African Cannibalism in the Sixteenth Century. 



In turning over Pigafetta's version of the narrative of 

 Lopez, which I have quoted above, I came upon so curious 

 and unexpected an anticipation, by some two centuries 

 and a half, of one of the most startling parts of M. Du 

 Chaillu's narrative, that 1 cannot refrain from drawing 

 attention to it in a note, although 1 must confess that the 

 subject is not strictly relevant to the matter in hand. 



In the fifth chapter of the first book of the " De- 

 scriptio," " Concerning the northern part of the King- 

 dom of Congo and its boundaries," is mentioned a people 

 whose king is called " Maniloango," and who live under 

 the equator, and as far westward as Cape Lopez. This ap- 

 pears to be the country now inhabited by the Ogobai and 

 Bakalai according to M. Du Chaillu. — " Beyond these 

 dwell another people called ' Anziques,' of incredible feroc- 

 ity, for they eat one another, sparing neither friends nor 

 relations." 



These people are armed with small bows bound tightly 

 round with snake skins, and strung with a reed or rush. 

 Their arrows, short and slender, but made of hard wood, 

 are shot with great rapidity. They have iron axes, the 

 handles of which are bound round with snake skins, and 

 swords with scabbards of the same material; for defen- 

 sive armour they employ elephant hides. They cut their 

 skins when young, so as to produce scars. " Their butch- 

 ers' shops are filled with human flesh instead of that of 

 oxen or sheep. For they eat the enemies whom they 



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