St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1900-01-06
HUMAN SACRIFICE.
In the West Indies II II Practisea Z.
Spite or Church and
State.

From British island in the LeewarG
group of the West Indies the cable
brings the news that man is in GUS
tody of the circuit court for sacrifice to
a heather god-a blood offering of .
child to ''Mumbo-Jumbo." to obtain his
aid in discovering hidden treasure.
Evidence that human sacrifice and
adherence to other rites of the primt-
tive religion of the West Indies still ex-
then coming TO the surface. These rites
have not been stamped out by the eff
forts of four centuries, and among the
descendants of the aborigines and O!
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 at all common, but the most
observant travellers say il is more fire.
quent than imagined, and that many
eases of murder" and mysterious dis
appearance. simply mean the furnish
ing of the human victim whose death
is followed by cannibalism.
In most of the islands to tn. magic OF
the aborigines has been added :he voo-
dooism of Africa-magic of similar
sort-through which the deified forces
of nature are propitiated like that of a
human sacrifice, particularly the sacri-
flee of young and innocent life. This
counts for more than dancing, bowling,
fasting. torturing and the various
forms of incarnation to which the voo-
docs are given.
In this latest case the attorney gen.
eral says that the child was unques-
tionably made a victim of the still living
early superstition for the purpose ct
personal gain 10 the murderer, and the
prisoners counsel admits as much. but
states that his client is not the muir
derer.
The fact is that in nearly all of these
rites and ceremonies the purpose is for
immediate personal advantage rather
than for immunity from suffering here
after. "Mumbo-Jumbo" is appealed to
for everything. from change in luck
to protection from death, and SO strong
is the belief that superstitious foreign
sailors are afflicted by it, and they have
been known to 60 to the native priests
for charms and to join in incantations
that involve dancing, singing. praying.
the sacrifice of goat and the drinking
Of the goats blood.
Even human sacrifices have been wit
messed by white men in the West indies.
and the Catholic archbishop of Hayti
tells well-authenticated story of how
a young priest Of his see in 1893 went
to the interior of the island, and, while
disguised with blackened face ana
hands, witnessed the sacrifice of a
young child. who was afterward de-
voured by the assembled congregation.
The law has been slow in apprehend-
ing those who have committed murder
in the name of their religion, because
it is extremely difficult to learn the
facts, in the first place. and yet more
difficult to find the perpetrators. Usual
" 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 is always
safe in their keeping.
So far do the believers in the ancient
bloody rite carry their feelings. and so
great is the satisfaction that they take
in that faith and in keeping their be-
liefs secret, that they have been known
TO join the Christian church. partici-
pate in its ordinances and sacrament,
and then. at regular intervals, go into
the fastness of some forest, appeal to
the spirits and perform their incanta-
tons with eNuberance Of joy. as though
they had done something that would
meet with the approval of the gods
n. Y. Herald.