How mysterious and unknown is hidden in a mysterious Africa! Its richest fairy-tale nature, amazing animal life and to this day are of great interest to scientists and excite inquisitive minds of travelers. Unexplained admiration, along with animal fear, is caused by the customs and customs of the local Aborigines, belonging to the most diverse tribes inhabiting the black continent everywhere. Africa itself is quite contrasting, and behind the facade of the civilized world there is often hidden the unprecedented savagery of the primitive communal system.
Wild Africa. Tribes of cannibals
One of the most mysterious secrets of tropical Africa, of course, is cannibalism. Cannibalism, that is, eating people of their own kind, in many African tribes constantly fighting with each other, was originally based on believing in the miraculous effects of human blood and flesh on such qualities of warriors as courage, masculinity, heroism and courage. Some tribes of cannibals widely used various drugs made from the burned and powdered human heart. It was believed that such a black ointment based on the resulting ash and human fat can strengthen the body and lift the spirit of the warrior before the battle, and also protect from enemy spells. The true scale of all sorts of ritual murders is unknown, all rites, as a rule, were committed in deep secrecy.
Wild tribes. Cannibals
Cannibalism in no way was associated with the level of development of a tribe of Aboriginal people or with its moral foundations. Simply, it was very widespread throughout the continent, there was an acute shortage of food, besides, it was much easier to kill a man than to shoot a wild animal at the hunt. Although there were also tribes, specialized, for example, in cattle breeding, which lacked meat of animals, and cannibalism, they were not engaged. At the beginning of the twentieth century, in the territory of modern Zaire, there were huge slave markets, on which slaves were sold or exchanged for slaves solely for consumption. They could see slaves of different sex and age, they could even be women with babies in their arms, although men were in great demand for food, since women could be useful in the household.
Cruelty of manners
Tribes of cannibals openly declared that they like human meat because of its juiciness, fingers and toes, as well as female breasts were considered delicacies. A special ritual was associated with eating head. The flesh torn from its head was received only by the most distinguished of the elders. The skull was carefully stored in special pots, before which the rites of sacrifices were later performed and prayers were read. The most inhuman among the natives was the rite of tearing pieces of human flesh from a living sacrifice, and some Nigerian tribes of cannibals, distinguished by special ferocious cruelty, poured palm oil into the throat or into the anus of the captive with the help of a pumpkin used as an enema . In the opinion of these cannibals, the corpse meat, which had lain for a while and was completely soaked in oil, was much juicier and more tender in taste. In ancient times, the food was mostly flesh of strangers, above all they were prisoners. At the present time, the victims are often also the tribesmen.
Tribes of cannibals. Eerie hospitality
It is interesting that according to the cannibalistic customs of hospitality, the refusal to taste the delicacy offered to the guests was perceived as a mortal offense and insult.
Therefore, without a doubt, in order not to be eaten and move freely across the continent from tribe to tribe, and as a sign of friendship and respect, African travelers certainly had to taste this food.