The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1921-02-26


I settlement In the interior Of
the Belgian Congo, are going to
catch II, for the Rev. Roger 4. Gupuh'
n Methodist missionary, sails on the
Aquitanla to-day and Is going to look
into the report that since his depar-
ture from his station twenty-five Of
his boys" have been INDUCING In
the pleasant pastime Of eating each
other.
1T looks as II they had been dis
obeying orders," he said when inter-
viewed before his departure at
the omces OF the Methodist mlaslon-
aries, No. $50 Fifth Avenue.
$50 there really are oannibals?" he
was asked. THE Rider Haggard
sort. who prefer human flesh to any
other2''
Certainly there are cannibals." he
replied. with eyes twinlling. I'm fact
ten years ago all the people in that
vicinity were cannlbals. The first
Belgian official who went there to
lay down the law was roasted with
special ceremonies"
DR.. GuptlI is a small, stocky man.
obviously energetic. and very enthu-
siastic about his work. He did not
seem at all displeased at the thought
OF returning TO the interior OF Africa;
in fact. he was looking forward to
seeing the "boys" again, and greet
ing Kabonga, the chief. who has 300
wives, and wears a petticoat and a
white coat, covered with safety pins,
but don't get the idea that man
eating is openly practised," he urged.
when a feast tLlees place II Is
usually done on the sly, when the
Belgian Commissioner Is known to
be far away. Formerly they merely
throw away the bones and the Off
Gals found them, but now they burn
tho bones and throw the dust In the
river, so that IL Is hard to prove
case against them. / used 70 see
piles OF bones in the vicinity OF the
town"
"Did your boys ever show any de-
sire to eat you
mo" he replied lightly. 81 never
feared that Usually the practice Is
Limited to Isolated districts, and the
victims are those who visit the VIII
llaEe and misbehaVe. Such people are
always treated with great polltenes'
while they are guests, and wher
they leave guide Is selected t'
show them the best trail. He taxes
them TO the river bank, for Instance
and points across the river. As thu
traveller starts across, four men In
ambush spear him In the back Tit
palms OF the hands go to tho chief
those. are regarded as the mos
tempting morsels. and the rest goei
, | to the warriors"
what is the approved method O
cooking2 Is the iron pot OF traditio
the usual utensllY"
"No. They have few pots, nm
, lderstand that the fragments are roast
ed on sticks. But remember this
not arst hand knowledge. neve
4 witnessed such performance, an
know only what the boys have toll
me.
. "a white man Is immune from sue
treatment now because OF the rigor
4 Gus discipline OF the authorize
2 When the traveller reaches the out
y most OF a village and is not welcom
A me outpost tells him so. Sometime
! the chief gives free passage throug
a and on such occasions l nave Wulht
n through line OF men Formed G
each side OF the trail. They carrie
N bows and poisoned arrows, ready Il
/, action II any OF my party went fro
n the trail or hesitated
"I may be eaten some day" he cor
~ tinued philosophically Il make n
!. trims on a bicycle, and they know TIL
N II / am threatened l can get away
a hurry"
n ON one occasion, twenty village
~ were caught and convicted OF car
"A nibalism. They we're put in chaii
nv the commissioner, severely le'
% tured. and ordered to erect mlsSlt
=. houac for DR.. Guptill
W KnbonEo, the chief was former
more or less Of a rounder. accordiI
g. 10 the missionary, and Belgian OF
a. cial was permanently stationed In q
n town 10 see that he behaved, TODD
* his conduct Is that OF a perfect ge
AZ tleman, EXCEPT that he has a fe
"a more wives than the laws OF M
" York state allow. One day DR.. Gu
n TIL asked him who his favorites we
n in the harem, and the chief CALI
al them BY name. summoned six.
Was stiii calling Them when the al