The Afro-American advance. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1899-19??, 1899-12-16
HUMAN SACRIFICE
In the West Indies It Is Practl.ed IN
spite OF Church and
state.


From British island In the Leeward
group of the West Indies the cable
brings the news that man is in Gus
todS of the circuit court for sacrifice to
IA heather god-a blood offering of a
child to "Mumho-Jumho." to obtain his
aid in discovering a hidden treasure.
Evidence that human sacrifice and
adherence to other rites of the primi-
tive religion of the West Indies still ex-
lists i'm these islands is every now and
then coming to the surface. These rites
have not been stamped out by the ef-
forts of four centuries. and among the
descendants of the aboriginrE and of
the early importations of Africans they
prevail very much more strongly than
is usually admitted, particularly In the
interior of the islands. Not that human
sacrifice is az all common. but the most
ohservant travellers say IL is more fire.
quent thnn imagined. and that many
eases of murder" and "mykterious dis.
appearance" simply mean the furnish
ing of the human victim whnse death
is followed by eannihalism.
In most of the islands 10 the magic of
the aborigines has been added the VOC
dooism Of Africa-magic of similar
through which the deified forces
OF nature are propitiated like that Of II
human sacrifice, particularly the sacri-
flee OF u young and innocent life. This
counts for more than dancing, bowling,
fasting, torturing and the various
forms Of incarnation Co which the WOO
| docs are given.
In this latest ease the attorney rem
eral says that the child WINS uuques-
tionably made victim of the still living
early superstition for the purpose Of
| personal gain To- the murderer. and the
| prisoners counsel admits as much, but
states that his client IL not the muir
dcrer.
The fact is that In nearly oil Of these
rites and ceremonies the purpose II for
! immediate personal advantage rather
| than for immunity from suffering here
after. "Mumbo-lumbo" Is appealed TO
for everything. from change In luck
Ia protection from death. and 80 strong
Is the belief that superstitious foreign
sailors are afflicted by Il, and they have
been known To go To the native priests
for charms and TO join In iucantations
that involve dancing. singing, praying,
the sacrifice Of goat aud the drinking
Of the goats blood.
| Even human sacrifices have been WITT
messed by white men In the West Indies.
and the Catholic archbishop Of Hayti
tells Il Northumberland story Of how
n young priest Of his see In 1893 went
10 the interior ~ the island, aud, while
disguised with blackened face and
hands. witnessed the sacrifice Of
young child, who was aftcrwnrd de-
youred by the assembled congregation,
The law has been slow In npprrhepd-
ing those who have committed murder
in the name Of their religion. because
II ~ extremely difficult Ia learn the
facts, In the first place. and yet more
difficult Ia find the perpetrators. Usunl-
~ these ceremonies take place In the
interior, away from large centers,
and under the protection Of dense foli-
age. SO as TO be known only by those
who take part, and the fact IN always
safe In their keeping.
So far do the believers In the ancient
bloody rite carry their feelings, and NO
great IL the satisfaction that they take
IN that faith and In kccrinR their be-
licfs secret, that they have been known
10 join the Christian church, pnrtici-
pate IN its ordinances and sacrament,
and then, nt regular intervals, 20 into
the fastncss Of some forest. appeal to
the spirits aud perform their incantn-
tions with exubcrnncc Of joy, NJ though
they had done something that would
meet with the approval of the gods
| y. Y. Herald,