The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-08-14
.CANNIBALs or THE NIGER.
They Discuss Whether TO Eat Explorer john
son and Party

son ana rarity.
From the New York Sun
The Sun gave brief description the other
day Of the eannibals OF the Congo basin who are
numbered by millions, and extend over a vast ex-
tent of country. Though the Congo region is the
home of most of the eanntbals of Africa some tribes
of man-eaters may be found much nearer the sea
than in the Congo country Along the delta region
Of the Niger, and on some Of the neigibering riv-
ers emptying into the Blight of Blaira, ere soma
Of the worst eannil as in the world Unlike
many of the Congo cannibnls who have por-
vided themselves by their arts and tribal govern
menls to be among the most advanced Of savage
pecples,the cannibalslyng near the Gulf Of Guinea
are among the most degraded Of human beings.
Mr., ii. II, Johnston, the British consul at Came
room, recently made trip up the Cross riyer, which
empties into the Gulf Of Guinea, about 49, miles
cast of the main branch of the Niger Mr.. John
ston Is well known by his geographical work on the
Congo and his book on Mount Killma,N inro. He
had not assembled the river than fifty miles be-
fore the people he II e began to be very wild and
exeitable. In a communication just published in
the proceedings of the ROYAL Geographical society,
Hr. Johnston say the people are ali inyegrale can
1nhals. They are continuity hgnting with each
other in order 10 supply their larders with fresh
food In one hut which he entered human ham
was hanging from the smoke blackened rafteTs,
and above a hundred sSuls were ranged round
the upper part of the city walls one old chief who
wished 10 convince Jehngt9n Of his very friendly
foeHng TOOK nebklnee rom his neck ana pre-
sented il to the white man. The ornament was
made from human knucke bones
At one point on the river whore The traveller was
received with great apparent friendship he learned
that the natives debating the question whether
to treat the visitors A0nored guests to cat them,
at any rDte TO eat the Kroo boys who had padded
Mr. johnston UP the river He decided that it
would not be safe 10 extend his explorations fur.
Their, and be started down the river while the ma
tiyes were still debating what TO do with him. As
he turned his canoe down stream,
however, the noisy villagers gave chase,
and there were o few minutes Of ter
ribc anxiety when the canoe ran aground, and
hundreds Of the yelling savagos attempted TO wade
across the shallow water and seize the fugitiyes.
Even little children, Johnston says, armed them
selves with knives and Standing ankle deep in tho
water shreked at the top Of their voices That they
would like TO eat the white man. The explorer,
however, managed 70 keep out oi the oiuthcs Of tho
layages, and TO get away without firing
The eannihnl tftos near Niger delta, in Angola
and the Congo basu are probably the only natives
Of Africa who haiitually eat human Aesh. Some
tribes in East Arien, however indulge In eannHal
practices during religious exercises, aud they also
sometimes eat the bodies Of enemies slain battle
They believe tia. they are thus imbued with the
virtues ofthe victim.