Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-11-08
AMONG AFRICAN CANNIBALs.
thrilling Experiences of Mr.. Dorsey
Mohun ON a Recent Expedttfou

Mohun ON a Recent Expedition.
Mr.. Dorsey Mohun, United States COM
mercial agent at Bona, Congo Free State.
mas made thrilling report to the State
department on the subject of the African
save trade in which he gives details of
cahihpalism and other acts of barbarism
=" mat gives his report special interest
III thlS vicinity is that the author is a life
long resident of this city He is the only
representative of this government in that
part OF the dark continent" lie WAS sent
tnere with view of advancing the COM
mercial interests OF the United States and
incidentally TO investigate the slave trade.
IN order TO gain a clear insight into the
whoie matter Mr. Mohun attached himself
10 the expedition which was sent ont nv
the congo government last spring under
command OF NJ: chaltin. This expedition,
both in point OF strength and from tba ~
suits which il accomplished was ono Of
the most important ever sent against the
Arabs and practically gave the slave trade
IN the congo country its death blow Ii
penetrated the great Lomami river region
the stronghold Of the slave traders and
after considerable heavy lighting and i'm
the face of great mortality from smallpox
and fever succeeded in breaking up several
of the most noted bands, whose operations
had terrorized the entire locality.
The expedition started from Basolxo, on
the Congo river, in the Brux, les, a govern
n
ley Falls. The United States officer lid not
join 1t until after NJ. Chaltin who had gone
on ahead had made one short excursion
into the backlyirg country. He caught the
steamer on its next trip down TO Basoko
and later Joined Commandant Chaltin.
Completely Destroyed.
He found that the officer had been most
successful, defeating the Arabs in an open
fight and completely destroying the village
oh xx-Af Oh
From that point the expedition sailed
for Bena kamba. where 1t was reorganizei
and set out for Riba Riba, 555 strong
Then began the stirring and exciting ad-
ventures which lasted until the object of
the expedition had been accomplished Evil
cences OF fnhuman cruelty on the part OF
the slave traders were encountered.
When the town of Ikamba was reached
gruesome sight greeted the expedition
The chief of that district, being an ally of
the Arabs, had placed directly across the
road CHASTITY barricade of sixteen newly
severed heads. The natives had fed, how
ever, and the town was deserted save for
these grisly warnings.
Without needing this fearful sight the ex-
petition pushed on, and on March % was
stopped by an impossible stream. Scouts
were sent out to find a ford, and soon re-
turned with the naws that a large body of
Arabs was preparing to cross the river at
point not far away. These were the first
slave dealers who had been encountered
and the force was Immediately placed in
POSITION for an attack.
Surprised the Arabs.
The Arabs had not discovered the pres
ence of the expedition, and the first warn
ing they had was shell from the field
piece. which dropped into their camp. After
several hours of hot fighting across the
river, the Arabs withdrew. and upon cross
he
ground and bushes showed the victors that
some deadly work had been done.
Only one dead Arab was found, as it is
the custom of this people. Mr.. Mohun says,
to remove their dead If possible. After the
battle 80 men succeeded in crossing the
river, and were ordered to push on to Riba
Riba, as ii was desired to reach that town
before the retreating forces of the defeated
Arabs could give warning of the approach
of the expedition.
This detachment Mr.. Mohun accompanied
but on reaching the town they found the
place deserted. The only thing they did
find was another bit of Arab pleasantly in
the shape of two right hands of white men
nailed TO the Flagstaff in front of the chiefs
house. Mr.. Mohun expresses the belief that
they were those of Messrs. Michaels and
Noblesse, who were murdered there the
week before. 1t is the intention of NJ. Chal-
tin to destroy these nests, and the detach-
ment marched away in the light of the
flames which ascended from the burning
village and returned to the main force
Victims of Smallpox.
Smallpox had made its appearance among
the men, and on the next day all of the
sick were sent back to Benekamba under
guard. The expedition followed a few days
later and reached the steamer on Nav s.
taking three days to make the home Jour-
ney, which had consumed nine DAYS in 60
ing. The scenes on the road going back
according to Mr.. Mohrn's descriptions. were
appalling. The dead from the sick column
lined the way, and occasionally a corpsa
would be stumbled over as IL lay concealed
in the high grass, and over all was the
empowering stencil from the decomposing
bodies.
So great was the mortality that upon
reaching Benekamba II was found that IOi
persons had died in less than two weeks
The battle which ended the expedition
was fought at Stanley Falls. The soldiers
were in two attachments under cover of
fre from the cannon on the steamer One
detachment carried the factory at the point
or the bayonet, and for a while there was
hot work. The retreating Arabs Were pur-
sued to the village. which the soldiers took.
The other detachment on the right hank Of
the river had CALAMITY captured another
town. killing the chief and seventy-fiye of
his men. The defeat and rout of the Arabs
was complete and the slaughter from the
rifles of the soldiers was fearful After This
disastrous defeat many of the Arabs slaves
soldiers. women and other retainers gave
themselves up. In all about one hundred
OF these surrendered to the expedition.
Revolving Sights.
There being no further danger from the
Arabs after such complete rout, the ex-
petition left Stanley Falls and went TO
Romie, another Arab town, which they
found had been already captured by a small
force under the command of Mr.. Five. the
inspector of the Congo state and an officer
Here Mr.. Mohun saw some sights which
were revolving in the extreme SURPRISING
In savagery anything that he had imag-
incd.
The butchery of the Arabs in the fight
which resulted in the capture of the village
had been fearful, and the natives. who
sWarmed like vultures over the whole place
began cutting up and eating the bodies
Comnandant Chaltin had given orders that
TINS was not to be permitted, and any ma
i've caught With human flesh in his possess
sion was TO be shot on the spot
Mr. Mohun says that he saw several ma
yves carrying arms and legs down to the
peach preparatory to "A feast, and laconi-
caily ADDS that a bullet soon put an end to
this proceeding. The natives he says, saw
they do not eat human flesh on account OF
enemies they gain all the strength DOS
sessed by them when they eat them.
The Heroic Hen.
From the Churchman.
A friend has lately told me the following