CONGO CRUELTIES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 3763, 30 April 1907, Page 4

CONGO CRUELTIES.

Striking Case of Official Brutality. Sir Edward Grey has received from the Congo Reform Association a summary of a report from the Rev. John Whitehead, of Eukolela, as to the oppression and cruelty exercised by the Administration in his district. The report is addressed to the Governor-General. Among many instances of irresponsible cruelty, the following may be cited : —“ Lilongo, a man Bonginda, had a sister, Bokaraa, whose husband died. Another native —Bosalome —of the same village, wished to marry the-widow. She refused, whereupon Bosalome managed (probably by bribery), to enlist the aid of the native corporal in charge of the village. •‘The latter had the woman seized, and placed in his ‘ hostagehouse,’ where she was terribly flogged. Bosalome, hearing of her treatment, apparently repented of his action, and petitioned for her release. This the native corporal would only agree to if a man slave were brought to him in exchange. Bosalome bought a slave, and took him to the native corporal. The woman was released, but died a- week afterwards from the effects of the flogging. “ The relatives of the dead woman complained, and the native corporal threatened to shoot them. When they laid the facts before the white official at M’bongo, the latter-replied that he was there' to get rubber, and not to attend to ‘ palavers.’ ”