The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-06-14
MAN AS A DIET IN AFRICA.
A Prominent Feature of Former
BiIfS OF Fare.
From the Chicago Daily News.


Capt. Sidney Kinds in the Congo Free
State and those of other explorers in At
rica were many, but in none so strongly
marked as in his willingness to tell OF
what he saw there since his return to Eu-
rope. A medical man by profession, Capt
Hinde entered the service of the King of
Belgium. who is also the ruler OF THIS
great African domain. late in 1891. He
reached the front just in time to take part
in the final struggle which wrested great
tracts of territory away from the grasp
ing clutch of Tsppoo lib, prince of slave.
traders, and his attention for nearly two
years was consequently given to infiicting
wounds rather than curing them.
Early in his account OF his stay In the
Congo region, Capt. Hinde finds fault with
the reticence of those who have preceded
him in reference to the practices OF the
native cannibals. He was totally UMPIRE
pared for the conditions as he found them'
and he deems It only right, therefore, TO
inform others, both as a warning and as
an incentive in opening up the territory
of these miserable savages to civilization
1t was during an.otherwise unimportant
delay in the progress of an eXpedltlon
which was exploring Katanga that the
commissary Of the Free State discovered
that the chief article in the commissary
of the natives was human. orders were
promptly given to stop the traffic which
was going on by way of the upper river,
here called the Basongo. All canoes load
ed with slaves destined for the tables OF
those to whom their captors saw fit to
sell them were to be fired upon until an
end had been made of this nefarious com
merce. The same day a sentry fired and
killed his own father, whose body came
ashore, and the soldier reported progress
and at the same time registered a hearty
protest at headquarters, because, being
his father, he was debarred from eating
him 1t was learned, when the sentrles
were changed, that he had, however, com
promised with his conscience by selling
the body to his fellows, who had already
gone so far that no fnterment was neces-
sary.
CAPT. Hinde sets forth that it was far
from unusual for prisoners or slaves TO
come to him with a request Hike this; we
want meat; we know you have not enough
goats and fowls to be able to spare us
some but give us that man Indicating
one of their number) he is a lazy fellow
and you'll never get any good out OF him,
SO YOU may as well give him to us to eat.
This rather radical cure for slothfulness
was never resorted to, of course; but all
attempts to make the cannibals see the
precise bearing of their practices were
wholly unavailinS-they were unconVefl-
ible.
The taste of human Aeslr was described
by those who partook of it as "saltish and
recurring little condment." A prediction
Cor different portions of the body was
noted among the different tribes. Among
the parts thus variously liked were the
hands and feet, the head the heart and
steaks from either the thigh or the back.
The termination of a battle was the sig
nal for the victors to begin preparations
for their unhoy banquet and the parts I'M
used upon that occasion were smoked and
sailed TO provide a supply in the future.
After the battle of March 3. 1892, II was
estimated that the Cannibals had body
apiece. A little drummer who had disap-
reared was supposed to have been shot.
A day or two later he was discovered In
a hut beside a partially consumed enemy,
dead of a surfeit
AT this had a curious Meet upon the
followers OF Tippoo lib, who were waging
such desperate war. Being Moslems they
believed that it was necessary for man
TO be inferred intact If he wished to reach
companioship with the black-eyed hours
in the Mohammedan paradise. Holding
as an article of faith that no imperfect
man was to be admitted 70 everlasting
glory, no matter what his other merits,
IL was impossible to Keep the Arabs IN
as soon as defeat seemed In any wise
likely Though among the bravest Of poo.
pies and capable, upon occasion, OF maxi
ing the most desperate resistance, In spite
OF this fear. many and many an engage
ment was won by their earnest desire not
so much 10 save their lives as to save
their bodies after death.
one day a young Basongo chief bor-
rowed knife of Baron Dhanis, in com
mand Of the Free States forces. Soon
afterward Il was reported TO the latter
that the savage had just cut the throat
OF a little girl he owned and was cooking
her lie was Immediately condemned 10
imprisonment. but obtained his release
with a warning some two months later on
account OF his falling health. Within a
week not less than haif dozen children
had disappeared. leaving no sign behind.
All were traced to the newly released chief
and he was executed.
one OF his eountrymen gave Capt Hinde
the recipe for making the meat tender
The arms and legs were to be broken and
the body then placed In running water for
three days, the head being carefully sup
ported 20 prevent self-destfuctfoh THIS
the European discovered through noticing
that the Basongo practice was 10 break
the wings or legs or both OF an the game
they captured.
In conclusion the words OF Capt. Hinde
had best be quoted; "A man with his eyes
open has no difficulty IN knowing. from
the horrible remains lac II obliged 20 pass
on his way, what people have preceded
him on the road or battleneld-with this
difference. that on battlefield he will ind
those parts left 20 the jackals which the
human wolves have not found 10 their
tnste: whereas on the road-gcnerally by
the smoidering campfire or the blackcned
spot Indicating where the Ere has been
are the whitening bones. cracked and
broken. which form the relics OF those
disgusting banquets. These form diary
by the way, which ne who runs may
reod, " he knows the habits Of these peo-
pie"