Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1871-04-13
Misffllanfuus.

a9e miscellaneous.
Civilization in Hayti and San Dc
mingO.
pa .ss THE HAYTIANs.
The people all speak the French Ian
| guage. Some few can also speak Eng
lish. There are also several white an,
colored American citizens here, VIII
4 are prosperous business men. The ma
tjority Of the heavy business house
however are owned by the French
A visit to the markets gave Us viey
OF the country people with their hardl,
| half fcivilized habits and fashions. Their
is nothing of the manners of American
negroes about them. Without the leas
affectatiOn they wear an air of consciou
superiority to the white race. Th,
large majority were women with wei
marked features. Thick lips and fla
noses are in the majority. They seen
to be industrious, but are excitable ail(
superstltious. Our artist made some
attempts with his pencil and sketcf
book, to represent scenes in the marke
space, but was looked upon rs though
performing some incantation to &
strange God, and therefore, prudently
suspended his efforts. While there
are many, well educated people, O.
highly polished manners, it is very
clear that the great mass of Haytian:
are as much behind Dominicians in the
scale of civilization as the Dominican:
are behind good society in the United
States. =, - 80. =. 49,.
- -VO0DOUISM. e-.- f.r
While in SaRto Domingo we often
heard of the ignorance and barbarity oi
Haytians, and gave the reports little
credit. Stories. of Cannibalism seemed
so improbable that felt almost asham-
ed to inquire into the matter. Mr..
Hepburn, citizen of Port-au-Prince
for thirty years, however, gave the
following facts: That large portion
of hepeopie i'm the back country are
worshippers, of the good Voodou, an
African deity, who requires human
sacrifices at the hand of his vOtaries.
In the year 1865, while Jefrard was
President of the Republic, four men
and four women were convicted of kill
ing and eating a little girl about seven
years of age. The eight persons were
condemned and publicly executed by
being shot back of the fort in front of
the town. Mr.. Hepburn was one of
many who witnessed the execution.
This story was confirmed by Mr.. Rou-
main, formerly Haytian Minister in
Washington, and by General Jefrard
himself, who ordered the execution.
Both of these gentlemen are now eXiled
in Kingston, where saw and convers-
ed with them.} Ialso learned that this
sect now numbers at least two hundred
thousand in Hayti, and that since JEFF
rard left, they have held their heather
dances upon the public square in Port
But a few words have
passed since priestess of the order was
arrested for similar offense, and COM
mitted to prison.. 1t isai1eged that she
detied the authorities, and demanded
to be at once released, or she would
bring horde of Vood6ux into the city,
and destroy it. She was released. IT
is believed, among respectable citizens,
that Salnare, in histime, so far Welded
to the Woo sou Influences at one time,
to attend one of their b srbarous feasts,
and participate in "a. bat h of shHman.
bieo<a.S@it Is said that their god re-
quired sacrifice of one hundred chill
dren at one time, in order to render
the government of Salnave permanent,
and that white and colored children
were missing, all over Hayti, while
black children were not disturbed.
The prejudices existing between the
three classes (whites, colored-or inu-
latteeS-and blacks) is very strong.
None but pure blacks are supposed to
be initiated into the secrets of the
Voodou Order. 1t is possible that these
stories may have been exaggerated.
And it is also possible that they may
not come up to the facts. One thing is
certain, voodouism has, and does still
exert large influence in the affairs of
Hayti. People are afraid, an speak
ofit in whispers Gin. Com. hs