New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-03-05

THE CANNIBAIls OF WEST AFRICA
HUMAN FLESH.
From The St James's Gazette.
Reuters Liverpool correspondent has had an
interview with Mr.. i. A. Mccain. who has re-
sided for nineteen years IN West Africa lie
recently returned from Photographic eXpedl-
ton in the Gold Coast Hinterland extending
over an unhroken period OF four years. MI
McCann's seven years trading and residence
with the cannibal tribes Of the French GaDoon
probably form the most exciting part or his ex-
periences in Western Africa After Sir William
Maxwell returned to CoOmassie from BantuKu
and finished his Hinterland tour. Mr. Mccain:
with his carriers, penetrated country inuch OF
which had hitherto never been visited by whie
men.
In his seven years dealings with the cannbal
Mpongwes Mr.. Mccain got friendly with them
and thoroughly studied their habits and Gus
tens They quite believed that the white men
ate white men, they themselves cat their fcl-
low blacks. A big chief Offered Mr.. Mccain
the smoked thigh Of a native. This was con-
sidered gracious act To refuse it would be
unfriandly. Mr. Mccain was in dilemma
But he feigned illness. and said he was not
eating just then. The chief eventually put the
matter off good humoredly by saying he sup
posed the white man preferred White man 10
eat instead of black man.
The Mpongwe cannibals Of the most pro
nounced type thicldy inhabit the banks and
forest regions OF the Gaboon and tlobey rivers
Although they Kill game for food they much
prefer human meat to any other. When queS-
toned about the pr Ictice they speak freely
about ii without any embarrassment Human
flesh they say, has rich flavor about Il when
Is entirely absent from any other kind or meat
They eat all enemies they Kill or capture IN
war: the latter are tortured before being put
to death. In fighting with an enemy who mas
pressed Them hard and caused them much loss,
the bodies are eaten very soon after the capture
and when the heat Of war Is upon them
The bodies Of enemies killed by stealth they
generally treat differently, for not being excited
by hard fighting or losses they deliberate more
over the pleasure the eating viii afford them,
and go more lesurely about the preparation OF
the meat The flesh having been cut up Is
cooked in plantain leaves. The method OF DONG
this is as follows: Several leaves OF the pAnlalh
tree are cut at the base Of their shafts from
the trunk OF the tree. and the midrif or the
leaf which is thick and full Of sap. ana 50 pre-
vents the leaf from bending easily. Is dexter
ousy pared down with a single cut OF a knife
The leaf is then held over a fire, and under the
influence Of the heat softens and becomes rs
flexible as cloth All the leaves are treated IKE
this and are afterward put one on top 81 an
other and then gathered up so as to FORM p'iSii
like receptacle \ quantity Of human meat cut
into small pieces is then placed IN TINS, some
water and dika fat made from The fatty kernels
Of the seeds Of the Mangifera GabonensIs are
added after which The leaves are gathered TO-
gether at the top and tied round with the hDrous
strips cut from the midrin when preparing the
leaves The bundle is then placed over SLOW
fire for seven or eight hours. and the flavor OF
tha meat thus cooked. according TO MpohEWe
connoiseeurs surpasses everything In the "orld 5
IL frFr faro