The times., 1898-11-27

court for pilfering, for they will never
testify against one another; and. acc ,. d.
ing to English colonial law il tai es h
testimony of two eye witnesses to con-
vict a man, even of petty theft, though
the identified chicken or melon be found
In his possession. The most pious Jamai-
ca negroes (and they are ali intensely re-
ligious). will lie blue streak while hold
ing a pebble in the mouth, under the be-
lief. derived from some remnant of obza
superstition. that the tiny stone exempts
them from perjury.
Among the mass of ignorant blacks in
the interior the mysterious terrors of
Obeaism still hold sway. Many of their
cane-staik, grass-roofed huts contlin
Obea or Voudou idols. rudely carved of
wood, with brass tacks driven in for
eyes and a fringe of skunk skin stuck
ON for hair. and maybe a crucifix and
image of the Blessed Virgin stand beside
It, or Methodist hymn book-so curl Us
ly is the acquired religion mingled with
that inherited from generations Of ances-
tors, difficult it is TO draw the line be-
tween superstitions. English residents of
Jamaica tell us that today. in the depths
of the forests and the recesses of the
mountains, heather rites worthy OF
darkest Africa are practiced, to propitilte
the serpent deity and gain the favor Of
"duppies," or ghosts.
Worshiping the Serpent.
The serpent-worship is carried or as
secretly as possible, their mcantations
taking place in secluded places in the
darkness of night. and the sectaries
bound by oaths of secrecy. The invisible
god is consulted through a priest or
priestess who is generally the most intel
iigent and crafty of their number, and
who turns the matter to his own finan-
cial account; and then they dance and
sing in wild carousal.
" The eXcitable blacks are soon carried
iway by excess of frenzy and demand
further excitement in the form OF sacri-
fees. Usually goat, dove, or cocktail
ways white and spotless-answers for an
offering to the serpent-deity, or to pla-
cate the evil spirits. to the satisfaction
OF the milder members of the order But
well-informed people now living in the
island assure me there is no doubt that
the goat without horns.' as human
sacrifice is called, is sometimes offered in
these hideous orgies.
In such case a child is the victim
white. il one can be stolen or abducted,
or the black baby of some fanatical wor-
shipper. In Haiti, where the negroes differ
from these only by reason of few gem
erations of so-called self-government-
there is n secret clan called Loup-garous
('human wolves'), who prowl around the
settlements. seeking to abduct young
children, whom they carry OF TO the
mountains. fatten and keep until the days
appointed for their voudou ceremonies
Every white mother in Haiti is haunt
ed by fears of the Loup--garous-and with
good reason. 1t is said that colored
nurses are sometimes in league with the
abductors. and that even the grave IS
made use of TO furnish sacrifices. The
mountain negroes in the black republic
are famous for their acquaintance with
many roots and herbs unknown to ma
terra medica. with which they work Won
derful cures. as well as much mischief
1t has been proved that in several in
stances when q victim was wanted for the
Obea sacrifice means We're found to ad-
minister TO some white or colored child
a native narcotic which produces coma
resembling death: ard. after the deceived
parents had buried their loved one. 1t was
secretly dug up and resuscitated for the
serpent orgies. Let us believe that no
such horrible thing exists in the English
island near the close of this nineteenth
century.