Belli Paaro
A secret society of Liberia, Africa, the cult of which consists in a description of brotherhood with departed spirits. Dapper, an early author, says of this society: "They have also another custom which they call Belli Paaro, of which they say it is a death, a new birth and an incorporation in the community of spirits or soul with whom the common folk associate in the bush, and help to eat the offerings prepared for the spirits." This description is far from clear, but it is obvious enough that those who join the society desire to be regarded as spiritualised, or as having died and having been brought to life again; and that their society is nothing more than a confraternity of all those who have passed through this training in common.
Belloc, Jeanne: A sorceress of the district of Labour, in France, who in the reign of Henry IV. was indicted for sorcery at the age of 84 years. In answer to Pierre Delancre who interrogated her, she stated that she commenced to repair to the sabbatic meetings of Satan in the winter of the year 1609, that she was there presented to the Devil who kissed her, a mark of approbation which he bestowed upon the greatest sorcerers only. She related that the Sabbath was a species of bal masqué, to which some came in their ordinary forms, whilst others joined the dance in the guise of dogs cats, donkeys, pigs and other animals.