Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1902-08-28
4 SAVAGE FUNERAL
END OF HUMAN SACRIFICES IN
CONGO AT HAND.
END OF BLooDsHED NEAR
When Old Chief Mwamba Died His
Relatives Kept His Body Long
uninterred, Waiting for PERMITS
sion to Slaughter, But it Was not
Given.

1t has been crime punishable with
death for years past 10 kill slaves in
the territory of the Congo Free State
upon the demise of great person.
This had been the custom because it
was thought necessary that he should
have plenty of company on his jour
ney into the other world Kings and
chiefs and other important persons
now have to make the journey alone.
This law is being strictly enforced, as
far as the authority of the State ex-
tends; and so the practice OF human
sacrifices is gradually being wiped
out, says the New York Sun.
1t was a horrible evil and the fact
that the whites are insisting upon it's
abolition is a blessing to Africa.
European influence is not always for
the good of Africans, but the wer the
whites are waging with some of the
hideous facts of harbarism. such as
human sacrifices, cannibalism. fetich.
ism and slave raiding, foot up a large
balance in favor of the Caucasian in
his account with Africa
The British are following the exam
pie of the Congo Free State in deal
ing sternly with these evils. A recent
instance, to which a Roman Catholic
missionary has called attention. is
very interesting as showing the potent
influences for the protection of the
people that are getting firm foothold
in the heart of tropical Africa.
In 1899 the government OF the
British was established over the
large country of Ubemba. which ex-
tends between Lakes Tanganyika and
Bangweolo. One of the most power
full chiefs of the tribe was Mwamba.
who lorded it over a large district
near Bangweolo He was finally
gathered to his fathers; and the
trouble the ruling family have been
put to in the matter of his burial is
regarded as important in the history
of his country, for it is believed to
mark the end of one of the savage
customs that have been depopulating
that country.
Mwamba had been dead for four
teen months, but he was not yet
buried. His friends kept his body
above the ground all this time in the
hope that they would finally soften
! the obdurate hearts of the British
who for some undoubtedly pad reason
were opposed to permitting the dead
ruler to enter the next world with al
! escort BETTING his importance. Fol
Mwambo was really great monarch
He had been a tyrant whose name
was terror. He had mutilated great
number of his subjects. His crimes
were more numerous than the hairs
of his head. 1t was not reasonable TO
let him go into the other world with
out an escort worthy of his rank in
the world from which he had de-
parted.
From time immemorial in that coun-
try the graves of defunct chiefs had
been the scenes of veritable butcher.
les. 1t was the custom to drag the
victims to the tomb of the late i'm
portant parsonage; each one of them
received on the head a single terrible
blow from an AK or club. If the victim
succumbed, as was almost invariably
the case, this was sure sign that his
or her presence was agreeable to the
dead person. If he survived, this
showed clearly that his room was pre-
ferred to his company anu ne was al
lowed to get well and thank his lucky
star
The British were on the ground