Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-10-13

At the period to which these remark
reference, 1t was no eX-
perience to witness at one time upward
of "a hundred captives, OF all X and
of all ages. including infants in their
wretched mothers arms. lying in groups:
masses of utterly forlorn~ humanity, with
eyes downcast in a stony stare, with bod
les ~attenu2ted By starvation. and With
skin of that dun gray hue which among
colored races is Away indicative of ply
steal distress.
In eases when 4 suspicion existed OF an
individual captive'S intention or ablllly
to escape. such unfortunate creature was
doomed to lie hobbied with one foot
forced through a hole cut in the section
of a log. while a s~pearhead was driven
into the wood close beside the limb, rem
dering it impossible to move. except at
the expense of lacefation. Other means
to insure the prisoners safe custody con-
sisted in binding both hands above the
head to the kingpost of a hut. or in bind
ing the arms and plating the hair into Il
braid. which was made fast to a branch
overhead. At intervals these villages
We're visited BY the IbaEgi, who came IN
large dugOut war canoes, and the process
Of barter commenced, elephant tuskS be-
ing the medium of currency used in the
purchase of the slaves. Upon the con-
clusion of this unnatural transaction the
visitors retired, taking with them as
many Of the individuals as had been
transferred to them in the tedious pro-
cess of bargaining. Upon reaching their
destination the captiyes were, in most
cases, subjected 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 We're consumed.
There is a prevailing opinion among
! NC " Of thn ti,-A,i,a trtf>nc Of tho 1,11Dpr
Congo that the flavor of human flesh is
improved by submerging the prospective
victim up to the neck in the water for
two or three days previous to sacrifice.
Indeed, upon Two separate occasions 1t
was my privilege to release several poor
creatures who We're bound hand and foot
to stakes in the river. In certain native
market places, notably in the vicinity of
the Ubansi, it is an ordinary thing for
captives to be exposed for sale, in most
cases with the sinister fate in view of
being killed and eaten. PrO~pOrtionately,
a greater humble of men than women fall
victims to cannii,alism. the reason being
that women who are still young are es-
teemed as being Of greater value, by
reason of their utility in growing and
looking food. This rule does not, how
ever, hold good throughout. for in the
vicinity of the Aruimi river our observa-
tons revealed a contrary order of GUS
tom.
Probably the most inbuman practice OF
all is to be met With among the tribes
who deliberately hack the victim piece
meal while still alive Incredible as ii
may appear, the fact remains. justified by
an only too abundant proof: captives are
led from place to place in order that in
dividuals may have the opportunity OF
indicating, by external marks upon the
body, the portion they desire to ac-
quire. The Distinguishing marks are gen.
orally made by means of colored clay, OF
strips of grass tied in a particular fash
ion. The astounding stoicism Of the vic
tim, who thus witnesses the bargaining
for his limbs, is only equaled by the cal
lousness With which he walks forward t.
meet his fate. In explanation Of the eN
) traordinary Indifference thus displayed
it can only be assumed that death is rob
bed of all terror. life under conditions o
slavery Offering so little attraction.