Where Black Rules White by H. Hesketh-Prichard

Author:H. Hesketh-Prichard
Language: eng
Format: mobi
ISBN: 9781146676526
Publisher: Nabu Press
Published: 2010-03-04T13:00:00+00:00

ECOLE CENTRALE.

For these reasons Christianity labours under considerable disabilities in the Black Republic. Nevertheless, the Republic owes much to Christianity: all charity, all self-sacrifice, all care for the sick in Hayti spring from that source.

But since the Catholics do so much for Hayti, is it not inconsistent to fix the marriage-fees so high that the peasant cannot afford to marry? These fees amount to many dollars, as much perhaps as a peasant-farmer can make in the round of the year.

The natural result is that for every married couple there are 50 couples “places,” as they call it. There is no need to say more on the subject. It speaks for itself.

Hayti boasts of its religious toleration, nor is it an empty boast. Many sects of Protestants not only exist, but are encouraged in their efforts to evangelise. One writer whose articles had something of a run in Hayti speaks of the Protestants as follows: “Let us try to Protestantise the country... the Protestant is economical, respects the law, loves reading, is a friend of peace, rich in gallant hope and perseverance... The nations that are dreamy, sleepy, imaginative, easily discouraged, depressed, are Catholic. . . . All who engage in commerce, agriculture, manufacture, progress, enrich themselves, prosper, are Protestants.” Yet it cannot be said that Protestantism makes any way in Hayti.

I have referred in a former chapter to an instance, the only one, I believe, on record, when human sacrifice was actually beheld by a white man. The witness was a young French priest whom Sir Spenser St. John met at the palace of the Archbishop in Port-au-Prince.

This young cure had persuaded some of the people to take him to a Vaudoux service. They blackened his face and hands, and disguised him as a peasant. After a prelude of the usual frenzied dancing and whirling, a cock and a goat were sacrificed.

Later on, one of those present knelt and prayed the Mamaloi to complete the sacrifice by the offering of the “goat without horns.” Upon this a child was disclosed, sitting with its feet bound. As the Papaloi approached the victim with the knife, the child screamed aloud, and the young priest rushed forward, shouting “Spare the child!” He was at once surrounded by his friends, who smuggled him away.

On his return to the town he tried to rouse the authorities, but they would do nothing until the morning, when on going to the spot they found the remains of the feast and the boiled skull of the child. No action was taken against the criminals, but the priest was deported under the excuse that it was dangerous for him to remain in the neighbourhood.

There are undoubted difficulties in the way of evangelising Hayti.

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