The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1888-08-04

Human Sacrifice In Jamaica
From the San Francisco Examiner.
"The last time l attended q sacri
fee" said Mr.. Lindsay, "was in Al
gust 1871. just previousto my secon'
departure for California, where I ha'
previously lived for years. The con
greeation started In separate group
and from different directions from ,
town of San Domingo towards q for
est around lake. several miles dis
tant from the town.
"At the eastern side OF the lake wa
an open space. and here large mum
Der OF the Kroomans erected lare'
campfire. Then all present, men
women, and youths. stripped to the
waist and, joining hands, formed 9
circle around the fire, while two drum
mers with their chests and arms also
barred entered the ring. and seating
themselves back to back upon theil
drums. began pounding vigorously
with the palms of their hands and
their heels upon the goatskin drum
heads. A strict silence was, however,
maintained by the dancers. When
this ceremony had continued for
three-quarters of an hour the chief oil
the tribe and his eldest son,
the Junior chief, entered the
circle and danced around the
drummers, chanting wild anthems in
the ancient or sacred tongue OF the
Kroomans.
s"The two chiefs then called out the
names of seven me mbers to enter the
circle and pray with them that the
coming sacrifice might be acceptable
to God. whom they also begged to
choose worthy victim. Those call.
ed for came in response to the chiefs
and, with the latter, Frustrated
themselves face downward ON the
ground in prayer. At the close of this
silent prayer the seven returned to
their places in the circle, and then
came the solemn pertain OF the rites.
"The elder chief was blindfolded by
two strong men, who, when it was
made certain that he could not see, re.
joined the circle in company with the
drummers. Imagine yourself there as
was at this awful moment.
"The victim OF sacrifice is now to be
selected. The person whom the
hand OF the blindfolded chief shall
touch will be the fatal one. Wilder
and wilder go the dancers in the
swiftly flying circle. He rushes for.
ward, staggering from fanatical excite
ment. Now he is near the ring of
dancers. An old woman, an aunt OF
the chief, is directly in front OF him,
but the flying circle pulls her by and
his hand falls heavily on the should
ers OF a young mana youth OF only
Is years of age.
"Instantaneously the young man
breaks from the circle and in resigna.
ton prostrates himself upon the
earth at the feet of the chief, who was
then led away by his son, and the
high priest appeared upon the scene,
clad from head to foot in flowing
white linen garments.
"The high priest then danced around
the victim, calling npon God in the
sacred tongue to accept the being OF
sacrifice.
"The bandage being taken from the
eyes of the elder chief he called q man
from the circle to come forward and
slay the victim.
"a tall Krooman responded to the
leaders command, and, receiving a
dagger from the high priest, in anoth-
or moment stabbed the victim in the
heart.
1.-THE high priest next cut off very
small pieces OF flesh from the victims
right arm, then from his left arm. and
from the calves ofhis right
and left legs and distributed them
members of the congregation,
who ate the morsels given to them.
"The members OF the congregation,
still arranged in circle, then turned
their backs to the central fire, and
kneeling down, clasped their hands in
prayer while the high priest, taking
calabash cup made out of a native
gourd, filled it with the victims blood
and after signing the brows OF the two
chiefs with the crimson fluid he sprink-
ed it to the fourquarters OF the world.
cat the close OF this cerem ony the
nigh priests and chieftains took the
body and placed it in the fire covering
It over with wood.
"The dancing and drumming were
then resumed and kept up until the
corpse was burned to ashes, which
We're scattered to the winds.
"With the exception OF this festival
Inc Kroomans hold no other religious