Roseburg review. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 1885-1920, 1885-01-24
The BLACK REPUBLIC.

f7E 6LASN nEFO6LIOs
A RAGS of savages without Hope of Re.
denrptien-Horribls Tales of Grimes and
Superstition.
Sir Spencer st. John has just written
book on the Hayti savages. He says
She inhabitants were and savages they
are likely to remain, indulging in all
the horrible rites and acts of cannibal-
ism. There are many restrictions which
the whites have to contend with in all
commercial transactions, besides the
unfairness OF the laws; in brief, there
are no laws framed that afford protec-
ton to the white. This rule is carried
to such an extent that Judges are afraid
to give verdict In favor OF a foreigner,
no matter what crime the black may
have committed. Tho dreadful massa-
cres that took place during the revolu-
ton are related with minute accuracy,
and the only man who had any humani-
ty in his composition was Toussaint, the
hero of the time, who with the true in
stinct of a General, foresaw that his
undisciplined forces could not cope with
the perfect discipline of the European
troops. He, therefore, in 795. formed four
regiments of two thousand men each,
whom he had drilled daily by French
soldiers, his former prisoners. "Durinp
the continuous fighting, which occu-
pied considerable period, Toussaint
showed great magnanimity and control,
and what was of great Importance to
the unprotected, when his word was
once pledged he never broke ii. :" Pass
ing over this busy period, we can not
find as the years roll on that the brutal
nature of the Haytians had changed one
iota, and 1t is difficult to decide which
are the most bloodthirsty-the negroes
or the mulattoes. s.When the decree
was issued by Dessalines that mulatto
children should inherit the estates of
their white fathers, two young men
met, and one. said to the other, you
kill my father. and | Will kill yours
which they accordingly did, and took
possession of the estates" Now for
black example. "A negro General,
grandfather of lady | knew in Hayti,
went to Dessalines after the appearance
of tho decree, to murder the white
French left in the island, and said:
Emperor, / have obeyed your decree,
have put my white wife to death
Excellent Haytian,' answered he,
but an internal scoundrel. If ever
again you present yourself before me |
will have you shot y
No portion of the book is more strik-
ing and so likely to prove the retro
grado condition of the people than the
revolving custom of the voudoux wor-
ship and Its attendant horrors of canni-
balism. The obscenity of the rites and
the hideous practices are best described
in the authors own words: A child has
been stolen for the purpose of making
feast. ''She was thrown on the ground,
her aunt holding her by the waist,
whilst the papaloi pressed her throat
and the others held her legs and arms;
her struggles soon ceased, as Floreal
had succeeded In strangling her. Then
Jeanne handed him a large knife, with
which he cut off Claircine's head, the
assistants catching the blood in a jar;
then Floreal is said to have inserted an
instrument under the ehild's skin, and
detached it from the body. Having
succeeded In faying their victim, the
flesh was cut off from the bones and
placed in large wooden dishes; the en-
bIdllS anu Skill UciHS DuIIcu AcdI W tuC
cottage. The whole party then started
for Floreals house, carrying the re-
mains of their victim with them. On
their arrival Jeanne rang a little
bell, and a procession was formed
the head borne aloft, and sa-
cred song sung. Then preparations
were made for feast Jeanne
cooked the flesh with congo beans,
small and rather bitter (pois congo),
whilst Florcal put the head into a pot
with yams, to make some soup. While
the others were engaged in the kitchen,
one of the women present, Roseide
Sumera, urged by the fearful appetite
of cannibal, cut from the child's palm
a piece of flesh and ate it raw (this
heard her VOW in open court). The
cooking over, portions of the prepared
dish were handed round, of which all
present partook. and the soup being
ready, it was divided among the assist
ants, who deliberately drank it. The
night was passed in dancing, drinking
and debauchery.n In another case a
French priest said to mother: chow
could you eat the flesh of your own
childrenP' She answered, coolly: "And
who had abetter rightP-est ce que ce
NEST pas moi qu; les al td;t?"
IN. Y. Truth