Transcriber’s Note:
The cover image was created by the transcriber and is placed in the public domain.
ANTHROPOPHAGY,
PREFATORY NOTE.
In giving himself to general reading relating to the origin and historyof the human family, the writer of the following pages was impressedwith the frequent allusion to man-eating among many of the peoplesof the world; and although in itself it is an unattractive subject, andperhaps to some repellant; for his own amusement, and it may be forthe instruction of others, he has been prompted to collate some of thereferences to this unhallowed custom, in a connected form. How wellhe has succeeded in his effort he will leave it to the reader to determine.The only merit to which he might possibly lay claim is fidelity to thefacts as recorded by the historians and travelers of the age.
ANTHROPOPHAGISM.
According to classic mythology, the Cyclops were giantcannibals, each of whom had a single eye, convenientlyplaced in the centre of his forehead. As the account ofthese Cyclops is so suggestive, let the story concerning thembe told with some variations from the history as given byLamb. Ulysses, after the destruction of Troy by the Grecians,coasted with his fleet along unknown shores, until theland where these Cyclops dwelt was reached. He immediatelywent on shore with a chosen party of twelve, by whomthe land was peopled. The first sign of habitation towhich they came was a giant’s cave rudely fashioned, but ofa size, however, which betokened the vast proportions of itsowner. The pillars which supported it were huge oaks, andall about showed marks of strength. Ulysses, having entered,admired the savage contrivances of the place, andwhile thus occupied, a deafened noise like the falling of ahouse was heard. It proved to be the owner of the cave,Polyphemus, the largest and most savage of the Cyclops,who had been abroad all day in the mountains, and as hereached home he threw down a pile of fire-wood, which occasionedthe startling crash. The Grecians, at sight of theuncouth monster, who looked more like a mountain cragthan a man, hid themselves in the remote parts of the cave,and after he had passed in, he blocked up the entrance with6a rock so large tha