New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1891-09-23
VOUDOOISM IN HAYTL.
THE DANCE DESCRIBED nv AN
EYEWITNESS
h'aiculous and Awful Orgies Participant
Gu IN oE "omen-The Writer Be-
ueFes That Human Sacri-
ices Are Made

oudooism is practiced quite gen.
orally II Hayti, but with such secrecy
especially in the cities, that few ex,
c5pE natives ever witness these rites,
opinions vary as to human sacrifices
Many say they are not offered. Others
ealhh that they are always made at
the great festivals. but so secretly
mat 1t is almost impossible to see
then. 1t Is matter o. record. how
ever that few years ago several
norShlpers were caught near Fort
blzoton deFouring the fragments of a
child, the goat without horne, of
thelr altar and, after trial, they we're
found guilty and executed.
During political celebration in
fort-au-Prlnce one Sunday not long
ago says writer in the New York
Sun learned that no Sunday Eoudoo
dances would be held in the vicinity of
tAe city. and so On the following morn
ing 1 started out to find one had
walked out about mile. when heard
drum in the distance. I toiled alono
under the broiling sun. and at last To-
Gated the sound behind a screen of
tresh-y cut palms at a little distance
rom the road 4 number OF saddled
horses were tied to the trees. and T
pushed ny way through the gap to
INC u front OF NE pavilion about
tnlr1E -eet square and open at the
sloeS. Inc fat roof was formed of
pam branches and was supported at
the center by a big post At one end
were three men with cylindrical drums
MADE OF hollcwe6 logs one end closed
with dried goat skins the other solid
wood They varied in length from
Jour feet 10 two. Near the smallest
was man with long cowbeu.
L took position outside Of the ar
DOT and little or no attention was paid
to NE at first as all hands were watch
ing the entrance to hut Presently
the drums struck up, all the spectators
joined n cultural chant and the high
priest, or .-Papaloi" came from the
nut bearing china mug carefully
covered with silk handkerchief.
With him were an assistant priest and
master OF ceremonies, with a small
silver bell. Then came the Nam
na-oi. or priestess, with a small
gour0, covered with strings OF beads.
This she ratified almost constantly in
tine with the drums
AL were well dressed. as were also
the fifty Or sixty spectators. mostly
women, who were seated or crouched
on the ground on three sides OF the
aroor. The Papaloi vas an enormous
man, over six feet tail and splendidly
proportional
The little procession passed around
the pavilion and paused in front OF the
drums. The Papaloi made number
OF gestures holding his covered mug
high in front OF him. and then he
slowly brought it toward his lips An
other large six handkerchief was
thrown over his head. mug and all.
and he drank. Instantly he threw OF
the handkerchief and poured the
mugs contents. which looked ike wa
ter, on the ground On three spots in
front OF the drums He sprang to one
side and there was a mad rush OF
women to the spots. They groveled
on the ground, licking the wet dirt
and covering their noses with dabs OF
mud. Then one by one they crawled
to the Papaloi kissing the ground be-
fore him. ard striking it with their
foreheads. He raised them to their
knees, wiped their faces with a silk
handkerchief. and, taking one by the
right hand he elevated his arm to its
full length. and she turned under it to
the right then 70 the LEFT. and all re-
sumed their seats
The old Mannaloi handed her gourd
to another. took her place in the cen
ter and grasped the post. Suddenly
her whole body gave a ghastly witch
and her face became contorted. Again
and again the shUdders were repeated
with shorter intervals while her large
eyes seemed about 10 start from her
head Il was the most fascinating
thing have ever seen. and I felt the
PRECIPITATION gather and roll down as I
stared al her Suddenly she broke
into gallop around the post Round
and round she went, stopping &C.
casionally to witch and glare about
her. Then she sprang to the PapaSoi.
siezed him by the hands. dragged him
out. and stared into his face. She
whispered something in one ear, then
in the other. Then she kissed
him on both cheeks and the
mouth. She rubbed the noiut