The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-12-20
HAYTPS CHRISTMAS EVE.
sERPENT WORSHIP IN TIE MIDST
OF THE FOREST.

on Christian Holiday-A Goat Sac
r.fcsd 60 the serpent-It Might Have
Been a Human Sacrifice - Double
Character of the Raytians.
Copyright, 1891. by the United Pressl
Many Americans have visited Port au
Prince; but few know much about the south
arm coast and dark interior of the negro re-
public of Hayti. IL was the fortune of
Capt. Jonathan Crowell Of Maine, veteran
Yankee skipper, to be at Baradaires bay, on
the south coast, last Christmas, getting a
cargo of logwood. Capt. Crowell's schooner
was the only vessel in port. and as the ma
tives would not work, or allow his crew to
work during their holidays, the CAP
tain went ashore to while away the
time. During the day, which was Christ
mas eve, he saw nothing beyond what
might be expected IN town Of the French
or Spanish West Indies. The church was
the best building in the place. and the pre-
parations for Christmas service were evil
IDENTIFY on one elaborate SCALE Capt. Crowell
noticed this, but he also noticed that, toward
evening large numbers Of people were going
in the direction Of the neighboring woods.
His attention was especially attracted by
the fact that they were all dressed in loose
white linen garment, which covered them
from head 20 foot. They made very little
noise, which was quite contrary to their
gayety during the day. Capt Crowell's
curiosity was aroused, and he determined
TO see where the people went He called
his mate, Alfred Williams, who readily
agreed to join In tie exploration. They
told the men to keep a careful watch on the
schooner, and then set out. following a we'll
marked path.
About mile from the town of Barna-
daires, in large clearing the two sailors
came upon throng Of people. Here was
evidently the spot to which the crowd from
the village had tenned. The presence of
the strangers was not welcome A murmur
followed their arrival, and angry glances
were flashed upon them. But Capt Crow
ground. 1t was getting dark, and
they felt that there might be more
danger In retreating. and thereby showing
cowardioe, tAaa in maintaining their stand,
firmly and respectfully. Capt. Croweli
was rather a favorite with the Haytiaus.
who liked the frank. hearty way Of the
yankee sailor, aRd as they saw him and the
mate remove their hats, and bow profoundly
to everybody in general, the hostile signs
began to disappear. The captain and his
companions were permitted to remain, as il
by tacit agreement.
AS their eyes became accustomed to the
scene, upon which the shades Of a starry
tropical evening were rapidly falling, the
two Americans caught a glimpse of snake
Of unusual size. lying cooled in apparent
lethargy in the centre Of the clearing. Il
was of the boa species, and, they judged,
not less than twenty feet long The serpent
seemed indifferent 10 its surrounding al
though about 200 persons were gathered in
the clearing, in the center Of which the ami
NAL reposed.
Suddenly the sound of a wierd chant arose
from the throng. An elderly man, of full
negro blood, stepped out from the crowd,
within 9 few feet of the serpent, and whiried
around ia q slow, monotonous dance The
serpent iazIly lifted its head and waved IL
from side to side In unison with the motions
of the dancer. and the tune which the peo-
pie were chanting. The dancer whirled
more and more rapidly, the chant grew
faster and the snake seemed to catch the
excitement, as IL swung its head more
swiftly and darted its tongue out viciouslY
Then, quick as fash, dancer and audi
ence dropped 10 their knees, and ON their
faces. as If 10 silent worship before the
serpent
The head of the snake ceased to move to
and fro, but remained uplifted, looking
down on the PROSTATE worshipers. Capt.
Crowell, hardy sailor as he is, aud accus-
toned to Haytians and their ways, declares
that he felt creepy and would fain have re-
tired from the scene, If he could have been
sure of escaping notice.
The serpent worshipers were ON their
feet, almost as quickly as they had sunk to
the earth, and the chant was resumed, but
in a louder tone, The old man who had
been dancing, disappeared in the crowd.
About three minutes later he reappeered.
followed by two young men, dragging
d hornless goat. AS the young
men brought the goat within easy reach OF
the serpents head, the four-footed victim
shook as If paralyzed with fright. Left to
itself it seemed magnetized to the spot The
boa gave 1t no time to recover.
The jaws Of the serpent seized the goat In
an instant, and with a raptdfty Of motion
that the eye of the observer failed to fol-
low, the coils were around it. In a SECOND
the goat was lifeless shapeless mass. Then
the serpent proceeded with the slow process
OF dining.
Meantime the worshipers of the snake
grew more and more uadly excited. The
evening was sultry, aud the air loaded
with the balm of the HHytiap forest.
Their dancing became wilder; the single
garment that had developed them was
thrown aside, and the Haytiaps threw
themselves into the occasion with the frenzy
of their barbaric ancestors. They danced,
they leaped; they shouted, until the
forest rang with the wild echoes of their
Fetch cries. The old man who acted as a
high priest in the savage rites was the wilds
est and most furious of all. Capt. Crowell
and his mate were glad to shrink out Of
sight in the shadows, and the mad worship
ers seemed to have no thought for them.
The two sailors found their way back by
the well beaten path to the town and their
vessel.
The following day, Christmas, Capt.
Crowell attended service at tho church. The
people were out in their holiday attire. and
gaue no indication of the orgie Of the
previous night They worshiped as if they
were good Christians and as if they had not
few hours before been INDUCING In the
grossest rites Of unregenerate Africa.
Such scenes are said to be frequent Ia the
remoter parts Of Hayti, and a white mer-
chant at Port au Prince, to whom Capt.
Crowell related the strange experience, said
there was little doubt that the presence of
the captain had prevented human sacri-
nee, and that the goat was substitute for
child. These facts, the merchant said, were
well-known in Hayti, but were tabooed by
common understanding in the CONVEX
satlon OF the people Even the aristocratic
haytians occasionally, though perhaps not
frequently. cast off the veneer, and go to
serpent worship with the rest. BY strange
association Of Christian and heather Gus
toms, Christmas eve had come TO be re-
garded os the day, or rather the night, for
the leading serpent orgie OF the year, and
Capt. CrOWell had vvitnessad a sneotacle