Morning journal and courier., 1890-05-10
In the Congo Slave.Shed. [E. J. Glave in April Century.l


 These hungry creatures form indeed a truly pitiable sight. After suffering this captivity for short time they become mere skeletons All ages, of both sexes, are to be seen; mothers with their babes; young men and women; boys and girls; and even babes; who cannot walk, and whose mothers have died of starvation. or perhaps been killed by the Lufembe. One seldom sees either old men or old women; they are all killed in the raids; their market value be- ing very small, no trouble is taken with them.
 Witnessing groups of these poor, hslples. wretches, with their amaciated forms and sadness, it is not difficult to perceive the tn- tense grief they are inwardly suffering, but they know too well 1t is of no use to appeal for sympathy to their merciless masters, who have been accustomed from childhood to witness acts of cruelty and brutality, SO that to satisfy their unsuitable greed they will commit themselves, or perm it to be commit ted, any atrocity. however great. Even tne pitiable sight of one of these slave sheds does not half represent the misery caused by this traffic-homes broken up, mothers sep- arated from their babies, husbands from wives, and brothers from sisters. When last at Masankusu saw slave woman who had with her one child, whose starved little body she was clutching to her shrunken breast. I was attracted by her sad face, which betokened great suffering. l asked sobbing voice, the following tale:
 ''I was living with my husband and three children in an inland village. few miles from here. My husband was hunter. Ten days ago the Lufembe attacked our settle ment; my husband defended himself, but was overpowered and speared to death with several of the other villagers. was brought here with my three children. two of whom have already been purchased by the traders. they will kill them on the death of some chief, or perhaps kill them for food. My re- maing child, you see, is ill, dying from star vation; they give us nothing to eat ex pect even this one will be taken from me to- day, as the chief, fearing lest it should die and become total loss, has offered 1t for 6 very small price. As for myself," said she. "they will sell me to one of tine neighborina tribes, to toll in the plantations, and when become old and unfit for work shall be killed"
 There were certainly 500 slaves exposed for sale in this one village alone. Large canoes were constantly arriving from down river, with merchandise of all kinds with which they purchased these slaves. A large trade is carried on between the Ubangi and the Lulungu rivers. The people inhabitine the mouth of the Unbangi buy the Balole slaves at the Masankusu and the other mark. cts. They then take thera up the Ubangt river and exchange them with the natives there for ivory. These natives buy theil slaves solely for food. Having purchased slaves they feed them on ripe bananas, fish and oil, and when they get them into good condition they kill them. Hundreds of Ba' lolo slaves are taken into the river and dis posed of in this way each month. A grea many other slaves are sold to the large will liages on the Congo, to supply victims fol the execution ceremonies.
 Much life is lost in the capturing of slaves and during their captivity many succumb tt starvation. Of the remainder, numberl are sold to become victims to cannibalisn and human sacrifice ceremonies. There ar' few indeed who are allowed to live and pros per.