THE REPUBLIC OF HAITI 28*3 



Frere" or "Confrere." The town negro is less well-mannered 

 than the peasant. Tlie countrywomen are kind, bright, 

 intelligent, with a natural dignity and refinement quite 

 surprising in people of their habits and situation. The 

 young people can read and write, while several books of 

 poetry in Spanish and one or two illustrated French maga- 

 zines are found in many of the better homes. 



The negroes of the country, especially in the remote 

 districts, preserve nearly all the rites and superstitions of 

 their African ancestors, including dances, music, and 

 witchcraft. In fact, obiism, that queer survival of Afri- 

 can witchcraft in the West Indies, prevails here in its 

 most primitive form. It is alleged that it is here secret ly 

 accompanied by cannibalistic sacrifices, which the strong 

 arm of the white race has at least eliminated in the other 

 islands and in the United States. St. John has presented 

 some terrible pictures of its prevalence in Haiti. 



The conditions which St. John describes are not those 

 of retrogradation, but merely the survivals of customs 

 which the ancestors of these people brought from Africa. 

 Furthermore, others who have lived among them have 

 stated that no more honest, cheerful, and hospitable people 

 exist than the Haitian peasantry. It is asserted that one 

 could travel from end to end of the country with gold coin 

 clinking in his pocket at every step, without losing a 

 penny's value or a night's free lodging, or incurring thereby 

 any personal danger. The great crimes and felonies, such 

 as arson, rape, highway robbery, and murder for gain, are 

 extremely rare. 



The Haitian negroes have very peculiar names, owing fco 

 the fact that under the French occupation no slaves could 

 be given a name which was used by their masters, so that 

 the latter were driven to curious expedients i<. find appel- 

 lations for their dependents, who were called by such 

 aames as CsBsar, Lord Byron, and Je-crois-en-Dieu. 



The negro as he appears in the large commercial towns 

 is quite a different being from the half-wild peasants of the 



