HUMAN SACRIFICE.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1263, 14 May 1896, Page 41

HUMAN SACRIFICE.

STORY OF A RUSSIAN CRIME. (From a European Exchange.) " One of the most sensational crimes of recent years in Russia has drawn attention to the heathen practices of the Vol yaks, a tribe inhabiting the province of Vyatka; and tho press of tho country has been eagerly debating the question for some time whether these people are not in the habit of offering human sacrifices, and whether the- victim of the murder in question was not si,tin for that purpose. If is known from the evidence of eye-witnesses that the Votyaks put animals to a cruel death as a burnt offering to their gods, and it. is aho proved that in former years they sacrificed human beings, but it remains a moot point whether the, latter custom still prevails. At any rate, tho highest courts of the Empire refuse to believe it, for twice already have they quashed a verdict against members of the Votyak community for the murder of the man above mentioned. STATEMENTS FROM THE SPOT. This whole question is expounded in a thoroughly impartial manner by a coxrespondent of tho Novoe Vremya, who has visited and studied tho Votyaks. And what he has to say accounts for the strongest objection made by the incredulous— viz., that no one has yet seen the ghastly human sacrifice or obtained an admission of its practice from one of these strange people. " It is necessary," he says, "to live among the Votyaks and realise the secretiveness of their character to become convinced that nothing could ever be learned from them upon so important a matter. Sometimes, however, one of them will say that he has not mm it himself, but has heard from the ' old men' that it used to happen. A friend of mine among tho Votyaks said as much without hesitation, but on my pressing him

for details he became evasive, oi smilingly silent. "' Well, how was it done in the old days ?' " ' How it happened 1 did not, see, but the "old men " have told me that it used to happen.' " ' And how did they cut them up :' "'Justus they cut up a foal or a sheep nowadays.' "'That is, first with an awl to let tho blood run into a cup 't' "' J don't know: 1 didn't sec.'" THEIR RELIGIOUS BELIEFS. The correspondent of our Russian contemporary then dwells on the Vetyaka' religious belief's, which have not altered since the days of primeval savagery. 'They stand in dread awe of the phenomena of natures ascribing them to the iniluenco of good or evil deities, tho former of whom have to be honoured and the latter conciliated —with sacrifice. Tho scones of their worship are invariably situated in dense forests or deep ravines. Formerly, when all Vyatka wasono immense primeval forest, no one suspected their existence; now that much of the land has been cleared some of the; worshipping places stand revealed, but are jealously guarded by the Votyak elders.' Om; is over three hundred years old. The proprietor of the laud whereon if stands dare not destroy iti'oi foarof the vengeance that would inevitably follow. Its age is e;;sily told by the indentations made in an oak block every time sacred fire is obtained for tlie triennial sacrifices.

This place is one of great sanctity among the Votyaks for the following reason. Bulda, its founder, a native of Yumyi, while out shooting fell asleep on tin's spot, and in his dreams was approached by a venerable elder, who said :—" Here, Bulda* you must establish a place of worship and every three years bring sacrifices to me, for I am a terrible god, and unless you carry out, my wishes you will never reach Since then the descendants of Bulda havd" assumed a sort of headship over tho Votyaks, and act as high priests of their worship. OLIASTI.Y SIGNIFICANCE. What lends a ghastly .significance to the murder of Matyunin, tho poor mouzhik whose tragic death has led to tho sensational trials of tho Votyak leaders, is the skilled ferocity displayed in its consummation. The victim's head, for instance, has never been found, nor has any trace of tho internal organs, which had been removed through the neck. On tho breast was a symmetrical pattern formed with punctures. Lastly, every drop of blood had been removed before death, and the corpse washed and attired in new garments. Thero could be no question of robbery, since Matyunin was as poor as the proverbial church. mouse. To put tlie matter iu its most sombre light, it is known that the Votyaks sacrifice animals in a way that, bears tho closest resemblance to Matyunin's death ; they also puncture, torture and bleed them.