The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1890-04-18

emphasize their talk. anu II was noe
encouraging u our messengers 20 $50
these snyages br-ndisAinr their ugly
looking mathetes ~ every sentence Or
.No.
Although We were exceedingly anx-
ious TO push forward 20 the elephant
country. where. in is native habitat.
the forest giant. we were assured. could
BE- found in vast numbers. We could not
possibly DO II We had exhausted our
food supply and the problem of resic-
tualing was becoming harder daily. BE-
sides. We were due back az kinchasa by
certain date: 80 we regrctfully turned
the Florida's bows down-riyer and be-
gan our nomeward journey. The cur
rent was strong and AZ the sharp bends
" the river we were obliged 70 proceed
with great caution. 70 avoid getting
aground or fonling on hidden snags-
Still. with all our precautions, we struck
on the banks repeatedly, and the Flor
ida sustained considerable damage. but
not enough - prevent US from contnu-
ing our journey. Finally We got
through the dangerous sweils and cur
rents and into safe water after which
our progress down stream was very
rapid.
On getting back 10 Eaulu. we bought
a great quantity oi ivory about 1000
pounds OF it, 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; but
serious event had happened during our
absence. Their village had been at
! tackled by the cannibal Lufcmbi in
force; sharp fight had taken place and
the assailants mad finally been repulscd-
| Prisoners had been taken by both sides,
| and when we came upon the scene there
were I've Lufembi warriors in the hands
OF the Malingas All this the head-man
told Us when he came on board the
Florida on the evening OF our arrival.
Going ashore saw one or two OF the
captive cannibals tied up to huge logs,
which were chained about their necks.
These sayages talk practically the same
language as the MaliEgas. who are, as
have already explained. branch Of the
great Lufembe race. and have the same
peculiar tribal marks on their bodies,
even TO the ridges on their faces
Physically the Lufembi are magnificent
men: tall. clean l:mbed and digniiied-
looking. A peculiarity about them Is
that thew are. as | was informed by the
head-man, vegetarians 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 q
desire 70 get their enemies to eat. and
not because they hate them or from mo
tives OF vengeance. They are the true
man-huntcrs. who follow the human
game to crafty their frightful appetite
for flesh. While other savages attack
their enemies to punish aggression OF
secure revenge. the Lufembi alone
ma,,e their ghoulish appetite the
primary object in their raids upon theil
weaker neighbors-
The inland tribes are all related. the
Lufembi being generic. The latter oc
cupy country that is full Of swamp:
and heavy forests: and TO make vii
lage they have incredible labor, clear
ing the dense growth Of timber. The
Lufembe villages are large and popu
lous. We were told at Malinga. and thel
have fine plantations. their occupation
when not making war, being almos'
wholly agricultural.
Prominent among these great African
inland tribes are the elephant hunters
into whose country we had penetrated
and some Of whom we had seen The,
are large. powerful men. and physically
the equal OF the Lufembi- Theil
method OF hunting is simple and effect
i've. First watch is kept until the
place in the forest where the elephants
are accustomed to pass when going x
the river is discovered. Then the hunt
ers choose large tree hanging over thu
elephant path and TO stout branch o.
limb they attach q broad bladed strong
spear, which is hung point downward
in such manner that the head OF thu
weapon is exactly over the center Of thu
path. To gauge the position accurately
one Of the hunters asccnds the tree and
climbing out on the limb. drops watel
to the ground. which serves as guide
to the Others, who are fixing the traI
below. The spear. when in true pos;
AAtll- az tAlV w. 49, 49, ~ viz f<+<@-
Attached to the upper end and above
the blade is ponderous weight Of woot
or metal. which il sometimes takes fft,
men to lift into position. On each side
Of the path is the tall forest grass. 4
rope stretched across the path and hid
den from sight connects with the trial
overhead. The elephant in passing
strikes the concealed rope. the tral
overhead is sprung, and the broad, keel
blade. impelled by the great weigh
above IL. crashes through the foliag'
and penetrates the back Of the hug
brute At vital point. generally back 0
the head and between the shoulders
So accurate are the traps Of these elc
plant hunters that the game needs N
finishing stroke after the trap has done
its work.
i We returned to Equator where we dis
charged our native crew. took on boar
the Zanzibaris and Loando natives. ant
/ then continued on TO Kinchasa
On reaching tho head Of Stanle.
Pool. we saw from the dccl
Of the Florida a pleasing AM
unexpected sight On shore among tn