The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1859-08-20
The Tunkarhs in Virginia-Descrip
ton Of Them.

a correspondent of the Alexandra Gazette
sends that paper an interesting letter from
Hardy county, Va, describing visit on
Sunday to meeting of tho religious sect
known as ''Tunkarls." lie made the excur.
sion from Orkney Springs, and says:
There is much along the road to attract the
stranger. See what beautiful group OF
Sugar naples there on our right, (maple sugar
is one OF the staples ofthlS end of the county, !
and yonder in our front, look ut the noun
taincer and his family vending their way to
| the meeting the father, mother and five chill
dren, with their only horse, make up the
group. The mother and two youngest little
ones make good load for Dobbin, while the
father and older chaps walk in front, all going
indian iile' avery necessary way of travelling
where the paths are 50 narrow and rough. -
We'll, at the foot Of the hill yonder, sur
rounded by clump of trees, do you not see
inc meeting house very unprctending sort
OF building, and just beyond the Little
Mountain River rushes wildly along its wind
ing way. But, says one, why call this Lost
River Well, III tell you. Do you see that
high bluff away down the valley yonder g
well. Near there the river rushes into n
mountain cave, and is lost TO your view, and
the next thing you know about it is that it
rusheS out Capon River aid thus the names
Capon for one and Lost for the other Now
we will hitch our horses and walk into the
meeting house. Don't be disappointed. nv
city friends, (you who are used to cushions
and CARPET and spring back pews,) at the
primitive appearance of the interior But
take seat on one Of these pine benches and
for once in your lives let your spinal column
support your body for at least two hours sit
ting. And now, before service begins, let us
dot down the appearance Of things. Do you
see that long pine table on the right, and
another on the left, surrounded with benches?
And now see those benches fast filling up
with long bearded men on the one side and
white capped women on the other.
Why, how very close The women sit 10 each
other. All! see why it is, they don't wear
hoops. There is no pulpit or stand; OH the
extreme end of the table on the mems side,
and next the womcn,s table, sits the patri-
arch Of the group. with his long, flowing
beard, and long straight hair combed care
fully back behind his ears, and the bridge of
his Nose mounted with pair Of heavy brass
Spectacles, who reminds one Of what would
according to our iinagnings, represent old
Abraham the father Of the faithful, (f we
could leave tho speCkS QUIT. Thus arranged
around their two tables, with Outsiders filling
the benches, the services begun, consisting Of
singing. reading the Scriptures and prayer
all Of which was conducted very much like
any other mode, in the simplest manncr.--
Then came the sermon, and we suppose be-
cause there were strangers present, cur Irach-
er thought it important to give us an idea Of
some Of their very peculiar views, and par
ticularly did he dwell on the Holy Kiss, Feet
Sshing, &c. After he had finished he chal-
lcnged contradiction, and called upon his
brethren to bear their testimony to the truth
| ne had uttered, which some Of them did by
! cXclaiming, "true, all true" and rer prayer
and singing, we were dismissed. These Tun-
kards are a singular people, and very clanish
withal. That is, they help one another tenn
| porally. II a very poor man joins them they
make it a point to all unite in lettering his
condition. Once year they have feast,
and thus you find attached to every meeting
house kitchen for cooking purposes. and
then these long tables we spoke about come
in play. They first feast all the "outside
barharians," then tbs tables are rc-arrangcd,
and all along in rows you see dishes filled with
| lamb soup, and when the order is given those
who sit at the tables begin, two, three, or
| four, dipping from one dish with a spoon,
| and thence to the muuth. Then comes one
with a large jug Of wine. and pouIs out cup
fall and hands 1t to the first one at the table,
and he to the next, whilst the person with the
jug walks behind to replcnish when required.
| Then they al turn round with their backs to
the table, and bare their feet for washing
| Then comes one with an apron tied about him
and begins to wash and wipe, and when he is
tired, another from the bench takes his place.
and so they 90 around among all the bare
footed ones, the women doing the same as the
men. There are other pcculiarties we could
mention, but space will not permit.