Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1865-01-11
voudou1 Mysssrio. and Grimes.

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VOudOux Mysteries and Grimes.
... -. .aaIl l.sssr rs .-.s
AMONG the. ancient superstitiuns imported
with the black race from Africa, none has re-
tanned such a fixed impression on the mind
Of the negro as Vondouxsm. Here, in Cuoa,
in Jamaica, and in Hayti, it has always pre-
sented more or less of its old Ethiopian
characteristics; though cannibalism and the
sacrifice of human victims to the Fetish god
have, in a great measure, been. superseded
by less revolving rites and ceremonies. On
hundreds of occasions, within the last quarter
OF a century, tie police Of this city have in
terrupted Voudoux orgies, and thousands Of
our inhabitants, both white and colored, have
believed themselves to be the victims of
Voudoux spells 1t is particularly in affairs
of the heart that. the New Orleans followers
of Voudoux have woven their charms and in
carnations, and but for the degradation in
volved, their ceremonies might be looked
upon as interestingly ridiculous. A nude
dance around central altar, in presence Of
the fetish queen; caldron boiling and bub-
bling in the decoction of virtues from more
varied ingredients than those used by the
weired sisters of Macbeths blasted health;
the excitement caused by the wildy-intoxi-
eating fnrnes Of the strange distiliation; the
distribution to the faithful of charms and con-
jurations rife with mighty magiO--aH these
are features in the rude ceremonial, which
impose on the ignorant and inspire awe in
bosors of believers in fetish orthodoxy. AL
most every ancient Creole family had its
Voudoux worshiper in its list of family ser
wants, and sometimes my '.younS mistress
was hall iudoctrinated into the belief by her
faithful nurse, and spells were woven to
bring lovers to her feet Occasionally strange
deaths were attributed to Voudouxism. and
whispers of foul play. were not wanting; but
generally, the ceremonies were looked upon
as comparatively harmless. vent for the gas
Of Congo superstition. Curious things Of
various kinds confidently believed to be Of
fetish manufacture, are frequently found in
pillows or mattresses, and how they get there
no one can tell. These are held to mean mis-
chief and on weak minds they often produce
imaginary ailments, till counter-charms are
invoked to exercise thefrst unholy influence.
Recently in Hayti eight Voudoux devotees
were tried and executed for the murder, or
sacrifice, as they called it, of a young uegrcss.
By command of the President, and under an
order of the council attached to the civil
tribunal of Port Prince, it was declared
that there was sufficient cause to proceed
against Juana Pelle, Floreal Apollon, Guer-
rier Francois, Congo Pelle, Julien Nicolas,
Nereina Francois, Roseida Sumera and Be
yard Prosper for murder, committed on the
person of a young girl named Clarina. The
trial took place in due form, when it appeared
that the aunt and uncle OF the deceased had
a hand in the horrid butchery. Congo Pelle,
the uncle, stated that the god Of his worship
had ordered him to offer up a human sacrifice.
He communicated the fact to his sister,
Juana, and they agreed together that their
niece, Clarina, should be the victim, Alter
making all their arrangements, the girl was
led to the slaughter by Congo She was first
placed in mysterious sort of box called the
'tHumfort, with her limbs closely bound to
her body. There she was kept for four days,
peculiar description of sacri6cial food being
daily administered to her, and as soon as she
was sufficiently prepared by suffering, Juana
strangled her by violently COMPRISING her
throat, while Floreal pressed in her sides and
Guerrier held her by the feet Thus, in fear
ful commissions, the poor child died. Floreal
then took knife, and, after separating the
head from the body, skinned the latter while
it was yet warm This done, they quarreled
over the carcass, each contending for choice
portions as The material for q hellish feast;
and, after the first part OF the diabolical
banquet was over, they cooked the girls
head with yaus Of which onch fendishly
partook. Subsequently the skull was placed
on altar, and Juan, taking bell in hand,
circled round and round, followed by the
others, all chanting a mysterious song. When
this ceremony was finished, the skin and en-
trails were buried, and the bones, which had
previously been burnt, were, with the blood,
placed in earthen vessels and carefully pre-
served
Part of these facts came out by the confess
sion of some of the parties, and more were
eHcted from girl, named LOsama, who had
been kidnapped and kept in confinement as
he next victim. This girl had been obliged
to carry food to Clarina during the four days
of prepsrtion.
1t the execution Of the eight vOudOuz
murderers, the populace cried out, 'Iong live
the President of Haytil Long live ciyiliza-
ton IN O. Times.