The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-02-14


any of our American cities. The ladies Of
the family had been educated in Paris,
were accomplished, and struck me as
eaally modest and well bred.
'"From the day OF my arrival at Saint
Marc | had become acquainted with q
vouminous history OF Hayti, which L
studied as eagerly as my circumstances
and other duties permitted. inquired
whether the author was still living, and
was clad to know that Nj. Midiou was, at
somewhat advanced age, residing very
near me in the city OF Port-aU-Prlnce.
enjoyed considerable acquaintance with
this most interesting man. lie had been
at one time Minister OF Public Worship
and thus he was able to give me very clear
ideas on the religious condition oil the
country, and | was Obliged to question
him very closely for my own lniormatloh
on many points OF interest 1t was from
him that | learned details OF the terrible
existence OF voudooism among great por-
ton of the inhabitants OF Hayti. lie also
confirmed what had already learned
the story.of their cannibaism-but TINS
was evidently painful subject, and ana
not venture to interrogate him very freely
on this point.
"Alr. Bassett, our consul, lived some two
or three miles from the city OF Port-au-
Prince, up in the hills. and while there
| had much conversation with him concern
ing the resources of the island. LOOK,
said he, at the few acres around my
| dwelling. Here are at least twenty varie-
ties OF tropical fruits growing absolutely
spontaneously, showing the fertility OF the
soil, and how, under good government
and with proper instruments oil agrlcul-
| ture, il might be made a mine OF wealth to
its possessors.' He pointed out TO me i'm
mediately before him oranges, lemons, CO.
coanuts, bananas, the tamarind plant, the
guava, the plantain, and might go on to
enumerate almost all the familiar fauna OF
the tropics. lie said the great evil OF the
| island 'is that the inhabitants can live
almost without any work. They need no
clothing, and in point OF fact wear very
little the children OF both sexes generally
running about naked until about ten or
twelve years OF age, and what have they TO
do but eat sugar cane and tropical fruits
and roots and yams and the like for their
food? They can live on very little; they
have very little to prompt them to activ-
ity.'
cANNIBALIsTIC MoUNrAINEERs.
"The savage class are mountainees, and
living in savagery practicing heather rites.
/ visited some OF their habitatons and one
OF their places OF burial, and very in
telligent old negress, who nursed me dur
ing the short fit OF sickness which assailed
me soon after my arrival, gave me some
particular account Of the habits OF these
people.
at was from this woman that first
learned OF their cannibalism, and
naturally pressed my inquiries in every
direction. Children were caught, she
said, iattened like an animal for sacrifice,
and eaten at their horrible festivities,
which, am sorry TO say, occur about the
time OF our Christmas.
"Mr Holly assured me that she vas in
capable Of telling anything but the truth.
and that he had too many reasons TO know
that these practices were much more
largely in vogue than was generally sup.
posed, although, as he SAID, Geilrard's
efforts 10 suppress this institution had
made the facts sufficiently well known TO
all in Port-au-Prince. The subject was
generally spoken OF with batcd breath,
and with desire apparently that 1t should
not be made publicly known"
"lou were speaking OF the resources
OF the sland?"
ayes, and I wish to mention that II
amazed me that 50 great a magazine OF
wealth should not have invited the
cupidi,y Of our own enterprising people.
Great riches in tho way OF fine woods are
to be found in llayh, but little use has
apparently been made in commerce oil
these resources. The expectation OF log
wood furnishes an exception, and is, ! be
lieyc, quite large. 1 saw considerable
piles OF Il on the wharyesand in shipyards
awaiting expectation"
"Nhat, then. are the causes OF the APP
parent dcStitution and even degradation
o the island?'
First, Of course, should be mentioned
this large aud degraded population OF
barbarians who AIRS exceedingly warlikC
and capable ut any moment Of making d
descent upon their more civilized neigh.
bors aud carrying ruin and devastation
before them. Second, the lack OF d
thoroughly good system OF education, d
matter oil which | will speak further in q
few minutes. Third, the need OF an Gle,
waiting aud rcgcneraiing religion. Fourth
should be mentioned the oXactions oil
foreign governments, which have kept
these unhappy islanders in a state Of in.
ternal depletion and decadoncc. And
last, not least, should be mentioned Ia
particular some OF the fatal mistakes which
have been made in their legislation aud IN
their plans Tor internal improvement.
PREVALENCE 90 voUDooIsN.
"Are the barbarians Of whom you speak
apparently increasing
II am inclined TO think they are by nc
means losing their formidable innuenc,
over the island, even In periods OF com
plniivc peace. One Of the intelligent
persons 10 whom | have rcfcrrcd-it wa.
not Bishop lloly-said TO me- You have
no idea how profoundly this voudoc
system has eaten into the very marrow OF
our 60 siitution aud national life. You
will see in the Cathedral hero on SUNDAY
hundred, who come In from their WI
lagos and habitaiiOns among the neigh.
boring hills They appear 10 be very de.
youL You would suppose they werr
thoroughly well instructed Romon Catho.
lies. In point OF fact they are engaged in
their yOudoo worship while they knecl
there n Christians lie remarked, lower.
ing his voice: i should not dare 10 tell
you how high In our social state these
baptized yOudooisls may be- found Il 1,
not u thing most remarkable that whereas
this island was the first cplonized by Co.
lumbus In the New World, aud while il il
40 circumscribcd IN area, nothing has been
done Tor 400 years by those who have been
responsible for ils religious education 10
root out hcathcnism and introduce a pure
Christianity
"You mentioned that nevertheless many
of these youdoo wor-hippcu wcrc nomi-
nal Christians How DO you explain
this7'