How much mysterious and unknown the mysterious Africa hides!
Its richest fairy-tale nature, amazing fauna to this day are of great interest to scientists and excite the inquisitive minds of travelers. Inexplicable 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 often hides the unprecedented savagery of the primitive communal system.
Wild Africa. Cannibal Tribes
One of the most mystical secrets of tropical Africa, of course, is cannibalism.
Cannibalism, that is, the eating of people of their own kind, in many African tribes, constantly at war with each other, was originally based on the belief in the miraculous effect 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 a burnt and powdered human heart. It was believedthat such a black ointment based on the resulting ash and human fat is able to strengthen the body and raise the spirit of a warrior before battle, as well as protect against enemy spells. The true scale of all kinds of ritual murders is unknown, all rituals, as a rule, were performed in deep secrecy.
Wild tribes. Cannibals reluctantly
Cannibalism was in no way connected with the level of development of this or that Aboriginal tribe or with its moral principles. It was just that it was very widespread throughout the continent, there was an acute shortage of food, and besides, it was much easier to kill a person than to shoot a wild animal while hunting. Although there were tribes that specialized, for example, in cattle breeding, which had enough animal meat, and they did not engage in cannibalism. At the beginning of the 20th century, on the territory of modern Zaire, there were huge slave markets where slaves were sold or exchanged for ivory exclusively for food. On them you could see slaves of different sex and age, it could even be women with babies in their arms, although men were in great demand for food, as women could be useful in the household.
Cruelty of morals
Cannibal tribes openly declared that they liked human meat because of its juiciness, fingers and toes, as well as women's breasts were considered a delicacy.
A special ritual was associated with the eating of the head. The flesh torn from the head was received only by the most noble of the elders. The skull was carefully kept in special pots, beforewhich later rituals of sacrifice were performed and prayers were read. Perhaps the most inhuman among the natives was the rite of tearing off pieces of human flesh from a still living victim, and some Nigerian tribes of cannibals, distinguished by their special, ferocious cruelty, with the help of a pumpkin used as an enema, poured boiling palm oil into the throat or anus of the captive. According to these cannibals, cadaveric meat that had lain for some time and was completely soaked with oil was much juicier and more tender in taste. In ancient times, the flesh of strangers was mainly eaten, first of all they were captives. Nowadays, tribesmen often become victims as well.
Tribes of cannibals. Creepy hospitality
Interestingly, according to the cannibal customs of hospitality, refusing to taste the delicacy offered to guests was perceived as a mortal insult and insult.
Therefore, without a doubt, in order not to be eaten and to move freely across the continent from tribe to tribe, as well as as a sign of friendship and respect, African travelers must have tasted this food.
