"DEVIL" DEVIL MEN

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 22, 18 September 1931, Page 4

"DEVIL" DEVIL MEN

KORROR IN CDNGO | WHITE MAN MEETS DEATH AT HANDS OF MAD HORDE NATIVE REBELLION "Devil devil men" have been responsible for the revolt in the Kwango district of the Congo, which according to official figures, has led to the death of one European and 84 natives and the wqunding of several soldiers. In the Kibo Plateau region the natives never really submitted to the district officer appointed some months ago. At the beginning of June local witcli doctors advised the natives to refuse work and to expel all Europeans in preparation for the arrival of the devil, who was to bring with him all his wordly goods. At once the natives began cutting paths through the bush and errecting shelters in which the devil could plaqe the goods he was to bring. Secretly the witch docters placed various goods in these shelters, telling* the natives that they were presents from the devil, who, however expected presents in return. The natives responded with gifts of goods and money. On July 8 the first outrage occurred. District Commissioner Ballot, accompanied by one soldier and four boys went to Kilamho, where he was attaclced by several hundred natives. Left Alone The soldier and the boys fled, but Mr. Balot drew a revolver and attemped to fire. The cartridges however jammed and Mr. Ballot was felled with a blow with a machete deliver ed from behind. Another blow severed his arm at the shoulder. He was seized and carried to a tree, where. he was cut to pieces. The pieces were given to leading ! natives. The white man's bones were j collected in a calabash and afterwards used to make amulets. The head was given to the chief witchdoctor of the villae'e where the revolt had beeun

and the blood to Mundel Fungi, another witeli doctor. Later about a thousand natives assembled in the valley of the River Lukufu and the district officer was informed that they awaited his arrival for a conference. When the officer, with 10 soldiers, i arrived at the meeting place he heard ! the natives singing the Manzana war | song. When he appeared in the open I he was met with a hail of arrows and [ bullets. The officer ordered his soldiers to ; fire, but the natives, believing themselves invulnerable, proceeded to to advance-, all the time being encouraged by the witch doctor beating an iron trunk in which the devil was supposed to lie. Order Re-established The witch doctor, Mundel Fungi, was killed by a bullet, and with his fall the natives lost their courage and fled. The Belgian Government was in-

formed and at once sent troops to the scene. These troops included 400 soldiers commanded by five whites. Repressive measure were hegun throughout the disturbed region, but reprisals proved difficult as the natives fired the bush and isolated the Kwango and Kasai regions. | Some of the witch doctors were killed and, having been proved vul- ] nerable, it is hoped that their power will diminish. The revolt has now been quelled and order re-established.