The
chiefs, stretched at full length, and wrapped in mats, are buried
secretly, the object being to prevent some strong Fetish medicine
being made by enemies from various parts of the body. In some
villages the head men of the same tribe are interred near one
another; the commonalty are put singly and decently under ground,
and only the slave (Maka) is thrown as usual into the bush. Mr.
Tippet, who had lived three years with this people, knew only
three cases of cannibalism; and the Rev. Mr. Walker agreed with
other excellent authorities, that it is a rare incident even in
the wildest parts--perhaps opportunity only is wanted. As will
appear from the Fan's bill of fare, anthropophagy can hardly be
caused by necessity, and the way in which it is conducted shows
that it is a quasi-religious rite practised upon foes slain in
battle, evidently an equivalent of human sacrifice. If the whole
body cannot be carried off, a limb or two is removed for the
purpose of a roast. The corpse is carried to a hut built
expressly on the outskirts of the settlement; it is eaten
secretly by the warriors, women and children not being allowed to
be present, or even to look upon man's flesh; and the cooking
pots used for the banquet must all be broken.
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