The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1868-12-23

be interesting to read Professor Jeager,s Sc-
count of his experience among the snake !
worshippers of Hayti, and his general OBJ |
seryations on the character of the degenera- |
ted people. lie says:
was told while in Hayti that all the I
black people of the island who live in the |
mountains are idoiators and snake worship
pers. did not believe it at the time, but I
was subsequently convinced through being
an eyewitness of their superstitious rites. |
Riding one afternoon in the mountains to-
wards Gonaive, entirely lost my way, and
was compelled after sundown to get off my
horse to avoid precipices, from the danger
of which was often saved by the light of
the flying lightning beetles (eLdteT ctIc,jo)
which sported in the air and Illuminated the
ground over which l moved. After wand
ering till midnight, my horse and /, exhaust
ed from fatigue and hunger, heard the
beating of drum, in reality more pleasant
sound at that moment than an air from Mo-
zart, for it revealed the near existence of a
habitation where the negroes were enjoying
frolic. Guided by the discordant sound,
pushed forward, and soon saw before me
at short distance large open square sur
rounded by large trees. At one end of the
square was blazing brushwood fire, and at
the other was large quadrangular box,
and female negroes were dancing to the
beating of a drum. When they stopped
from time to time, big snake, directed by
negro priest, stretched its head and long
neck out of the box, and Immediately some
of the worshippers bowed, whilst others
bowed and also crossed themselves. l was
now in great dilemma and did not know
what to do, for I was aware that these idol
| ators disliked being known as such, there
fore retired few steps behind the trees, and
| when the noise of the drum again ceased, I
commenced to speak loud to my horse
in order to attract their attention, and at the
same time advanced towards the middle of
the square in such course that the box
containing the snake was behind me. The
negroes covered and removed it the moment
1 was observed. Several men and women
now approached me with an air of impu-
dence, calling me "white man." which
epithet IS there considered an insult. l US
/ ed very freely in addressing them the title
''compere" and "commere," which are sa-
cred words among the people, and render
one inviolable, and everyone Iwho came to
me concerning the health of himself, his
father, mother, wife, brother, sister, uncle,
aunt, cousin, niece, and all other relations
l was then received as a very welcome
'!compere" (godfather), and after had told
them my difficulties was furnished with
whole REGIME of bananas, with guinea gras:
; and Indian corn for my horse, aud bed o1
cry banana leaves for q couch. Thus die
thhse idolators show themselves kind Sama
ritans, because did not meddle with thei
! religious creed. Had done so, they wo'd
perhaps, have robbed me, stealing being al
: innate propensity of the negro. 1t is an es
tablish9d fact that for the most part tn
: generality of slaves and free negroes consid
r er all that pertains to others than themselve
! as common property. The distinguished
t Prince Paul of Wurtemberg, whose name
: have already mentioned, had high opinion
of the negroes of the Haytien republic unit
he visited the island and his kindness wa
grossly abused by them. / cannot omit a
S anecdote showing the negro's propensity fo
e stealing: The Ist of January is celebrate
i in Hayti with great solemnity as the ann
s versary of their independence and the es
i tablishment of the Haytien Republic o
= the occasion OF the celebration in 1928
: great dinner was given by President Boye
C at the national palace, to which only tn
f dignitaries of the republic and foreign cor
!, suls and merchants were invited. Th
n President received his guests in the GROUND
: behind the palace, under shady brea(
Y fruit tree, and accompanied them at six O
C clock to the spacious dinning-hall. WhH
= an abundance of well-prepared dishes and
It variety of exquisite wines made the bank
d iTreproachable, 1 was surprised to find thi
i we were furnished with iron spoons wit
n which to eat our soup. The cause was e.
r planned to me by.a foreign consul, who sal
rs that at the celebration of the previous yes
,r all the silver spoons were stolen, partly
r some officers of the Presidents body guarC
Ie partly by the walters and other domestic
2, and partly by some of the Generals presen