The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-10-22
CONGO CANNIBALS.
Victims Exhibited That Purchasers
May Select Choice Cuts.


From Casselrs Magazine.
OF the numerous instances that might
be recorded in Illustration of the ORGANIZED
traffic in human beings which exists, refer
ence may be made to the conditions which
hold in the district through which the
Lulungu river passes. This river, which
constitutes a considerable afiuent of the
Congo, empties into the latter river, on the
south bank, at point some eight hundred
miles from the Atlantic coast. Within a
short distance of The confluence is to be
found s ries Of strongly-forttfiei vi fages,
representing the headquarters eff the
Ngombi wherein numbers of slaves are
imprisoned pending the per olical visits of
traders from the Ubangi country, which
is situated on the opposi side of The Con-
go. A Wis to one of these save depOts al
the mouth of the Lulungu river reveals a
condition of savagery and suffering beyond
all ordinary powers OF description. At the
period to which these remarks hear refer
ence it was no uncommon experience to
witness at one time upward of a hundred
captives, of both seXs and of all ages in
Guiding infants in their wretched mothers
arms, Tying in groups; masses of utterly
forlorn humanity, with eyes down asi in
a stony stare, with bodies a tenuated by
starvation, and with skin of that dun gray
hue which among colored races is always
indicative of physical distress.
In cases when a suspicion existed of an
individual captive's intention or ability to
/ escape, such unfortunate creature was
doomed to lie hobbled with ore fcot FOR ed
through a hole cut in the section of a log,
white a sDearhead was driven into the
wood close beside the limb, rendering it
impossible to move except al the expense
of laceration. Other means to insure the
- 70 II to- TIA
ing both hands above the head to the king
posi- OF hut, or in binding the arms and
plating the heir into a braid which was
made fast to a branch overhead. At inter-
walls these villages were visited by the
Ubangi who came in large dugout war
canoes, and the process of barter COM
menced, elephant tusks being the medium
of currency used in the purchase of the
slaves. Upon the conclusion of this unnat-
uraf tranSac ion, the visitors ret red TAX
ing with them as many of the individuals
as had been transfer ed TO their possession
in the tedious process of bars aiming. Upon
reaching their destination The captives
we're in most cases sub ected to many fur
Their ordeals, beng exchanged into other
hands. until eventually after having been
delibera ely fattened, they met the r tragic
fate and their boles were consumed.
There is a prevalent belief among many
OF the riVerlne tribes of the Upper Congo
that the NaVOr OF human ueSn IS improved
by submergiug the prospective victim up
to the neck in water for two or three days
previous TO sacrifice. Indeed, upon two
separate occasions it was my privilege to
release several poor creatures who were
bound hand and foot to stakes in the river
In certain native market places, notably in
the vicinity of the Ubangi. il is an ordinary
occurrence for capuves to be exposed for
sale in most cases with the sinister fate
in view Of being killed and eaten. Proper
tionately, a greater number of men than
women fall victims 10 cannibalism, the
reason being that women who are still
young are esteemed as being of greater
value, by reason of utility in growing and
ever, hold good throughout, for in the vi
cjnity of the Aruimi river our observations
revealed a contrary order of custom
Probably the most inhuman practice of
all is 10 be met with among the tribes who
deliberately hawk the victim piecemeal
while still alive. Incredible as 1t may ap-
pear. the fact remains justified by an only
too abundant proof; captives are led from
place to place in order that individuals
NAV have the opportunity of indicating,
by external marks upon the body, the por-
ton they desire TO acquire. The dstln-
gushing marks are generally made by
means Of colored clay, or strips of grass
tied in a particular fashion. The astound-
ing stoicism of The victim, who thus wit
nesses the bargaining for his limbs. is only
eoualed by the callousness with which he
walks forward to meet his fate. In ex-
planation Of the extraordinary indiffer-
ence thus displayed il can only be as
sumed that death is robbed of all terror
life under conditions of slavery Offering
so little attraction.