SUMATRA. 
M a f ^^^^ delinquent's head^ together with a large dilh of fait smti 
ttcdilg. lemons. The unhappy objedi whether prifoner of war, or malefadror, is 
then tied to a ftake ; the people alTembled throw their lances at hmi from 
a certain diftance, and when mortally wounded, they run up to him, as 
if in a tranfport of paiTion ; cut pieces from the body with their ktjivcS| 
dip them in the difli of fait and lemon juice ; Hightly broil them over a 
fire prepared for the purpofc ; and fwallow the morfels, with a degree 
of favBge cnthufiafm. Sometimes ( I prefume according to the dc- 
•grccof their anlmofity and refentmcnt) the whole is devoured; and in- 
"•ftances have been known, where with barbarity ftill aggravated, they 
tear the fiefli from the carcafe with their mouths* To fuch a depth of 
^depravity may man be pltinged, when neither religion nor philofophy 
enlighten his fteps ! All that cati be fa id in extenuation of the horror of 
^hh diabolical ceremony, is, that %o view appears to be entertained of 
^"^torturing the fufferers ; of encrcafing or lengthening out the pangs of 
'death : the whole fury is dire<5ted againft the corfe ; warm indeed with 
the remains of life> but paft the fenfation of pain. I have found a dif- 
ference of opinion in regard to their eating the bodies of their enemies 
jff^iitf in battle* Some per fons long refident there, and acquainted with 
their proocediiigs, anert ttiat it is not cultomary ; but as one or two par- 
tKular Inftanees have been given by other people, it is juft to conclude, 
that it fometimes takes place, though not generally. It was fuppofed 
to be with this intent that riz/.t Neabin maintained a long conlliift for 
the body of Mr. Nairne, a moft refpeftable gentleman, and valuable fcr- 
vant of the India Company, who fell in an attack upon the campong of 
tliat chief, in' the year 1775,* 
The 
• 1 find that fome pcrTons flill doubt the reality of the hOc, that human flefli is any where 
eiitcn by mankind, and think that the proofs hidierto adduced are infufficient to eftablifli a point 
of fo much moment in the Usftory of Ihe fpecies. It is ohjcdied to me that I umr was an ey« 
icnef* of a Batta Fcaft of this nature, and that my authority for tt ii tonfidcrably weakened, by 
coining through a fecon(3or perhaps a third hand. I am fenfible of the weight of this reafaning, 
and am not anxious to force any man's belief, much lefs to deceive him by pi^rences to the higheA 
degree of ccHainty, when my relation caa only lay claim to the next degree. I can only fay, 
that I thorougbJy believe the UB. myfclf, and that my conviilion has arlftn from the foIJow-ing 
ciiTumftances, fome of left, fomc of more authority. It is, in the firft place, a matttr of general 
and 
