat the inva-
Ida rough aud ready method OF proving
that their respected chief and medicine man
could rot be mistaken in lis diagnosis OF
the case Men having once tasted human
flesh like the nan-eating tiger, always han
i,er after it with strange and morbid per-
tinacity that seems almost uuconquerable,
as is shown in the case of Fiji. where
The traditional and ;mmemorial custom
was habituai!y practred land Is con-
tinued 10 this day in remoter parts long
after the Introduction of pigs. Hutchinson,
who was for many years British consul on
the gold coast, writes Ill 1861 People IN
England would scarcely believe that in
these days, whilst | write, cannlbalsm is
almost as rampant on the west coast Of Al.
iica as il has ever been" He quotes, in
support Of this statement, from the report
Of thu sixty eighth anniversary OF the Coun-
tess of HuutingdoI's S connection in that col
ony MIR. Priddy, who is employed by the
society, stated that the cruel and barbarous
practice of cannibalisu was still indulged
IN during the late war; and that he saw
hampers Of dried human flesh carried on
the backs Of men, upon which they intend
I'd TO feast" Nor is cannbaiiSm confined
10 The Ethiopian and Polynesian races
alonc; il is prevalent TO al astonishing de-
cree amongst ;ha Malayau Islands, Java,
Sumatra aud B0rnen. Some q! The earliest
voyagers 10 the Eastern seas came
back with stories Of how the people
OF those parts were man eaters; but
however much Credence their tales may
n&vc received at The time. they have been
greatly doubted since. But Marsdeu, and
other writer's. prove that the statements of
these early pioneers of travel and obserya-
ton were entirely correct. MarsCicu, in his
rrruuut Of Sumatrn, says that although lie
had heard reports Of the canni5al habits OF
some of etrbes, he ha'i always discrcdited
them until the truth of the statement was
made entirely clear +, him. He says that the
Ra,t.s, one of the peoples u Sumatra, eat
human flesh regularly, not t" satisfy the
cravings Of hunger. hut as !, sors oi cere-
mopy TO show their dcteStat;On OF certain
crime. by this most ignominious punish
mruJ. aud rs IL savage display ct revenge
sra insult 10 their unfortunate enemies.
People killed or badly wounded by them in
war are eaten, aud the captured sold as
siavrs These same Bat,as show a certain
amount of culinary art in the preparation
Of this food, for they broil the flesh over
brisk fire, and flavor it with salt, lemon and
;cd pepper. A friend Of the writer's, who
lar more than torty years has heeu in the
employment ot the Dutch government,
hears personal witness To the prcVn.
lencr OF The custom in Sumatra up till
recent times. He was once making
scientific Investigations in the interior of
that island, and was being entertained in
tn" mos, hospitable manner by the native
rujah, or chief, Of the place he was then in.
A feast lad been made to which he was
hidden, and to which he went, taking his
own native servant with him. The banquet
had proceeded for some time without inter-
rllption, when at last, as crown of the feast,
II beautiful brown roast joint was brought
from the back of the house to the open airy
place where the repast was being held.
This was cut up without remark and hand
ed around, and the Dutch gentleman was
on the point of eating his portion, having
raised part of it to his lips. when his SER
want rushed forward and stopped him, say
ing, Master, master, do not eat; it is q
boy The chief, on being questioned, ad-
mitted, with no small pride at the extent OF
his hospitality that hearing that the white
man would feast with him, be had ordered
& young boy to be killed and cooked IN his
honor as the greatest delicacy obtainable,
and Chat the Joint before them was the best
part, the Observation-Disclosures Magazine.
RIrpcu.pD'S RTJTNDER The Rev DIR,