Cannibal

a person who eats human flesh. The word is a corruption of the word caribal, from Carib, a native of the Caribbean region. Allusions to cannibals occur in the most ancient writings. Many savage people consider human sacrifices or feasts of human flesh the most acceptable offering to their gods. The ancient Aztecs and the people of Borneo and of the Fiji Islands indulged in frightful orgies of this kind. The North American Indian believed that devouring the heart of a brave enemy gave him courage in battle. Downright eating of human flesh for ordinary food is not believed to have been widespread at any time, yet the natives of Malaysia, New Guinea, the South Sea Islands, and parts of western and central Africa were certainly addicted to this habit. A traveler among the Indians of Tierra del Fuego states that in times of scarcity they ate their own people, even in preference to their dogs, the latter being useful in taking game. It is believed that cannibalism is not practiced at the present time, except in very limited, out-of-the-way regions.