Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-04-02
MODERN CANNIBALS
BELGIAN EXPLORERS SAY THEY
EXIST IN AFRICA TODAY.
Man-Eaters in the Congolese Tribes
The N'Lakkaras of the Upper
Dubanghi Country.

BRUSSELS Correspondence New York Tribune.
Beart-rending reports are in circulation
just now concerning alleged barbaric cruel
ties perpetrated upon the native blacks in
the Congo Free State by the Belgian off,
Gals who control that territory, covering
about a million square miles. in Central
Africa. The natives. who, 1t Is alleged, are
held in practical slavery through the i'm
position Of heavy taxes, comprise several
distinct tribes. Some of them are canni-
balls, as has been declared again and again
by Belgian and French explorers. Among
the most curious and typical Of the man
eating Congolese tribes are the N'Laklzar-
as, who inhabit the extensive regions of
the Upper Dubanghi.
NJ Charles Castellani the well-known
African explorer, gives an interesting ac-
count of the NLakkaras who alone among
the natives of the Upper Dubanghi have
even a primitive form of organized govern
ment, and a regular army in which all able
bodied unmarried men must serve. This
army is under the direct command of the
tribal chief, or sultan as he Is generally
known among Europeans.
Women Do the Work.
The N'Lakkaras, who number about
twenty-five thousand, are physically fine
looking race of men and women, tall, well
built and muscular. With the exception
of warfare, hunting and dancing, the
N'Lakkaras men do absolutely nothing,
making the women perform all the hard
labor. The women. though looked upon as
slaves are well treated as a rule. They
are even allowed to have voice in the de-
Lucrative assemblies at which the general
policy of tribal government Is discussed.
The women do all the farming and cultivate
= to- Fnl1 tph toll frnn a
year. They are also adopts in brewing beer
made from native hops. OF this beverage
the NLakkaras. men and women alike,
make an immoderate use, and 1t is by far
their favorite drink AS for their favorite
food there is only one voice among the
men of the tribe on this subject: it is hu-
man flesh. All their enemies killed in bat
tie, all prisoners put to death by order CT
flesh of Europeans, which they rarely have
the opportunity to indulge in, great deli
cacy. The N'Lakkaras women are. as
rule, not allowed to partake Of these canni-
bal feasts. but it is upon them, neverthe-
less, that devoves the duty Of preparing
the human viands. The N'LakkaraS par
ticularly appreciate the flesh of women and
children, which they only partake of on
festive occasions, such as at the wedding
of a chiefs son or daughter, or after the
conclusion Of a treaty with neighboring
tribe.
Concerning cannibalism, says M. Castel-
lani it is a mistaken idea to suppose that
these man-eating negroes are more fero-
cious in appearance than other Congolese
aborigines. On the contrary, they are
mostly of a kindly and good-natured dis
position.
Medicine Men Rule.
Though the sultan has the power of a des-
pot the medicine men" rule the tribe to a
great extent These native physicians, like
many of their more civilized brethren. are
all more or less charlatans. They have the
reputation, justly deserved. of being past
masters in the art Of preparing poisons. 1t
is they who concoct the Judgment of God"
beverages for prisoners accused of theft,
murder or adultery. The innocence or guilt
of the accused person depends upon the
effect of the poison. If the beverage has no
bad results the prisoner Is declared inno-
cent: otherwise he is beheaded on the spot
and his body eaten by the men present at
the trial.
Whenever a N'Lakkaras chief falls Ill his
attendants send at once for the medicine
men. orders being given to stop all noise
and music in the village. The inhabitants
are then mustered together around the all
Ing chief his slaves being placed in a semi
circle. 1t Is taken for granted that an at
tempt has been made to poison the chief,
and the slave or slaves. as the case may
be. suspected Of the crime are at once put
through the test of the "jona," an instru
ment consisting of two wooden disks, which
have been previously dipped in water. The
disks are then applied to each other, and
the guilt or innocence of the accused de-
ponds upon whether or not the two pieces
of wood stick together If they do adhere
to each other the slave Is charged with the
crime. AS the charge Is invariably denied,
a chicken is then put through the poison
test If the chicken survives the prisoner is
declared innocent. but if the fowl succumbs
the unfortunate slave is Immediately put to
death and his body divided among the men
present at the trial.
Bloody Funeral Rites.
When a N'Lakkaras chief dies a certain
number of his slaves are put to DEATH If
sidered sufficient: but as many as thirty
slaves are sacrificed at a powerful chiefs
funeral. The men of the tribe all assem-
BILE for the funeral three days after the
chiefs death. grave Is dug in the noun
tainside adjoining the tombs of the chiefs
ancestors: the corpse. after being carefully
wrapped in a leopard's skin is placed in the
grave. The sultan then orders the slaves
and wives of the departed to be strangled
and their corpses to be placed alongside the
body Of their departed lord and master.
After the funeral the chiefs eldest son
buys goat and keeps it shut up in pen
near his hut. The soul of the late chief is
supposed to have entered the goat, and no.
body, under penalty of death, must harm
the animal. The N'Lakkaras have num-
Der OF quaint superstitons; they believe in
the transmigration of souls, in good and
evil spirits and in ghosts. But the concep-
ton of a supernatural being creator Of the
world. has never entered their minds.
Columbia is to them the lord of the elements,
and is supposed to be a kind Of good nat
ured spirit.