The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-03-15
What youdouIsm IL.

The last Popular Science Monthly has an
article on voudOuism, interesting Decauseth
so-called religion once prevailed here, ana
still has some credence. and because the
author Of the article goes much further back
in the consideration Of vOudouism than any
who have written on II. number OF per-
sons have discussed this subject but nearly
all have confined their Investigations 10 the
West Indies principally TO HaytD or TO
Louisiana, where voudouism was transplanteo
from the Indies. The Popular Science
Monthly goes to its true source, the country IN
which il originated. and where its PECULIAR
ties can be best observed-Afrlca.
According 10 Mr.. Ellis the author OF thiS
article. voudouism is a religion originally pc
calar 10 West Africa. and transferred 10 TINS
country BY the slave trade. IL consists OF
snake worship. the alteration OF the sacred
Demonstration, the gods OF the Arlcah: Won
dou being an Eve word, meaning simple
god"
This voudou religion prevails among the
Wbydah and Ardra tribes of Western Africa;
who erect mud temples in which the sacred
snakes are confined. with large retnue OF
priests and priestesses to attend them IL y
not TO be wondered At that religion whlch
worships n snake as u god should also encout-
age debaucherv as an essential part OF us
d1 ctrnes. The annual. estlyal OF the Alrlcan
youdous held in June. winds up IN an mas
cri1ninate debauch, the prototype OF our YOU
dou dances. and of which the latter are fee
bic imitation. ~,
The relgion-if such a word can be applied
10 so vile A thing-was transferred 10 Hayu
and Martinique by tue importation of n large
number OF Whydahs rs slaves. II Is rather
startling 10 learn that in this country vOudou-
inn became rather worse than II had been III
Africa. and that whereas 1t was closely 1850,
cjated there with debaucheiy, II was not until
il became established on American soil that
cannibnlism became part OF IT..
Mr.. 81. John in his account OF Haytl gives
q very ugly picture of voudoulsm IN that
islnud. Ii las become more general with the
freedom Of the negro, and human sacrifices
aud canuibalism are important features or
every voudou festival. 1t IS practically the
religion Of tho country, and even the Deter
classes Of the negroes aud the highest OH
cials encourage it. or rather so fear the yon-
dous that they paw tribute 20 them. The
latter control the country and the overthrow
of President Geffrard IL attributed 70 his
lashness in endeavonng 10 suppress human
sacrifices and cannIballsm as part OF these
festivals.
No better idea could be given Of what negro
Government means aud what would be the
inevitable results OF Attenuation than the
experience of Haytl in this matter. For "A
century the government Of that Republic hhs
been Given over wholly 10 the negroes. They
nave ono Of the most fertile countries in the
world. they are surrounded on all sizes Nv
white civilization; Yet they have not been able
10 maintain even what little civilization they
once possessed. and have actually sunk lower
than their African ancestors. and added can
nibalism TO debauchery as II part OF the ma
tional religion.
Wo see in Hayti the condition Of affairs to
which the Republican party would like 70
condemn portion of this country, We can
recognize how little the negro is to DO trusted
with government. and how much the negro OF
the South owes 10 the whites, IN seeing the
condition Of the race IN Hayu. Where u has
bcen allowed TO govern without white con-
trol superintendence. or influence. vOudouism
is the religion and anarchy the form Of gov
eminent developed by negro rule III America.
New Orleans Times-D Democrat.