Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1889-08-01
Recent Inquiries Develop the Fact
that Voudooism Is on the Increase
There.
o..rIa Infatuated with the Horrible
rpremonies-The slaughter Of
Children-Human Flesh for
sale.

%, explsin the lack OF progress made %!
80 blacks in the science of self-govern
,rspt. the condition of turmoil and
-l,.oln,i,n that seems TO be chronic in
49,, commonwealth, the lack OF enterprise
5,rlayed by the natives in the cultivation
~ he soil and the development of the
-,inaral wealth that lies beneath u; in
snort. the general retrogression that
apnears TO be steadily gong on, and
obicb. if not checked, must ultimately
land the com nunity again in barbarism.
TERRIBLE sUPEBsrITIoNs.
When il is remembered that Hayti was
once a French colony, and that, at the
outsst a large contingent of French citi-
ems were engaged in the work of civiliza-
.iou, il seems strange that so little that
ia valuable and beneficial should have
r,snlted from their labols. This may be
Dartly jue 10 certain inherent defects in
l1s native character, but there are other
r,asous. and foremost among them must
be ranked the terrible superstition that
r+ss- on the country like murky cloud,
sitting all noble aspirations and honest
endeayOr.
When, several years ago, an English
man, Sir Spencer 81. John, took upon
himself to print in book form the results
of his Investigations regarding youdoo
ism In Hayti, there was a deafening
clamor raised py the residents of the
island against what they we're pleased to
term IAN indictment of the whole ma =
ton" but st. John stood valiantly by his
guns, and would by no means retraot a
single one of his many damaging stat e.
ments. Instead of this he made fresh
researches, and has just published the
result in a second addition of the original
work. 4 glance at this latest issue will
show that the author, instead of retract-
ing anything, has now fortified his for
mrr assertions by fresh evidence brought
down to date.
SIR sPENoKR's RESEARCHES.
Asa result of mis- nquiires, Sir Spencer
finds that the regarded African religion
not only retains its hold upon Hayti, bat
is actually being extended. The Emper-
or S1uouaue was a firmadherent, and
the maate to General Therlonge was q
hiRh priest, as was also a recent Prime
Minister, whose bloody deeds will be an
everlasting reproach TO his memory"
President Sainave at first seemed dispos-
"a to court the educated classes, and for
a time kept clear of the practitioners of
the youdoo rites, but he finally gave away
aud consulted a well-known "papolai,"
or priest near Port-au-Prinoe. BY the
latter's orders ne bathed in the blood of
goats, made considerable presents to the
priests and priestesses, and then Toasted
with the worshipers, who gave themselves
up to all manner of debRuchery, and kept
up their festivities so long that even the
iron constitution OF the President gave
away, and he was confined to his bed for
many day 8 thereafter. II is also added
that il order to secure from the priest a
full assurance of victory over his enem
les he actually consented TO take part IN
the highest ceremony of all the being
anointed with the blood of goat with
out hOrns.n or chilo, but regarding this
Sir spencer was not able secure en-
tirely trustworthy information.
That oannibalism is common practice
in this island, and that it is ignored and
winked at by the authorities, is also as
serted by Sir Spencer St. John. In q
local paper, lie Peuple, the following
paragraph appeared on January %
1856;
Last week General Alfred Milford
commanding The town and commune OF
Grand GOave, accompanied by the Chief
OF Sections, proceeds TO the arrest OF
ten or TIVE i've men and women who car
ried on their business OF killing people
and selling their meat in the market al
Grand Goave."
The statement raised q storm in otficia
grAprg1
publish an official contradiction; but this
facts we're as stated, and the prisoners
were tried the following year. In 1870
two women were arrested in hut near
Portau Prince in the act OF eating g
o1iid's flesh raw. On further examination
% was found that they had first sucked al
THE blood from the body, and that part OF
the flesh mad been salted for future use
ln 1859 a still more horrible case was
brought 20 light. dozen persons, &C
cu.ed Of cannibalism, we're taken 10 La
Coupe. In PRISON they we're beaten IN
msrcifuily and tortured by the thumb.
screw and by cords frightened around
their foreheads. As a result they con
ie-sed, bat not placing much confidence
10 avOwals thus extorted Sir Spencer in
duord friend of his, priest, 10 visit Tire
eulprIts. On these occasions they repeat
ed their statements. Mortified by the de
'hll7 the priest questioned a mother
How could you cut the flesh OF your OWL
ca'ld-en?' to which she replied coldly
And who had a better right" iEst-ct
que &c NEST pas moi qui les al faitS
As to the sacrifice of the goat withou
horns it is thus described by youue
Catholic priest who vas an eye witness o.
The horrible rites.
be mamauloi stood on the box con
'aiuing he serpent At first che ven
INTO a violent paroxysm, then into q sor
or half trance, when she promised al
that the people asked. A white cock arc
Then white goat were killed, and thos
present were marked with their blood
Presently an athlete younl
negro came forward and kpelt before tn
Eue-tess and said.
son, maman, have favor 70 ASK"
What lie it my son o.
Give US to complete the sacrifice,
goat without any horn-Y"
oae~gase q sign Of assent; the crowd j.
tae shed separated, aud there on th
loor wa child sitting with its fee
uo9ut Ia an instant rope, alrea8
ls-7ea around the block, YVES frightened
Re cnlld's feet flew MP toward the root
ard the pap0lai approached with a kuifs