Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1914-08-22
BELGIAN k0NG0
IS Wild PLACE
Is at Once the Home Of Savage
Cannibals and Most Progress
sive Negroes

Washington, D. c., Aug. 21.-Bel-
gian Kong0, in Africa, SO frequently
mentioned in recent European dis
patches as a possible objective point
of the German troops, is the home
alike of the most progressive negroes
Of Africa and Of the most primitive
and savage cannibals, according to a
statement issued by the National Geo
graphical Society, at Washington, D.
e, today.
'"This African colony is Sc cut up by
rivers and im~penetrable forests that
the tribes inhabiting the country
vary greatly in their customs and
language" says the Society's bulletin.
But a few miles distant from these
barbarous savages are endless planta-
tions of millet and grain of their CIV
ilized countrymen. The cannibal
Bankutus of Belgian Kongo make a
practise of rem wing the upper in
pleated skirt, which does not quite
meet on the right thigh; but the wo-
men in the south wear a hide girdle
with a deep fringe of palm-fiber
string. Among this tribe the slaves
are compelled to wear a special dress,
which is, in fact, the ordinary cos
tune of the Akela, to which tribe
most of them belong. The Bankutu
are great cannibals, as far as the
male members of the tribe are con
cerned, and the victims are always
slaves. In fact, all slaves are ulti-
mately eaten, since it is believed that
If a slave were buried his ghost
would kill his master.
Their chief weapon is the bow,
poison being used On the arrows;
shields are now obsolete. One of
their most interesting points is their
use Of a conventional throwing-knife
as currency. The Bankutu are al
most the only tribe of this region
who have been successful in resisting
the advance of the white man. This
fact is due to their skill in forest
warfare. The way leading to their
village is defended by poison spikes
by leaves. They use bows
and guns set like traps in the form
Of primitive spring guns, and are
quite ready, if a white mar is ex-
pected, to bait such traps with a live
baby, being sure that the European
will be unable to resist the tempta-
ton to pick up an apparently aban-
dcned child. The poison they use is
deadly.
In Contrast.
mot far from the cannibal region
peace and security reign. The end
less plantations, clean villages and
we'll kept houses make an impression
Of general prosperity. The Batetela,
also, Of Belgian Kongo, is an excel
lent agriculturist and stock-breeder
and very Industrious. He is not at
all conservative; any innovation will
tempt him. Rice, Madagascar pota.
toes and fruit trees imported by the
white man are found in every village.
The people are scantily clothed, but
this is of great advantage in their
hunting expeditions. The havoc of
sleeping sickness is greatly limited
by the native custom of isolating
cases Of this disease In the forest.
The disease is most acute along the
a AOutCos A4CAO OuO Illus VII
lagos of 100 huts with but 10 sorry
Of its once Importance:
here are grass-grown caravan routes,
with only the foot.deep tracks to
prove their once Importance; and here
ones heart is torn by the sight of
mere skeletons. pulling themselves
languidly about with the light of in
On v{kvr To- Fw kh -, I - #rz ~,vI - 8~,n -
should see the delightful round-bel-
lied native children. And to add to
the horror of the disease, here lions
and leopards have become man-eat-
ers, since the half fed sick one, driv-
en- from the fear-stricAen village, is
the easiest game to stalk.
IAN interesting feature of Batetela
psychology lies in the fact that sui