Haunted Reunion Island

Haunted Reunion Island
Paul Dale Roberts, HPI’s Esoteric Detective
Halo Paranormal Investigations
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My uncle Jose Causing, a former Merchant Marine has many stories about his adventures on the open sea. One of the stories I enjoyed, was about his stop at Reunion Island to drop off supplies and to pick up vanilla bean, sugar and rum. During his stop at Reunion Island, he learned of the many esoteric legends that originate from this island. You are probably wondering where Reunion Island is on a global map. Reunion Island is located in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar and southwest of Mauritius. It is part of the Mascarene Islands and is an overseas region and department of France. A bit of history about this island. The French colonists developed a plantation economy founded on the cultivation of coffee and sugar by use of slave labor. Locals have made claim that on some full moon nights, they see the ghostly outlines of slaves working in the fields. From the 17th to the 19th centuries, the French brought over workers with various nationalities, such as Africans, Chinese, and Indians, which now you can see in the ethnic diversity of the island’s population. From 1690, most of the non-Europeans on the island were enslaved. At one time there were 80,000 slaves imported to this island. The history of slavery on the island is believed to be a factor in the prevalence of ghost stories and supernatural beliefs.

Grand-Mere Kalle the Witch
Jose says that one of their most important legends is the story of Grand-Mère Kalle. The Grand-Mere Kalle is a witch-like figure with multiple versions of her story, including tales of her haunting the volcano or appearing as a bird to warn people of danger. At times she is malevolent and other times she is benevolent. The Grand-Mere Kalle lives near the Piton de la Fournaise volcano with her husband. Locals believe that her husband is a devil or demon. In the Creole culture she is known as “granmer Kal”. One common story tells of a cruel slave owner who was poisoned by her slaves, transforming into a bird whose squawking, signals danger. Another version portrays her as a grieving mother who throws herself into the sea after her son disappears. Legend has it, if you hear her screaming or crying, this is a warning that a ship in the water is in extreme danger.

Haunted Trails
The locals have reported strange phenomena on trails within the island. Locals will hear disembodied footsteps on the trails and there is no one behind them. At abandoned buildings, they will hear the moaning of spirits and unsettling creaking noises in these abandoned buildings. Some locals have been touched, grabbed and even pushed. The locals also sometimes experience being attacked by mosquitos when they see an apparition along the trail.

Devilish Siren
Jose says that some of the men of the island claim that when they go swimming in the ocean, they will see a beautiful woman trying to entice them to come closer. They swim closer to the woman, and she will vanish beneath the waves. Then looking around you will find yourself surrounded by bull sharks. Now your life is in danger. The locals believe the beautiful woman is some kind of lethal siren, trying to lure male swimmers to their deaths. At times the siren will lure a man to an area of the water where they are stung by stonefish.

The Ghost of Madam Marie Anne Desbassyns
The Maison de Villele Musee Historique is said to be haunted by the spirit of Madam Marie Anne Desbassyns, a 17th-century plantation owner who, according to the caretaker, occasionally returns to the family chapel. The caretaker of the museum has claimed to hear footsteps in the chapel associated with the museum, even when no one is present. This suggests a belief among some locals that the former plantation owner occasionally visits the estate after her death.

Strange Rituals
According to the Los Angeles Times: “There are stories of sorcerers who practice witchcraft and cast spells, including placing offerings on roads to influence people’s fates.” To read more about the high strangeness of this island, check out “Island of Ghosts: Uncovering the Haunting Secrets of Reunion Island” by Jean-Gael Reboul.