The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-07-29
CANNIBALs OF THE NIGER
They Discuss the Question Whether tn Eat
Explorer Johnston and His Party.

LApiorcE Oohussou u l1ie aIty.
New York Sun.
The Sun gave a brief description the other day Of
the csnnibals of the Congo basin, who are mum.
bered by millions, and extend over q vast extent
OF country. Though the Congo region is the homo
or most OF the cannibals or Africa, some tribes
OF man-eaters may be found nuch nearer the
sea than in the Congo country. Along the
delta region OF the Niger, aud on some OF the
neighboring rivers emptylng into the Blight OF
Biafra, are some OF the worst cannibals in the
world. Unlike many Of the Congo cannibals
who have proved themselves by their arts and
tribal governments to be among the most ad-
vanced of savage peoples, the cannibals living
near the Gulf OF Guinea are among the most
degraded of human beings.
Mr.. Fl. II. Johnston, the British coupsul at
CAMERON. recently made a trip mp the Cross
river, which empties into tho Gulf Of Guinea,
about $50 miles east of the main branch Of the
Niger. Mr.. Johnston is well known by his geo.
| graphical work on the Congo and his book on
Mount Kilima-Njaro. He has not assembled tho
river more than fifty miles before the people
he met began to be very wild and exc,table. In
a communication just published in the Proceed
ings OF the Royal Geographical Society. Mr..
Johnston says the people are all inveterate can
nibals. They are continually fighting with each
other in order to supply their larders with fresh
food. In one hut which he entered . smoked
human ham was hanging from the smoke
blsckened ~rafters, and above q hundred skulls
were ranged around The upper part Of the clay
walls. One old chief who wished to convince
Johnson of his very friendly feeling took . neck
lace from his neck and presented IL to the white
man. The ornament Was made OF human
knuckle bones.
At one point on the river where the traveller
was received with great apparent friendship. he
learned that the natives were debating the
question whether to treat the visitors AS hon
ored guests or to eat them, or at any rate to eat
the Kroo boys who had padded Mr.. Johnston
up the river. He decided that it would not be
safe to extend his explorations further, and he
started down the river while the natives were
st,ll debating what to do with him AS he
turned his canoe down stream, however, the
noisy villagers gave chase. and there were a few
minutes of terrible anxiety when the canoe ran
aground, and hundreds OF the yelling savages
attempted 10 wade across the shallow water
aud seize the fugitives. Even little children
Johnston says, armed themselves with knives,
and, standing ankle deep in the water shrieked
at the top of their voices that they would like to
eat the white man. The explorer, however,
managed to keep out Of the clutches OF the saw
ages. and TO get away without firing.
The cannibal tribes near the Niger delta, in
Angola and in the Congo basin. are probably the
only natives of Africa, who habitually eat hu-
man flesh. Some tribes in East Africa. however,
indulge in cannibal practice during religious OK
ercises, and they also sometimes eat the bodies
of enemies slain in battle. The believe that
they are thus imbued with they virtues Of the
victim.