every Batta in the vicinity, and to the number of skulls to be
seen in every village, each of which was from a victim of the
kind.

With regard to the relish with which the parties devour the
flesh, it appeared that, independent of the desire of revenge
which may be supposed to exist among the principals, about
one-half of the people eat it with a relish, and speak of it with
delight; the other half, though present, may not partake. Human
flesh is, however, generally considered preferable to cow or
buffalo beef, or hog, and was admitted to be so even by my
informants. Adverting to the possible origin of this practice, it
was observed that formerly they ate their parents when too old
for work; this, however, is no longer the case, and thus a step
has been gained in civilization. It is admitted that the parties
may be redeemed for a pecuniary compensation, but this is
entirely at the option of the chief enemy or injured party, who,
after his sentence is passed, may either have his victim eaten,
or he may sell him for a slave; but the law is that he shall be
eaten, and the prisoner is entirely at the mercy of his
prosecutor.

The laws by which these sentences are inflicted are too well
known to require reference to books, but I am promised some MS.
accounts which relate to the subject. These laws are called huhum
pinang àn,--from depang àn, to eat--law or sentence to eat.

I could give you many more details, but the above may be
sufficient to show that our friends the Battas are even worse
than you have represented them, and that those who are still