The Irish standard., 1889-02-23

FATTENED BY .cANNlBALs.
Prisoners Life Saved After He Was An
Ready for the Cookine-Pot.
A Haussa soldier named Alakai, in the
service OF the Congo State, had a thrilling
experience awhile ago, which Captain
Coquilhat says is one Of the most dramatic
incidents that has come to his notice in
Africa. He was, according to the New
York SUM- one of three soldiers whom
Captain Hanssens left at the mouth of the
AruWimi to man a little station which
Hanssens established there. The Cap
tein steamed away, leaving these men
alone among the worst cannibals in the
Congo basin, and several months later
Alakai told Captain Coquilhat this story Of
what happened:
eihe chief of the village" he said, "told
Captain Hanssens that he would protect US
as he would his own children. He asked US
not to leave the village, as he could not an
swer for what his neighbors might do BE
PRUDENT he said. Several days passed
quietly, and then about noon one day sew
eral of the villagers asked my comrades to go
with them over to an island to fish lopposed
the excurson but it was no use, as much
pleasure had been promised the men, and
80 they went away with the fishers. little
after nightfall the canoes of the returning
fishermen touched the shore, but l did not
Gee my two comrades among them. Fear
Ing treason hid myself in an abandoned
hut. Soon after fire was built near the
place where I was concealed and after
awhile I could smell the odor Of cooking
thou
aesh CT my friends, and the thought filled
me with horror. crept outinto the dark
ness and, lying in the tall grass, could see
every thing that was going on at the lire.
Large pieces OF meat were roasting over the
GOALS, and soon the cannibals took out of
large Jar two human heads, which recog-
nized as those Of my comrades Many men
were laughing around the fire, and others
were attending to- the cookery.
~ crept away through the grass and hid
In the forest, but did not 20 very tar from
the Easoko villages, for hoped that one Of
our steamers would come there bciare a
great while For weeks ! lived on
roots and wild fruits and little raw
nanioc that IN the night time took from
the ieids. In about month was discov-
cred by q woman who was looking for
medicinal plants. She gave the alarm aud
was seized, taken back to the village and
delivered to the chief who had made the al
lance with Captain Hanssens. When !
ssns alone with him told him he had q
terrible account to settle with tho whites
Cor what he had done. The chief said he
was not responsible for the death Of my
friends, for If they had followed his conn-
sel they would have been safe. BE told me
shat if would promise to tell the Captain
my friends had been accidentally drowned
he would protect me. I promised to do 80.
The chief put guard over me, but did not
confne me- and for some weeks hoped
80 escape the fate Of my friends.
'sThen the people Of the village went to
She chief and demanded my body for q
feast. 1T is useless, they said, 'to hope to
satisfy the white man By restoring to him
only one Of bis men. Since we have killed
she other men it is better 70 make way with
*his witness of the act.' For days the chief
refused to give ne up to his naen, but I
savS at last that he was certain to yield t.
the solicitations, which were becoming
more and more pressing So seized an OPP
portunity one dark night to take refuge a
second time in the forest. Believing then
tnat. cur boats would not reach the Aruwiral
again for three or four months buried my
self in the interior. Not daring TO approach
and my strength diminished day by day
,:;After living i'll great misery for over
three months cautiously advanced toward
the villages. One day I heard tue putting
of q steamer, 1t was the missionary vessel
Peace. went down to the bank, but the
steamer was far away and did not see. me.
saw the white men take some villagers on
board, evidently to get news of US. The Ma
tives said, without doubt, that we had gone
away. for they were soon released and the
steamer went on.
;'Sone OF the natives who ut sight Of the
vessel had fed into the forest disIoy~
cred me and was again pouncea upon, and
this time I was closely guarded. heard
them say that was too thin to ear and that
they wouldn't kill me just yet. After my
frightful pl'vations was nothing but skin
and bone. They fed me all could eat, and
Icould not resist my appetite. AS / had no
exercise and lived on the fat Of the land J.
rapidly Increased in ilesh and III Il few
weeks was regarded as In tit condition 60
eat. ! saw them preparing the manioc and
tho beer for the feast. T. felt that my last
hour was approaching. On the afternoon Of
She day when / was to be killed my arms
were lied behind me. The sun was still
high when all Of a sudden we heard q great
oAAO SVAie>o' AAIo
Arabs arc coming every body shouted, and
hae mon seized their spears. The women
aud children hurried of into the
woods. Presently the Arab slavers came
1ear enough to pour q yoIey Of shot into |
the town, ami the men took to flight. In the |
midst of the retreat the Basol1o said ought |
10 DO taken along and warrior was as"
signed o this task. AL the others disap. |
peared. My guard stepped into his hut to
get bis shield. SEEING this unexpected op~
pcrtuuity leaped, tied as i was, into the
neighboring bush. The MIN 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
tta thicket and the Arabs saw and seized
me. They thought was Basook, but
shouted; Il anu one Of Stanley's men, !
bore the tattoo marks Of the Haussa, with
which they were familiar. They unbound
me- and was saved. 4 few days later
Captain Won Gfele appeared with his steam
ers and was turned over to him.
The Haussas are natives Of the Soudan,