carried them up the Oubangi, where they were sold to the natives to serve as food. Even now, though since the establishment of the Government stations some years ago this traffic has been stopped, it is almost impossible for the steamers that go up the Oubangi to buy meat. The captains of the steamers have often assured me that, whenever they try to buy goats from the natives, slaves are demanded in exchange, and the natives often come on board with tusks of ivory or other money with the intention of buying a slave, complaining that meat is now scarce in their neighbourhood.

Judging from what I have seen of these people, they seem fond of eating human flesh; and though it may be an acquired taste, there is not the slightest doubt in my mind that they prefer human flesh to any other. During all the time I lived among