In the "UNIVERSAL VOCABULARY," which is compiled from the very highest
authority (p. 218), we learn that the Jagas, of the kingdom of Congo,
"take pleasure in _eating young women_!" And "a princess was so fond
of her gallants, that she _ate them successively_!" "Their choicest
food is _warm human blood_!" "The Jaga chieftain, Cassangi, used to
have _a young woman killed every day for his table_!" "Five or six
strong men will at once destroy and share the flesh of a captive."
"The women are equally as ferocious as the men, _delighting to
cleave the skull, and suck the warm brain of the slain_!" This is
solemn history, though almost horribly incredible.
From the same authority, and others, we learn that seven-eighths of
Africa is at present either savage or barbarous. This is _the present
condition of Africa_, by nearly the unanimous voice of enlightened
travelers, and scientific explorers.
According to Pritchard, "the Mumbas, a numerous and savage people who
live at the east and northeast of Te-te, and at Chicorango, are
cannibals."
Dos Sanctas says, "They have in their principal town a
slaughter-house, where they butcher men every day."
We learn from Pritchard, that "the Zimbas, or Mazimbas, are a
man-eating tribe near Senna." Also, that "the Múlúa tribe slaughter
fifteen or twenty men every day."
It is a well-authenticated fact, that the subjects of the Great Macaco
are anthropophagi, or cannibals. "This prince has a court so numerous,
as to require two hundred men to be butchered every day to supply his
table; a part of them criminals, and a part slaves furnished in the
way of tribute." It is a part of history, both ancient and modern,
that in the market-places in the principal towns and large villages
throughout southern, and in portions of central Africa, Negro flesh is
sold by the pound, as commonly as beef or mutton is sold throughout
these United States; and what is worse, it in only the wealthy or more
_intelligent_ classes who are able to indulge in so great a luxury;
while the poorer classes, the mass of the people, are envious
spectators of the traffic in this so great a luxury, as to tempt them
to every violence and crime to enable them to indulge in it.