GRAVE SLAVERY CHARGES

Evening Star, Issue 19328, 14 August 1926, Page 24

GRAVE SLAVERY CHARGES

8,009,900 BLACKS IH “ HELL OH

EARTH ”

Sensational allegations of cruelty and slavery in Portuguese Africa are to bo investigated by the League of Nations at an early date.

Prom the evidence submitted it is charged that avaricious white men, grafting officials, and greedy planters are making the lives of the black population a veritable hell by their cruelty and callous indifference to suffering. Some 8,000,000 native men and women living in the Mozambique and Angola districts are affected. It is declared that their wages are stolen by dishonest_ officials, they are taken far from their jungle homes by arrogant native police from hostile tribes, are whipped and abused, and often starved. Forma! and official protests are likely from the League of Nations and the Federal Council of Churches_ in America. But the most active individual crusader is an American minister, once a missionary in AfricaLIKE WILD ANIMALS.

He is the Rev. Fred R. Bunker, now pastor of the Wilton Congregational Church, at Wilton, Conn. Mr Bunker first went to Africa in 1891. He. spent many years in the bush with the tives. Now he is devoting his energies to restoring their freedom. Tho most serious situation, Mr Bunker believes, is in Mozambique, A native chieftain named Machimeji, whom he visited, he declares, told lum that even the women and old men were taken and forced to work on the roads. “ But worst of all,” said Chief Machimeji, “is that our children are growing up like wild animals. The old discipline of their fathers is passing. The mothers cannot govern these hoys and girls. They give no heed, but only mock at the old men—old in years and old in wisdom. Even tho young boys drink usopi, and tho girls, mere children, are degraded. “Slaves,” he moaned, rocking back and forth. “Just slaves! All that remains is this.” “ VOLUNTEERS.”

On another occasion Mr Bunker came across several hundred blacks driven by other natives with whips. They were herded into bos cars on a siding. These men, ho states, had been drafted by tho native police and were being taken to Bcira, the labor distribution centre.

Linder the Portuguese colonial law all native men from 18 to 60 years of ago are required to furnish at least throe months of labor a year to the Government or a corporation authorised by.Jt. The law states, with unconscious irony, that the natives must “volunteer” this labor. GRAFTING METHODS.

But Die natives, despising tho system, have no intention of volunteering. Thereby they are open to the charge of disobeying the law. Native policemen are then sent but. to recruit the necessary number. It is alleged that these policemen have boon quick to ’earn European methods of grafting. If told to p roc lire*.'il >0 laborers they ask for 206, and release the balance for a proper consideration. Iho experiences ot from 6,000 to 7,000 natives have been obtained first hand by Professor Ross and Dr Cramer, two Americans who wont. In Angola ami .Mozambique to make a. detailed study of* the situation. He bears out many of Air Bunker’s allegations.