Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1900-11-29
AFRICAN CANNIBALS.
HORRIBLE PRACTICES or THE MAN
EATERS or THE KCNGO.

The Victims Led rrcra rIace TO
Place, 50 That Prospective Pur-
chaser. May Mark Portions The,
Desire when the KiiiiEs occurs.
OF the numerous instances that N OF,
br recorded in Illustration of the oYpan.
lied traffic in human beisrs which
Exists, reference may lie made to the
conditions which L.oid IN the district
through which che Lu,urssu river pass
es. inns riTscr, which constitutes a con-
siderable afllueIt of the Kongo, emp
Les mo the latter river, on the south
bark, al q point some 500 miles from
the Atlantic coast. Within a short dis
lance of the confluence is to be found
n series of strongly fortified villages,
representing the headquarters of the
Ngombi, 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 hongo.
A visit TO u of these slave depots
at the mouth of the Lulungu river re-
veals n condition of savagery and suf-
fering beyond all ordinary powers OF
description. At the period to which
these remarks bear reference, it was
no uncommon experience to witness ut
II time upward OF n hundred captiyes,
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 q 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 n suspicion existed OF
an Individual captive's intention or
ability to escape, such unfortunate
creature was doomed to lie hobbled
with one foot forced through a hole
cut In the section of a log, while a
spearhead was driven into the wood
close beside the limb, rendering 1t i'm
possible to move except at the ex-
pense Of lace-ation. Other means to
insure the prisoners safe custody con-
sisted in binding both hands above the
head 10 the king post of n hunt. or In
binding the arms and plating the hair
into n braid. which was made fast to
a branch overhead.
At intervals these villages were visit
ed by the Ubangi, 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
captiyes 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 riverine tribes Of the up
per koIgo 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 it was my privilege
TO release several poor creatures who
Were bound hand AMI foot to stakes
in the river.
In certain matte rcarket places. not
ably in the vicin'>s Of the Ubangi. it
Is IA ordinary occurrence fer ccptiyes
to be exposed tor sale. IN most eases
with tae sinist.r fate in view of being
killed and eaten. proportioaately. a
greater number of men than women
iall victims 10 c~annilalism. the reason
being that women who are still Young
are esteemet! as being OF greater yaiuc.
by reason Of their utility in growing
and cooilag food, This rule does MOI.
however, hold good throughout. fox IN
the vicinity OF the .Aruini river our OH
seryations revealed n contrary order OF
custom.
Probably tie most inhunaa practice
OF MI Is TO be met with among the
tribes s-ho deliberately hawk the VIC
tim plecemeal while still alive. lncycGi-
Bile as 1t may appear. the fact rema.ns
Justised by an only 900 attendant
proof. Captives arc led from place to
place In order that individuals may
have the opportunity OF indicating, by
external marks upon Tie body, the Dor
ton they desire to acquire. The dis
tingnishing marks are generally made