The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-03-24
THE cANNInALs OF WEST AFRICA
How the MpOngwes Prepare and
Eat Human Flesh.
1rom IN 81 Iamasl GaZatI

From the St. James Gazette.
Reuters Liverpool correspondent had
an interview with Mr.. P. A Mccain. who
has resided for nineteen years in West
Africa. He recently returned from pho
Geographic expedition in the Gold Coast
Hinterland, extending over an unbroken
period of four years. Mr.. MeCanns seven
years trading and residence with the cam
nibal tribes of the French Gaboon prob
ably forms the most exciting part of his
experience in Western Africa. After Sir
William Maxwell returned to Coomassie
from Bantuku and finished his Hinterland
tour. Mr. Mccain, with his carriers, pene-
trated country much of which had hither-
to never been visited by white men.
In his seven years dealings with the
cannibal Mpongwes Mr.. Mccain got
friendly with them and thoroughly studied
their habits and customs. They quite be-
lieved that the white men ate white men,
as they themselves eat their fellow blacks.
big chief offered Mr.. Mccain the
smoked thigh of a native. This was con-
sidered a gracious act To refuse il would
be unfriendly. Mr.. Mccain was in a di-
lemma. But he feigned illness, and said
he was not eating just then. The chief
eventually put the matter off good hum
oil odely by saying he supposed the white
man preferred white man 10 eat instead of
biz ok man.
The Mpongwe cannibals of the most pro-
Eounced type thicky inhabit the banks
and forest regions of the Gaboon and
Elobey rivers Although they kill game
for food, they much prefer human meat
to any other. When questioned about the
practice they speak freely about it with
out any embarrassment Human flesh.
they say, has a rich flavor about it which
is entirely absent from any other kind OF
meat They eat all enemies they kill or
capture in war; the latter are tortured be-
tore being put to death. In fighting with
an enemy who has pressed them hard and
caused them much loss. the bodies are eat
en- 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. no,
being excited by hard fighting or losses
they deliverate more over the pleasure the
! eatlng Will afford them and go more leis-
useiy about the preparation of the meat
! Inc hesh having been cut up is cooked in
! plantatn leaves The method of doing this
is as follows: SeveNl leaves Of the plan.
! tam tree are cut at the base of their shafts
| rom the trunk OF the tree. and the mid.
I'M OF the leaf. which is thick and full Of
! sap. and so prevents the leaf from bending
easily, is dexterousiy pared down with ;
single cut of knife. The leaf is Their
held over fire, and under the influence
! Of the heat softens and becomes as hexf
| BILE as cloth. All the leaves are treated
Ike this, and are afterward put one or
TOP OF another, aud then gathered up Sc
as TO form basin-like receptacle A quau.
| uty of human meat, cut into small pieces
IS then placed in this, some water an,
dika fat made from the fatty kernels O
the seeds of the Mangifera Gabonensis ar.
added after which the leaves are gathers,
together at the top and tied round wifi
the flbrous strips cut from the r,drif
when preparing the leaves. The bund1,
is then placed over a slow fire for seve,
or eight hours, and the flavor of the roea
Is mus cooked according to Mpongwe con
nolsseurs, surpasses everything in tn.
| worlds bill of fare.