Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-03-26
HUMAN sAuRIFICE IN JAhAIeA.
An EJs- WttneSs Of the Savage Rites OF the
Blacks IN the W. sc In6ies,



An u Js. witness Of the Savage Rites OF the
BlacEs in the W'st In6ies.
San Fran: isso Examiner.
"The last time attended . sacIifce?"
said Mr.. Lindsay, twas in August, 1871,
Just previous to my second departure for
California, where had previously lived
for years. The congregations started In
separate groups and from different d.
,ections from q town of San Domingo
towards forest ar und lake several
miles slant from this town.
"At the eastern side of the lake was an
open space, and here 9 large number Of
the Kroomsns erected large camp fire.
Then sIl pre- sent-meB, women and youths
stripped to the waist, and joining
bands formed & circle around the fire,
while two drummers, with their chest and
arms also barred, entered the ring and
seated themselves back to back
upon their drums, began pounding
vigorously with the palms OF their hands
and their heels upon the gost-skin dunn
heads. A strict silence WAS, however,
maintained BY the daneee. When the
cere ony had continued for three-quar-
his eldest son, the junior chief, entered
tbs circle and danced around the drum
mers, chanting wild anthems to the
ancient or sacred tongue OF the Rtoo-
mans.
"The two chiefs then called ont the
nsues of seven members to enter the cir
Gle and pray with them that the coming
sacrifice might be acceptable to God,
whom thew also begged to choose
worthy victim. Those called came In re-
sponee 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 portion the rites.
"The elder chief WAS blindtolded BY
two strong men, who, when 1t was made
certain that he could not see, reioined
the circle In company with the drummers.
Inns CINE yourself there as l was ut this
awful moment.
"The victim of sacrifice Is now to be
selected. Tne person whom the band Of
the blindfolded chief shall touch Will be the
fatal one. Wilder and wilder go the
dancers in the swiftly f1ginl circle. He
rushes forward, staggering from fsnstical
excitement. Now he is near the ring OF
dancers. An old woman, an aunt OF the
chief, is directly in front OF him, but the
ying' circle pulls her by and his hand
falls heavily on the shoulders OF young
man-a youth Of only sixteen years OF
age.
"Ins 'antaneously the young man breaks
from the circle and 10 resignation pros
rates 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 tcene, clad from head to foot In hJW-
ing white linn garments.
"The high priest then danced around
the victim, ctliing upon God In the sacred
tongue to accept the being OF sacrifice.
"rhe bandsge being taken from the
eyes of thu elder chief, he called q man
from the circle to come forward and STAY
the victim.
ga tall Krooman responded TO the
| sder's command, and, receiving 9 dag
ger from the high, priest, in another
moment stabbed the victim In the heart.
"The high priest next cut OF very
small pieces Of hesh, frs5 from the vic
tiP's right arm, then from his left arm,
and a'terW .rd from the calves Of the right
and Left legs, aud distributed them
among the members Of the congregation,
who ate the morsels given to them.
1.-THE members of the congregation,
still arranged in q circle, then turned their
backs to the central Ere, and kneeling
down clssped their hands in prayer, while
the high priest, taking 8 ca Abash cup
made out OF native gourd, flled 1t with
the victims blood, and sfter signing the
hrows Of the two chiefs with the crimson
q aid he sprinkled It to the four quarters
of the W Jrid.
"At the close of the ceremony the high
priest and chieftsins took the body and
placed 1t in the nre, covering 1t over with
wood.
"The dancing and drumming were then
and kept up until the corpse was
burned to ashes, which were scattered to
the winds.
with the exception Of this festival the |
KroomanS hold no other religious seTvl- |
ess." @