, 1891-07-12
CANNlBALISM IN HAYTI.
A Child Killed and Eaten by
Voodoo Worshipers.
Revolving Scenes Witnessed
During the Sacrifice.
Official Action Taken to Sup
press the Atrocities.

New YORK, July lI.-In an interview
with a Haytlau refugee, published on
July I, mentIou was made Of yoodoo
alteration aud of human sacrifices in
Hayti, not far from Port-au Prince. The
reference has since hen been verified.
Mr.. Maurice Feldman, a Hungarian
mechanic. employed in the machine shops
at German, eight miles from Port IL
Prince, learned some time ago that there
was to be a human sacrifice not lar from
where he lived at 2:30 o'clock in the after.
noon. 1t was to be conducted by the
papalor Tor vooioo priest) of German.
Accompanied by his assistant, named
Schmidt, Feldman made off in the direc-
ton in which he had heard that the sac
rifce was TO be performed, The expedi-
ton was not devoid OF danger, for the
negroes. feeling undoubtedly that their
butehery of children would arouse the
wrath and opposition of white inhabi-
tants of the island were. exceedingly care
full TO carry ont the atrocities IN the seclus-
ion of ~uutrequented groves. The two
m n were armed with heavy revolvcrs,
and we're careful in the selection OF their
route.
When they reached their destination
they climbed into the branches of a tall
tree, from which they could plainly see
all t at was gong on below without being
seen. From their position tLev vi messed
the voodoo sacrifice. The ceremony was
begun by the burning oil aromatic plants
around a sleeping child , or 3 wears old,
which had been put to sleep by herbs.
The papalor stepped up to the infant and
severed the head from the body with one
stroke of sharp knife and passed it to
all present. While the head was being
passed the papalor cut up the body,
which was thrown into IA large iron pct
with some red peas, rice and other native
vegetables. During the cooking the
negroes danced around the fire. This
bamboula dance is a native negro dance
of the most revolving sort, consisting
mostly of coutortions Of the hips and
abdomen. The end is reached when the
participants become so excited and ex.
bausted that they throw themselves on
the ground. where they wallow over each
other and howl. When the dancers had
recovered they gathered for the feast aud
devuured every particle of the child.
Having finished, they gathered the bones
III n - III iIlC ElOhtlis bhi &c AhNlIs aiNA
erected a wooden cross over the grave.
After the two observers had given the
caunibals time to reach their homes thev
climbed down and went back to German.
The Haytian negroes do not always
seek seclusion for their cannihalism, as
they did on this occasion On March is.
1890. Mr.. Emile HuttInot, ncting consul
OF France at San Domingo, stopped in a
small restaurant on the North road, only
half a mile from Port-au Prince At this
resort the negroes hold a voodoo dance
every Sunday. Mr.. Iluttinot called for
soup. but when it was served he found in
the bottom OF his plate the hand OF "A
child. He Immediately rode into town
aud notified the pJlice. who searched the
restaurant and found a child's entire body
in the cooking pot. The woman who
kept the place was arrested, but suffered
only four DAYS imprisonment for her
offense.
The gentleman from IIayti who gave
the information in the interview OF July I
said that he knew personally a woman
named Ulysse, living at la Crots des
Bouquets, ten miles from Port-au- pIirce,
whose seven children were eaten at vOuduO
dances during her absence, by her own
grandmother and the n~eighbOrs. That
such cannibalism IS well known to the
authorities Is shown bgthis quotation from
the official organ OF the Haytian republic.
Official Notice No. 2.2O2. From the
commissary OF tie government at the
civil courts to the judges OF the peace of
the precinct: 10 my official notice of
Nov. &c. No. $40, | ask you to order the
cessation OF all voodoo dances and super
stItIous practices which attest the belief
in a gross and absurd religion. | also adj
Ged that | counted on o TO suppress
these things which you know are CON
demned bv moral sense and punishable by
law. Having armed today that tine WOO
doc rites, which have for y time been
stopped. rave recommended, ] order you
to strictly enforce the law against all who
abandon themselves to these practices, In
this way You will aid in establishing the
true priDciple of civilization on the isl
and"
Among other reports which have
reached herecoHcerninp voOdooism, human
sacrifice and cannibalism Is ono which
says that 1t is n well known fact in Port-au-
Prince that it is unsafe for n persou not
DESTROYS of becoming authropophagous
to buy lamb chops" in the public mar
ket.