A victim must be found. Before long the witch doctor makes his way toward the newborn babe. The mother clutches it frantically to her breast, but without a moment's hesitation the witch doctor tears it from her arms, and amid her shrieks and cries, lays it on its back on the sand, forces open its mouth, takes handfuls of sand and pours it into the open mouth and down the throat, until its mouth is filled with sand, and the little thing strangles to death. Because their religion demands it. There must be human sacrifice.
Evil spirits have to be appeased.
I am thinking, too, of my visit to the South Sea Islands. John Geddes was one of the first missionaries to go to the South Sea islands from Canada. That was many years ago. As he stepped ashore he saw a group of people, and on the ground the body of a man. Under a tree he saw a young woman.