Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-03-30

our camp felt quite secure from attack of the
invisible enemy. They wore, when our
delegation met them, variety of weapons,
the principal one being wooden knife, in
shape somewhat like pruning hook, this
made o. an exceedingly hard and durable
wood, sharpened to a point, and they used
it very skillfully. In conversation they
employed it to emphasize their talk, and it
was not encouraging to our messengers to
see these savages brandishing their ugly
looking machetes at every sentence or two.
TURNING DOWN STREAM.
Although we were exceedingly anxious
to push forward to the elephant country,
where, in its native habitat, the forest giant,
we were assured, could be found in vast
numbers, we could not possibly do it. We
had exhausted our food supply, and the
problem of revictualing was becoming
harder daily. Besides, we were due back
at Kinchasa by a certain date; so we regret
fully turned the Floridas bows downriver
and began our homeward journey. The
current was strong and the Florida sus-
tanned considerable damage, but not enough
to prevent us from continuing our journey.
Finally, we got through the dangerous
swells and currents and into safe water,
alter which our progress down stream was
very rapid.
On getting back to Baulu, we bought
great quantity of ivory-about 1000 pounds
OF 1t, and of very superior quality. Our
journey to Malinga was continued without
incident. There we were greeted by the
natives in the same cordial way as on our
first arrival; buta serious event had hap
pened during our absence. Their village
had been attacked by the cannibal Luiembi
in force; sharp fight had taken place and
lol
Prisoners had been taken by both sides, and
when we came upon the scene there were five
Lufembi warriors in the hands of the NAL
ingas. All this the head man told us when
he came on board the Florida on the even
ing of our arrival.
THE CAPTIVE CANNIBALS.
Gong ashore 1 saw one or two of the cap
tive cannibals tied up TO huge logs, which
were chained about their necks. These
savages talk practically the same language
as the Malingas, who are as have already
explained, a branch OF the great Lufembi
race, and have the same peculiar tribal
marks on their bodies. even to the ridges on
their faces. Physically the Lufembi men
are magnificent men; tall, clean-limbed and
dignifed looking. A popularity about
them is that they are, as 1 was informed by
the head man, Yegetarians in all else except
their horrible love of human flesh. They
differ from other savage races in the fact that,
according to all we could learn, they make
war solely through a desire to get their
enemies to eat and not because they hate
them or from motives of vengeance. They
are the true man hunters, who follow the
human game to crafty their frightful ap-
petite for flesh.
The prisoners in the hands of the Malin-
gas were stoics, and bore themselves bravely
A savage, although he knows be is to be
killed the next morning, will make no out
cry, nor will he try TO escape. Their eyes
had passive expression, and they faced
their,fate uncomplainingly. The Lufenbi
villages are large and populous, we were
told at MalInga, and they have fine plauta-
tions, their occupation, when not making
war, being almost wholly agricultural.
HUNTING THE ELEPHANT.
Prominent among these great African in
land tribes are the elephant hunters, into
whose country we had penetrated, and some
of whom we had seen. They are large, now
eriul men, and physically the equal of the
Lu .embi. Their method OF hunting is SIM
pie and effective. First watch is kept
until the place in the forest where the eIe-
phants are accustomed to pass when going
to the river is discovered. Then the hunt
ers choose large tree hanging over the ele-
phant path and to a stout limb they attach
a broad-bladed. strong spear, which is hung
point downward in such a manner that the
head of the weapon is exactly over the CEN
ter of the path.
Attached to the upper end and above the
blade is a ponderous weight of wood or
metal, which it sometimes takes so men to
lift into position. On each side of the path is
the tall forest grass. A rope stretched across
the path and hidden from sight connects
with the trap overhead. The elephant ir
passing strikes the concealed rope, the trap
overhead is sprung, and the broad, keen
blade, impelled by the great weight above