HUMAN SACRIFICE IN HAITI

The Cologne Gazette (says a Central News telegram) gives details of a ghastly affair in Haiti, according to wlijcb. a woman named Esteis Libens, aged 24-/ lias murdered and eaten five chijjiren.Thc woman in question is a member.of the secret religious sect worshipping ■ Vaudoux ("Voodoo"), the Snake-God; and Inspector of Police.Be Cambronab - has submitted to the authorities-a lull report,. of his investigations into the matter* from, which the Gazette quotes the following: — "In her house I found a barrel containing pickled human flesh, the remains of a child aged about 12. It is, unfortunately', well known that the Vaudoux faith has still many adherents.Iu name,' these natives are Christians, but in -secret they remain devotees of their-Snake-God, and hold private meetings at which he is worshipped, lhe | , priests of the cult are all-powerful, and i 1 the sacrifices are usually animals, but occasionally,.as in the,present uistance, young children are immolated. ' "The god himself takes the form of a snake, and his mouthpiece is a priest who is assisted by a priestess. Esteis Liberis, the young woman concerned in the present affair, was at the time high priestess of the cult. At the great ceremony in honor of the Snake-God, the high priest and priestess sit on a double throne, the woman being clothed in nothing but a gorgeous girdle. Worshippers of both sexes attend with red cloths round their loins. On an altar stands a wooden box containing the snake, which is brought from its box and worshipped by all present, gifts being placed on the altar, while the populace prav for the fulfilment of some great public desire. Then begins a wild dance, headed by the chief priestess, who discards her girdle as the dancing grows more furious; and a halt is not called until the people begin to tail exhausted to the ground. "If any misfortune has be l;i lien the people, a sacrifice is offered to Ue god. It was on one of these occasions that Esteis Liberis insisted on the sacrifice of a human victim, and, in concert with a man named* Conzo Pellc, decided to kidnap a girl, a niece of Conzo. Ihe child's mother was enticed away, and on her return was informed that the chief priestess had called for her daughter. Tlie mother seemed greatly honored," and a special ceremony was immediately arranged. "Wttcn all were assembled the gin was fetched from, her hiding-place, laid in front of the altar, and strangled by her uncle. Her head was cut off. and all those present drank some or the blood, which wife collected m a bowl. The flesh was subsequently cooked at Conzo's house, and, instead ot . Demg eaten, as had formerly been customary, was preserved. "Two girls who had overlo.vwd the cooking of the flesh were decided to have offended the god, and .these tvo were then similarly sacrificed/ thendeaths being followed by t'vo ui.tc a few days later." '