Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1899-11-21
AFRICAN. CANNIBAIS.
horrible PRACTICES CT THE M..i
EATa rs or sTa- koNcc.

EATc rs OF tTa- kSNGc.
s-,,e Victims Led From 'Iaee ta
Place, So TA.t Prospective PI-
chcscrs. Hay E-ar;s Portions T.icy
Dcs;-c y-hcn fae killing Occurs.
or the numerous Instances that might
be recorded in Illustration of the organ
lied traffic in human beings which
exists, reference nc!- e made to the
conditions which hold in the district
through. which the Lulunsu river pass
es. This: river, which constitutes 4 con-
siderable GfIIucnt of the kopso. emp
ties into the latter river, on the south
bank. al point some SEQ miles from
the Atlantic coast. Within q short dis
lance of the confluence is TO be found
a series of strongly fortified villages,
representing the headquarters Of the
Ngomhi, wherein numbers OF slaves are
imprisoned pending the periodical visits
OF traders from the Ubangi country.
which is situated on the opposite side
Of the kongo.
a visit to one of these slave depots
at the mouth of the Lulungu river re-
veals q condition of savasery and suf
fcring beyond all ordinary powers of
description. At the period to which
these remarks bear reference. it w2S
no uncommon experience to witness at
one time upward Of q hundred captives,
of both sexes and of all ages. including
infants in their wretched., mothers
arms, lying in groups; masses of utter
ly forlorn humanity. with eyes down.
cast in a stony. stare, with bodies at
tenuated by starvation. and with skin
Of that dull gray hue which among
colored races is always indicative of
physical distress.
In cases when o suspicion existed Of
an individual cnptive's intention or
ability to escape, such unfortunate
creature was doomed to lie hobbled
with one foot forced through hole
cut In the section of q log, while a
spearhead was driven into the wood
close beside the limb. rendering it i'm,
possible to. move except at the ex-
pense of laceration. Other means to
insure the prisoners safe custody con-
sisted In binding both hands above the
head to the king post of hunt, or in
binding the arms and plating the hair
into a braid, which was made fast to
branch overhead. -
! At Intervals these villages were visit
ed by the Uhangi, who came in large
dugout war canoes, and the process
Of barter commenced. elephant tusks
being the medium Of currency used
in the purchase of the slaves. Upon
the conclusion Of this unnatural trans
action, the visitors retired. taking with
them as many Of the individuals as
had been transferred to their posses
sion In the tedious process Of bargain-
Ing,
Upon reaching their destination the
captfves were, in most cases. sub
jected to many further ordeals. being,
exchanged into other hands. until
eventually, after. having. been deliber-
ately fattened, they met their. tragic
fate. and their bodies were consumed.
There is a prevalent belief among
many Of the riyerine tribes Of the up
per Kongo that the favor of human
flesh is Improved by submerging the
prospective victim up to the. neck In
the water for two or three days pre-
vious to the sacrifice. Indeed. upon two
separate occasions 1t was my privilege
to release several poor creatures who
were bound hand and foot to stakes
In the river, i.a
In certain native market places, not
ably In the vicinity Of the Ubangi. it
is an ordinary occurrence for captives
to be exposed for sale, n mos: cases
with the sInIstcr fate in view of being
Killed and eaten, Propo:t!onateiy. /:
create. ,u,ia,hcr o., men :har women
fall Victims TO eannIbaiisni. the reasoE
Being that women who are still young
are cssee,nel As being CT create: valc",
by rcssou o. ,!,ei. utility in growing
and cooking scod. This :.:!e Goes not.
howeysr. sold coed throughout, for in
to. yisin!ty os tbs A,u:mi river on: se-
scrvssips, 1svsalsc A contrary orte. o:
clston.
Pra6snty tbs nest inSumaa practice
Of at Is =, ~ met with among ,hs
tribes xhe asii4erAtsiy haut The vic-
liz, riecsE sai vhils ssil! al!vA incrsds-
Il. ss y mar salsar. 'hs ssc '~msios
Jast;ntd tyf sp solJ tee abundant
rroof ECsp,iyes arv le,i from place ="
place ii order that indiv'duais ma,
hare :Le oppeF.na.s. .: indicating. By
cxrerus! marks upon the So6r. the POT
son .iey ,.,s,r~ ts sc:r's". Th" Dts
:lnsu..h:nx Nasts Are s.nsr"iiy snsc@
" rl.aa. OF soioret hay ~ ssr'p' .:
sra -. usd In = parieula, -fashien
lhci ssicnnd!pS sioicisn sf t..s W.
.i:.a, wps Tim, v,taes.e. tie barEaintns
:et lis sl,n,hr. ls .uly cona;s" =: the
ccl.ousress WIN which s- ssisa :or-
varl 10 n,s+: his fate. In cxp'Anssion
Of .ac .Xt,anTa.iar! Indifference ;hus
cisplsycd II ean only 3e assumed that
ceatli Is, robbed Of Ill tc:-o-. ~. Under
cordItleIs OF slavery Offering 80 little
attraction. Herbert Wari::n Gsss.i:s
Magazine.
Showed HcrTecth.
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