Note 601 — Chapter II · GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF SLAVERY.
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Ward and De Bas, speaking of the Congo tribes in general, state that slavery exists599.
On the Lower Congo, according to Phillips, the family consists of “the head man or patriarch, his wives, family proper, dependents and slaves.” There are also debtor-slaves600.
Slavery certainly exists among the following tribes:
Bihés601,
Minungo602,
Mpongwe603,
Orungu604,
Mbengas605,
Apinchi606,
Duallas607,
Fiotes608,
Bayanzi609,
Bangala on the Congo610,
Baluba611,
Manyuema612,
Kabinda613,
Ininga and Galloa614,
Wangata615,
Bondo616,
Camas617,
Bakundu,
Banyang,
Batom,
Mabum618,
Bali tribes619,
Bambala620,
Bayaka621,
Bahuana622,
Bakwese623,
Yaunde624,
Hoesemann gives several particulars about the slave system of some tribes of Cameroon, the principal of which are the Indikki625.
Regarding the Bakwiri, who are related to the Duallas, we are told that, unlike their neighbours, they do not keep slaves. On the death of a king a slave is bought from abroad and killed626.
The describers of the Mundombe make no mention of slavery; so they probably have no slaves627.
The writers on the Quillengue also are silent on this subject; but here the descriptions are not minute enough for us to arrive at any accurate conclusion628.
The natives of Angola have slaves; whether for export only or also for their own use, does not appear629.
The same applies to the Bangala on the Kuango, who are great slave-traders630.
The Songo or Masongo use slaves as articles of exchange, and wherever the chief goes, he is accompanied by slaves; but whether they can rightly be called a slave-keeping people, is not clear from Pogge’s short notes631.
Several authors inform us that the Fans have no slaves632.
In a monography on the Banaka and Bapuku many particulars are given about their slave system633. Hence we infer that slavery exists among them, though Winwood Reade’s short remark that among the Bapuka the men are equal would seem to point to a contrary conclusion634.
Buchholz, in a short note, speaks of slavery among the Bakele635.
The slave-trade is almost the only trade of the Okota. On the death of a distinguished person slaves are killed636. This information is not, however, sufficient to put this case down as a clear one.
None of our informants on the Bateke make any mention of slavery. According to Guiral they sometimes eat their prisoners, when they find no occasion to sell them637. So they probably keep no slaves.
The Wagenia are stated to throw the corpses of slaves, and perhaps of all the dead, into the river638. This short note being the only evidence, we are not certain that slavery really exists.
Among the Warua at the funeral of a chief slaves are killed639. But this does not prove that slavery is a social institution here.
The Bakuba have slaves, according to Wissmann640. But the same author states in another place, that male slaves are bought only to be killed at funerals641. So slavery proper probably does not exist.
When Wissmann visited the Tuchilangue, they had no male slaves; but on a later visit he found that male slaves had been introduced among them. Pogge also observed male slaves642. So at present slavery exists here.
Of the Tupende we are told, that slaves have for two hundred years been exported from their country. They buy female slaves, and make them their wives643. Probably they keep no male slaves; but it is not certain.
The Aduma and Oschebo are slave-traders; but of domestic slavery no mention is made644.
The same applies to the Hollo645 and Milembue646.