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It is no wonder tho' that tourists and other people get such mistaken ideas of these islands. After reading a book like "Voodoo Fire" by Richard Loederer it is no wonder to me that people dont have funnier ideas than they do. This book was reviewed by H. P. Davis in The Saturday Review, and the cracks he takes at it are well merited. It is sensational with the idea of sales in mind. True to many of the schools of modern writing the number of book sales depends on the number of sensual descriptions one can get into each chapter. Perhaps this is o.k. in its way, but why try to play the ostrich and call it a travel book? Voodoo has always been an intriguing word. The fact that it is treated in such a mysterious way has served to heighten the interest in it. It has always been hard for an ordinary traveller to find out much about Voodoo, and I'm told that in the case of Haitian Voodoo it isnt because of fear, that 

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the average native's mouth is shut. It is pure unadulterated lack of knowledge. This is specially so in the cities. They know of people who call themselves Papa loi and Mama loi - people who sell herbs and charms, but it is rather hard to imagine these bloodless old crones taking part in human sacrifices - the Goat Without Horns is a slander on Haiti. Furthermore even rhythms on the speaking drums are prohibited. 
The bombache altho many times associated with Voodooism - it undoubtedly has its roots back in Africa  - is a dance which goes on for hours, many times days. It may be witnessed by anyone willing to take the time & trouble to follow in the direction from which the drum beats come. It is a body movement dance, with hardly any intricate steps. The whole body either quavers or pulsates in rhythm with the drum. The children are exceptionally