The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1889-07-19
HUMAN SACRIFICES ~ AFRICA
Terrible Rites Paid 10 the ''fu Ia''
Coda in New Casahar.


The steamer Congo brings news from
New Calabar Of most revolving sacri-
flee. II seems that fes months ago
the old king of Eboe died and. as is
customary in that part OF the coautry
the traders from New Caiabar went up
To- pay their respects Ia the new mon
arch. The traders we're aware that
for short time after the old hing 5
death the - Iu Ia rites are performed
but they thought that those were
over. The deceased monarch name
was ifapfy and Ia The horror III the
English traders the Ia ia" eoFcmo-
MES were AT their highest hen they
entered Eboe town
The rites had been ia operation fos
about tgo months. and already about
forty people had been slain To appease
the ia Ia gods. The Old king vas
then lying ia grave which had been
dug for him. The hole vas a large
one and deep. lyluE lu the same
grave we're nime If the king youngest
wives, and their deaths had been
hr-ugiit about III the most cruel mar
ner Each 81 the poor creatures had
both Der wrists and ankles broken, so
that they could neither walk nor crawl.
Ia this state and suffering the most
exernCiating pain the unfortunate
creatures were placed at the bottom of
the grave, seven of them lying side hy
side. The body Of the king was then
laid on them ia a transverse direction.
The two remaining women we're la3d
down by the side uf the king, lying ex.
aciIy like the monarch body
No food or water vas given TO
the poor creatures. who we're
left in that position 60 die.
IL j. said that death did not. as 4 rule
take place for four or i've days. -Four
men were stationed round the grave,
armed with eiubs. ready to knock back
with these weapons any OF the women
who, Notwithstanding their msitue,!
condition we're able e. crawl 10 the
side Of the grave
In other uarts of the town further
human sacrifices we're taking place
Suspended from various trees were
the bodies of several men These poor
fellows were also enduring the most
agonizsug death lfr~fuost instances
hsles had been bored through their
feet just by the ankles Through the
holes ropes were drawn and tie men
We're then tied To- high tree Their
heads were, OF course. hanging down
ward, The men we're lefg there 10
die, The traders. as they were pro.
ceedIng along, were unwilling Wit
nesSes 81 tTiRhtful sacflNciaI vxscu-
ton. They saw a nUmbUr OF natives
in group and vent Ca the spot 90 see
what was taking place. 10 their
horror the white men saw Z
native tied by the feet ga6
NECK. The fufe attached Ia the
neck WAS thrown over a tree I'M
one direction and the nope attached TO
the feet was tied to q iree ia the oppa.
site direction. The ropes were then
drawn tightly. aua when the heAv
was 4tstendsd {" It's ptu0st length.
another native alth Ratchet struck
the meek and severed thp head from
the body, The head was taken
Ia the grave where the King
was lying. While the body wAs
eaten hy the esnnisai natives. The
white u,eD could Sc uoshjne te stop
the tafeAfonS pfsetires. As e. interfere
With these religious custom. wuuld
not DC tolerated bY the nsttvr< and
thc lives al the G. lefs NauiI have
been ia peril They therefore made
As QR3ck retreat irum she toNn as
They eouid The traders LEARNED that
tor esch ~ tho toliuS tnF ten months
there Wa 10 he sacrifice og srSen
men.