The Washington times., 1919-02-16

the blacks of Portuguese Angola,
/ West Africa, in which white men
were killed and eaten, was brought
to this country recently by DR.. John
NJ. Springer, superintendent of the
Congo Mission of the Methodist Epis-
cOpal Church, who has just returned
/ to take part in the Methodist CEN
tenary drive for $4,000, 900 for world
upbuilding and missionary work
The Portuguese are largely de-
scendants of convicts sent out to the
penal colonies" said DR.. Springer.
THE half breds among them arc es-
pecially hated by the negroes, for
these men engage in the slave trade,
which still f1Ourishes in many dis
tricts despite the efforts of the vari-
Gus colonial administrations TO wipe
it out.
Admit CannIbaIISm.
After the uprising one Of our Meth
odist representatives went into the
Quiongua district to look after what
was left of our property and was well
received by the natives, who every
where recognize the missionaries as
friends. He saw the flesh of two
white men drying in the sun, and
asked the natives what it meant.
They readily admitted it was the flesh
of slain Portuguese. How many were
killed and eaten in all l could not say.
I'VE had long wondered how white
men would taste they said. We es-
pecially looked at Mr.. DOdsOn (W. p.
Dodson, a prominent Methodist mis-
,f Il
thought what a fine meal he would
make. But We would not eat him
for he was our friend
we were astonished on reaching ka-
bongo, Belgian Congo, in 1917, to learn
that there really were cannibals within
the parish of our church. continued DIR.
Springer. The administrator Of this dis
trict told Us that just q few days before
our arrival, travelling among the canni-
bal villages to the east, he had seen
enough bones in the huts and around the
villages TO erect fully fifty human skclc-
tons.
Natives Were Afraid.
But when the Rev. Roger L. Gupull
arrived IN October to occupy this station
and to open the work among the villages,
he had the experience on several Occa-
his bicycle, Of seeing dusky figures dis
appear into the forests or into the tall
grass In practically all cases there
would be some dcCrcpit old man or
woman about the village who had been
unable To get away and to whom Mr..
GUptill was able to make known the
fact that he was a missionary at the
town Of their head ChCif, kabOngO.
This knowledge at once reassurcd the
people and they would come back at the
call Of the old man or woman, declaring
sheepishly that they had not been fright
ened at all. but had just departed hastily
TO gather in some wood or do some simi-
lar crrand. But they knew the edict
was out that cannabalism must be stop
ped and they feared the approach of
any visitors whatever.
As a matter Of fact, the admnistra-
tor called IN KabOugO and Informed
him that he must cooperate in putting
a stop to cannibalisIn in his territory
and the chief was instructed to go ont
and bring in any Of his people found
guilty Of this practice. KabOngO very
glaaIy responded to this task and
brought ia some thirty or TOrty prIs-
oners. taking for himself any sheep,
goats or chickens that they might
have.
Used Prison Labor.
Now that he had this prison labor
available, Kabongo at last made good
his Iong-postponed promise to build
school house near his town.
After the cannibaI prisoners had
been lined up in the morning OF each
day and had been given n lecture
either by the administrator or Ka-l
bonrb himself on the evils OF can
lii, 80, L a honrO would dfsnatcb