The Songo or Masongo use slaves as articles of exchange, and wherever the chief goes, he is accompanied by slaves; but whether they can rightly be called a slave-keeping people, is not clear from Pogge’s short notes[631].
Several authors inform us that the Fans have no slaves[632].
In a monography on the Banaka and Bapuku many particulars [[151]]are given about their slave system[633]. Hence we infer that slavery exists among them, though Winwood Reade’s short remark that among the Bapuka the men are equal would seem to point to a contrary conclusion[634].
Buchholz, in a short note, speaks of slavery among the Bakele[635].
The slave-trade is almost the only trade of the Okota. On the death of a distinguished person slaves are killed[636]. This information is not, however, sufficient to put this case down as a clear one.
None of our informants on the Bateke make any mention of slavery. According to Guiral they sometimes eat their prisoners, when they find no occasion to sell them[637]. So they probably keep no slaves.
The Wagenia are stated to throw the corpses of slaves, and perhaps of all the dead, into the river[638]. This short note being the only evidence, we are not certain that slavery really exists.
Among the Warua at the funeral of a chief slaves are killed[639]. But this does not prove that slavery is a social institution here.
The Bakuba have slaves, according to Wissmann[640]. But the same author states in another place, that male slaves are bought only to be killed at funerals[641]. So slavery proper probably does not exist.
When Wissmann visited the Tuchilangue, they had no male slaves; but on a later visit he found that male slaves had been introduced among them. Pogge also observed male slaves[642]. So at present slavery exists here.