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ept looking at the farmhouse； wondering what he would see if he went inside。 Munro's statement had been so casual； They killed the family。 。 。 and then ate them。
〃I suppose；〃 Ross said； looking over her shoulder； 〃that we should consider ourselves lucky。 We're probably among the last people in the world to see these things。〃
Munro shook his head。 〃I doubt it；〃 he said。 〃Old habits die hard。〃
During the Congolese civil war in the 1960s； reports of widespread cannibalism and other atrocities shocked the Western world。 But in fact cannibalism had always been openly practiced in central Africa。
In 1897； Sidney Hinde wrote that 〃nearly all the tribes in the Congo Basin either are； or have been； cannibals； and among some of them the practice is on the increase。〃 Hinde was impressed by the undisguised nature of Congolese cannibalism： 〃The captains of steamers have often assured me that whenever they try to buy goats from the natives； slaves are demanded in exchange； the natives often e aboard with tusks of ivory with the intention of buying a slave； plaining that meat is now scarce in their neighborhood。〃
In the Congo； cannibalism was not associated with ritual or religion or war； it was a simple dietary preference。 The Reverend Holman Bentley； who spent twenty years in the region； quoted a native as saying； 〃You white men consider pork to be the tastiest of meat； but pork is not to be pared with human flesh。〃 Bentley felt that the natives 〃could not understand the objections raised to the practice。 'You eat fowls and goats； and we eat men； why not？ What is the difference？'
This frank altitude astonished observers； and led to bizarre customs。 In 1910； Herbert Ward wrote of markets where slaves were sold 〃piecemeal whilst still alive； incredible as it may appear； captives are led from place to place in order that individuals may have the opportunity of indicating； by external marks on the body； the portion they desire to acquire。 The distinguishing marks are generally made by means of coloured clay or strips of grass tied in a peculiar fashion。 The astounding stoicism of the victims； who thus witness the bargaining for their limbs piecemeal； is only equaled by the callousness with which they walk forward to meet their fate。〃
Such reports cannot be dismissed as late…Victorian hysteria； for all observers found the cannibals likable and sympathetic。 Ward wrote that 〃the cannibals are not schemers and they are not mean。 In direct opposition to all natural conjectures； they are among the best types of men。〃 Bentley described them as 〃merry； manly fellows； very friendly in conversation and quite demonstrative in their affection。〃
Under Belgian colonial administration； cannibalism became much rarer…by the 1950s； there were even a few graveyards to be found…but no one seriously thought it had been eradicated。 In 1956； H。 C。 Engert wrote； 〃Cannibalism is far from being dead in Africa。 。 。 。 I myself once lived in a cannibal village for a time； and found some The natives。 。 。 were pleasant enough people。 It was just an old custom which dies hard。〃
Munro considered the 1979 Kigani uprising a political insurrection。 The tribesmen were rebelling against the demand by the Zaire government that the Kigani change from hunting to farming； as if that were a simple matter。 The Kigani were a poor and backward people； their knowledge of hygiene was rudimentary； their diet lacked proteins and vitamins； and they were prey to malaria； hookworm； bilharzia； and African sleeping sickness。 One child in four died at birth； and few Kigani adults lived past the age of twenty…five。 The hardships of their life required explanation； supplied by Angawa； or sorcerers。 The Kigani believed that most deaths were supernatural： either the victim was under a sorcerer's spell； had broken some taboo； or was killed by vengeful spirits from the dead。 Hunting also had a supernatural aspect： game was strongly influenced by the spirit world。 In fact； the Kigani considered the supernatural world far more real than the day…to…day world； which they felt to be a 〃waking dream；〃 and they attempted to control the supernatural through magical spells and potions； provided by the Angawa。 They also carried out ritual body alterations； such as painting the face and hands white； to render an individual more powerful in battle。 The Kigani believed that magic also resided in the bodies of their adversaries； and so to overe spells cast by other Angawa they ate the bodies of their enemies。 The magical power invested in the enemy thus became their own； frustrating enemy sorcerers。
These beliefs were very old； and the Kigani had long since settled on a pattern of response to threat； which was to eat other human beings。 In 1890； they went on the rampage in the north； following the first visits by foreigners bearing firearms； which had frightened off the game。 During the civil war in 1961； starving； they attacked and ate other tribes。
〃And why are they eating people now？〃 Elliot asked Munro。
〃They want their right to hunt；〃 Munro said。 〃Despite the Kinshasa bureaucrats。〃
In the early afternoon； the expedition mounted a hill from which they could overlook the valleys behind them to the south。 In the distance they saw great billowing clouds of smoke and licking flames； there were the muffled explosions of air…to…ground rockets； and the helicopters wheeling like mechanical vultures over a kill。
〃Those are Kigani villages；〃 Munro said； looking back； shaking his head。 〃They haven't a prayer； especially since the men in those helicopters and the troops on the ground are all from the Abawe tribe； the traditional enemy of the Kigani。〃
The twentieth…century world did not acmodate man…eating beliefs； indeed； the government in Kinshasa； two thousand miles away； had already decided to 〃expunge the embarrassment〃 of cannibals within its borders。 In June； the Zaire government dispatched five thousand armed troops； six rocket…armed American UH…2 helicopters； and ten armored personnel carriers to put down the Kigani rebellion。 The military leader in charge； General Ngo Muguru； had no illusions about his directive。 Muguru knew that Kinshasa wanted him to eliminate the Kigani as a tribe。 And he intended to do exactly that。
During the rest of the day； they heard distant explosions of mortar and rockets。 It was impossible not to contrast the modernity of this equipment with the bows and arrows of the Kigani they had seen。 Ross said it was sad； but Munro replied that it was inevitable。
〃The purpose of life；〃 Munro said； 〃is to stay alive。 Watch any animal in nature…all it tries to do is stay alive； it doesn't care about beliefs or philosophy。 Whenever any animal's behavior puts it out of touch with the realities of its existence； it bees extinct。 The Kigani haven't seen that times have changed and their beliefs don't work。 And they're going to be extinct。〃
〃Maybe there is a higher truth than merely staying alive；〃 Ross said。
〃There isn't；〃 Munro said。
They saw several other parties of Kigani； usually from a distance of many miles。 At the end of the day； after they had crossed the swaying wooden bridge over the Moruti Gorge； Munro announced that they were now beyond the Kigani territory and； at least for the time being； safe。
3。 Moruti Camp
IN A HIGH CLEARING ABOVE MORUTI； THE 〃PLACE of soft winds；〃 Munro shouted Swahili instructions and Kahega's porters began to unpack their loads。 Karen Ross looked at her watch。 〃Are we stopping？〃
〃Yes；〃 Munro said。
〃But it's only five o'clock。 There's still two hours of light left。〃
〃We stop here；〃 Munro said。 Moruti was located at 1；500 feet； another two hours' walking would put them down in the rain forest below。 〃It's much cooler and more pleasant here。〃
Ross said that she did not care about pleasantness。
〃You will；〃 Munro said。
To make the best time； Munro intended to keep out of the rain forest wherever possible。 Progress in the jungle was slow and unfortable； they would have more than enough experience with mud and leeches and fevers。
Kahega called to him in Swahili； Munro turned to Ross and said； 〃Kahega wants to know how to pitch the tents。〃
Kahega was holding a crumpled silver b