The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1881-09-24
From the NeU York World.
YOUDOU HORRORS.

rank and fortune, after thoroughly ex-
ploring the West Indies and visiting part
of the Spanish Main in his yacht, came to
this country on his way home. While
here he submitted certain entries in the
vessels log and certain passages in his own
diary to the inspection of American friends
who earnestly advised him to pursue the
hints therein given with an eve to con-
eentrate public attention on the progress
sive relapse into barbarism of society in
the vast and beautiful and once splendidly
productive island of Hayti. This advice
he seems to have taken, for we find in
Vanity Fair, of August IS, the following
resume of his painful but very important
observations
AFRICAN CANNIBALISM REVIVED IN THE
NEW WORLD.
The professors of "Voudou, who have
the serpent house" in each village-wood
(as may also be seen on the west coast of
Africa originally came from the Congo
coast and were of the tribe called Mandin-
goes, celebrated for their skill as sorcerers
4 and secret poisoners, and for being ser
pent-worshippers, ehild-slayers and canui-
balls. They appear to have brought their
arts with them from Africa, but while
Hayti was under French rule they were
obliged to practice them in secret.
it was, however, mainly owing to the
power of "Voudou" that Hayti was lost to
the French. Many of the Presidents have
belonged to it; the present President
either cannot or will not suppress it, and
it fourishes openly. 1t would be improper
for me to give up my authorities. 1t is
sufficient to say that they are of the high
est, aud that the facts are indisputable,
being vouched for to me by eye-witnesses.
Out Of over 7e0, 900 inhabitants Of Hayti
there are only 10000 who do not openly
belong 10 "Yeudou.
The priests of this religion have got alb
solute power, owing to their knowledge Of
herb-poisoning and of the antidotes. Owing
to this knowledge, which nothing will iu-
duee them to diyulge, they can poison
either slowly or quickly, painfully or the
reverse, and can procure death-hke sleep.
They arc consequently resorted to by peo-
pie who wish to get rid of Others, either
for gain, from Jealousy, or the like.
The secret poisoning is carried on TO an
enormous cxteut. 1t goes on, indeed,
under the name of "Obi wherever negroes
arc found. 10 Hayti, while the French
had the island, it was stcruly represSed-
more so than either in Jamaica or Cuba
but since then it has increased to such
an extent that suppressed terror prevails
among all classes 10 Hayti
The great fess,s Of ''Youdou' are at
Christ mas, at Whiisuntidc and at Easter.
The drum is beaten at midnight and the
people assemble. The ceremony com
mences by the most terrible Oaths Of Sc
erecy. Then dancing begins, and the ex-
ci,ement IS kept ap by copions libaiions Of
rum. till one or more Of the performers
fall down ia 4 6t, when the spirit Of
"VoudOu" is supposed TO have entered
into them. These orgies last generally
three nights and sometimes longer. on
the 6rss night cock Is offered up at the
altar, and It's blood is drunk warm. On
the second night goat is treated 10 the
same way Bat on the third night child
reu are brought in their threats are cut
by the priest their blood is handed round
aud drunk warm, aud their bodies are then
cut up and eaten
Before the sacrifice takes place the
priest orders as many children as be re-
quires. They must be Of pure African
descent and not over ten years OF age.
These children are invariably forthcoming,
either BY being voluntarily givea up or OBJ
tained by being stolen By women who make
a profession Of it. They are expert at
their trade Entering house at night,
naked and oiled, they steal the child, aud
by administering a narcotic poison render
It iusensible. IL Is then conveyed to
secret place ill required for the sacrifice,
when an an,iiote brings it TO; then Its
throat is cut Children are often volun-
iarily given up By their mothers for the
sacrifice
10 order to be initiated into "Voudou
il is necessary to have killed some human
being 4 child Is preferred.
Anogher horrible custom in Hayti IS the
deyOuring Of oorpses.
So strong is the taste for human flesh
tha. mid-wives have been known 10 devoar
the children they have just brought into
the world The parts preferred are the
kuuckles and hands.
Lest 1t should be imagined that these
are not facts, | viii give one or two in-
stances.
In May, 1879, two women were caught
eating female child II was proved that
the child had been FIRST drugged and rem
dered insensible The parents, suppOsing
/. il to be dead, buried IT, These women
Immediately disinterred it, aud restored it
10 its senses by antidotes, and then in
serted reeds through its side and sucked
the blood from the heart. This happened
at Port au Prince,
\ Haytian Of good position was also
caught with his family eating small boy.
I Another was found tied TO 4 tree close by.
The man was pointed out TO me.
/ These Otienses were punished in one case
BY a months, in the other by six weeks
Imprisonment, the fear of Voudou not al
lowing greater punishment.
In January, 1881, eight people were
fined for disinterring and eating corpses.
In the same month the neck and shoul-
ders of man we're exposed for sale in the
market at Port au Prince, and were pur-
chased and identified by an English med
ical man.
In February, 1881, at St. Marks cask
of so-called ''pork" was sold to ship. In
it we're discovered the fingers and finger
nails Of human being. This "pork' was
/ all identified as human flesh
A Haytian assured me that the kidneys
of child were frst.rate eating. On my
asking how he knew he informed me that
he had eaten them He did not seem to
think it strange or at all out of the way.
At Cape Haytien colored clergyman
of the Church of England complained that
a ''Voudou" neutralized all the good he
was doing, and declared that he had had
human flesh offered him for sale, and that
his wife nearly bought it, believing that it
was pork. In February, 1881, four people
were fined for devouring corpses.
At Jacmel two corpses were recently
disinterred and partly eaten Two men
we're in prison for this, not being able to
paw the fine. A man caught eating child
was arrested the day of my arrival. AT