Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1895-04-04
MILLIONS OF CANN[BAiS.
PLENTY OF WORK FOR MISSION
ARIES IN CONGO FREE STATE.
r-Fifths OF the People Eat Human
Flesh-A Dead Chiefs Wives and
Slaves Inferred Alive.

four-Fifths OF the People Eat Human
Flesh-A Dead Chiefs Wives and
Slaves Inferred Alive.
n R.DORSEY MOHUN, United
| MI States commercial agent to
| Nv the Congo Free State, has
just returned to Washing
ton after two very exciting years in
the Dark Continent. He has brought
with him some wonderful stories of
battle and adventure, a large collec-
tion of trophies and curiosities, and
much interesting information. Just
OF present he occupies desk at the
State Department, where he is prepar-
ing q report that will be submitted to
Congress.
"Twenty millions of people in the
Congo Free State are eaters Of human
fesh," said Mr.. Mohun. "That is
about four-fifths OF tho entire popula-
tion. Cannibalism is strictly forbid
den by the Government of the country,
but nine hundred white men arc not
able to exercise a very complete con-
troll over such vast number of savages
occupying 1000, 1000 square miles of
territory. Individuals are caught in
this act occasionally and punished
with death. One day in last May as
CHANGED to enter village that lay
on the route of my expedition the ma
tives fled precipitately. Twas at loss
to know the reason why until I dis
covered certain evidences Of q big fam
lily feast. They had been cooking o
man, and one of his legs was in pot
over the fire.
81 lost no time in throwing pot and
all into the river. The mans head
was stuck on fence. Among these
people it is the custom to keep the
head of victim in this way for four
or five days, at the end of which it
serves for stew. The brain is highly
esteemed. The chief of the village was
tried on the charge of cannibalism
and afterward hanged, I believe. The
man whom I found potted was slave
and had been purchased for food.
Some of the tribes commonly buy
slaves to eat, just like pigs or chick
ems, fattening them on bananas, palm
oil and other nutritious provender,
and killing them when they are iu
suitable condition.
''What do the slaves think of itP
you ask. Well, they do not seem to
mind it very much. In Africa such
things are looked upon from differ
ent point of view. 1 once saw four
teen persons buried alive, and they
exhibited the utmost Indifference to
their fate. A great chief Ihad died,
and, according to custom. it was nec-
essary that his favoiite wives and
some of his slaves should accompany
him to his future abode.
ga hole was dug in the ground
about as large as fair sized room,
and in the middle of it the corpse of
the august defunct was placed. One
Of his wives descended into the exca-
vation and squatted at his head
another wife squatted ut his feet, and
two more wives disposed themselves
similarly on either side of him. His
body was done up in about thousand
yards of cloth. This was an evidence
of his wealth, for cloth is money in
savage Africa.
''1n the hole, forming q circle
around the corpse, squatted ten slaves.
Neither they nor the four wives mani
tested any concern about their ap-
proaching fate, which they evidently
regarded as a matter of course. Up to
the end of the ceremony, which was
quite elaborate, they did not utter q
sound or make struggle. At signal
men began to throw back the earth
into the pit which was to be q grave
for the living as well as for the dead.
The operation was continued until all
of the unfortunates were covered up
and concealed from view. While the
hole was being filed up there was q
continuous and unearthly hullabaloo,
with shouting and dancing and beat
ing of tom-toms.
"Why did not interfere2 I was
not strong enough. My escort num-
bered only few men, and could not
have prevented the tragedy, while any
attempt on my part in that direction
would probably have cost my own life.
The living burial 1 have described was
on small scale compared with similar
sacrifices that are made from time to
time at the funerals of native poten-
tates. 1t often Happens that expedi-
tions passing through the country find
in the villages slaves with wooden
blocks on their ankles. They wear
these clogs to prevent them from es-
Gaping while they are being fattened
for eating. When thus discovered by
white men they are always set free.
These savages are great towards.
On one occasion, with only four guns,
did not hesitate to attack about
twenty villages. A mail bag was stolen
from my camp at night. I made q
demand upon the local chief for the
return of the bag. My request was
not acceded to, and so proceeded to
wage war on the whole country there
about. 1 made my way along the
river in small steamboat, attacking
and burning one village after another.
I destroyed ten or twelve of them In