The St. Johns herald., 1889-05-02
HAPPENED BY cANHIBALs.
4 Prisoner's Life sayeI After He Was All
 Ready for the COoisiag-Pot.


 A Haussa soldier named Alallai. in inc service of the Congo State. had thrilling experience awhile ago. which Captain Coquilhat says is one Of the most dramatic incidents that has come 10 fjs notice in Africa He was. according 10 the New York Sun, one Of three soldiers whom Captain Hanssens left at the mouth Of thc AruwiIni to man a little station which Hanssens established there The Cap tain steamed away. leaving tbese men alone among the worst cannibais in the Congo basin. and several months later Alakai told Captain Ccquihat this story of what happened:
 'sThe chief of the vi!lage.'' he said. told Captain Hansscns that he would pro -ect US as he would his own children. He asked US not to leave the village as he could not an swer for what his ne.gh5ors might do. Be prudent he said. Several days passed quietly, and then about noon one day scv- eral of the villagers asked flycOllFaGes 70 go with them over to an island to fish. opposed the excursion, but it was TO use, as mach pleasure had been promised the men. and so they went away with the fishers. little after nlghtfall the canoes of the returning fishermen touched the shore. but I did not see my two comrades among them. Fear ing treason I hid myself in Gn abandoned hut. Soon after fire was built near the place where l was concealed, and after awhile 1 could smell the odor of cooking meat. ] believed they were roasting tho flesh of my friends. and the thought filed me with horror. l crept out into the dark ness and, lying in the tall grass, l could see every thing that was going on at the lire Large pieces of meat were roasting over the coals. and soon the cannibals took out of a large jar two human heads, which l recog- pized as those of my comrades. Many men were laughing around the fire, and others were attending to the cookery.
 q crept away through the grass and hid in the forest. but did not go very tIr from the Basoko villages, for l hoped that one of our steamers would come there before a great while. For weeks l lived on roots and wild fruits and a little raw manioc that III the night time took from the fields. In about month l was dlscoV- cred by a woman who was looking for medicinal plants. She gave the alarm and l was seized, taken back to the village and delivered 10 the chief who had made the al- liance with Captain Hanssens. When l was alone with him l told him he had a terrible account to settle with the whites for what he had done. The chief said he was not responsible for the death of my friends, for If they had followed his coun- sel they would have been safe. He told me that if would promise 10 tell the Captain my friends had been accidentally drowned he would protect me. l promised to do so. The chief put a guard oyer me, but did not confine me. and for some weeks l hoped to escape the fate of my friends.
 "Then the people Of the village went to the chief and demanded my body for a feast. It is useless they said, to hope to satisfy the white man by restoring to him only one of his men. Since we have killed the other men it is better to make way with this witness of the act For days the chief refused to give me up to his men, but l saw at last that Ee was certain to yield 10 the solicitations, which were becoming mere and more pressing. So seized an op- portunity one dark night Co take refuge a second tune in the forest. Believing then that our boats would not reach the Aruwimi again for three or four months l buried my self in the interior. Not daring 10 approach the fields 1 no longer had manioc to cat, and my strength diminished day by day.
 After living in great misery for over three months 1 cautiously advanced toward the villages. One day heard the pulling of steamer. It was the missionary vessel Peace. I went down to the bank, but the steamer was far away and d;d not see me. l saw the white men take some villagers on board, evidently to get news of us. The na- tives said, without doubt, that we had gone away, for they were soon released and the steamer went on.
 "Some of the natives who at sight of the vessel had fled into the forest discov- cred me and was again bounced upon, and this time 1 was closely guarded. l heard them say that was too thin to eat and that they wouldn't kill me just yet. After my frightful privations I was nothing but skin and bone. They fed me all could eat, and Icould not resist my appetite. As l had no exercise and lived on the fat of the land rapidly increased in flesh, and in a few weeks was regarded as in fit condition to cat. saw them preparing the manioc and the beer for the feast l felt that my last hour was approaching. On the afternoon of the day when I was to be killed my arms were tied behind ne. The sun was stlll hgh when all of sudden we heard great noise in the villages near the Congo. The Arabs are coming every body shouted, and the men seized their spears. The women and children hurried off into the woods. Presently the Arab slavers came near enough O pour volley of shot into the town, and the men took to flight. In the midst of the retreat the Basoko said ought to be taken along and warrior was as signed to this task. All the others Gisap- peared. My guard stepped into his hut to get hls shield Sclzing this unexpected op- portunity leapcd, tied as 1 was. into the neighboring bush. The man hurled him self after me, but just then the Arabs burst into the village and the warrior turned and fed. I stuck my head out of the thiclzet and the Arabs saw and selzed me. They thought was a Basooll, but shouted. T am one Of Stapiey's men bore the tattoo marks of the Haussa, with which they were familiar. They unbound me and I was saved. A few days later Captain Von Gelc appeared With his steam CTS and was turned over 10 him.
 The Haussas are natives of the Soudan, many of whom have served in the Congo State as soldiers. When Alal1ai was re- stored to his fellows they bore him around on their shoulders and had a great iubilation Captain Ccquiihat says