The Howard union. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1865-1866, 1865-10-05
From the Mobile Tribune.
VONDOOISM.
Vondooism in Mobile-0ld Superstition
Revived-A Night Around the Caul-
dron.

t0n0O0lsm IN mODlle-Uld SupersCltl0n
Revived.-A Night Around the Caul-
dron.
In the good old days of Louisiana, when
Laftte was doing his quiet little business
along the Lake shore, and Bsrataria was
synonymous with the Isle Of Pines; when
gems ,a'srmes stood on the corners Of the
streets Of New Orleans, and watchmen
club and rattle and leather cap were not
in those good old days, Vond ooism was
religiously believed in by all the colored
population, and by not few of those whose
color should have been warrantee of more
intelligence. For years past The internal
rites of this dark superstition have been
conducted near New Orleans, only at long
intervals and with the utmost secresy.
The police succeeded, in one instance, some
twelve years since, in making clean haul
of the negroes, including the principal
Fetish Man, old Obi Woman-natives Of
Africa and all the charms, etc., used in
the iucantatlon. The negroes were severe
ly punished, and check given TO the prac.
tice and the rites Of the superstition.
We have heard of such scenes as these
being enacted in or near Mobile by the
negroes, but never till last night did we
witness any thing Of the kind in this city.
In company with few policeman we went
to house situated beyond the gas works,
and occupied by an old negro who claims to
be an Obi man. Approaching the house
very carefully, and peering through the
crevices in the walls, a Wild wierd spectacle
: was presented. Around a small fire Of
pine in the middle Of the floor-or room,
4 for floor there was none-and over which
r was hung pot, sat group of negro men
and women entirely naked; their hair or
r wool twisted into pig-tail curls and orna.
S mented with sprigs of some kind of hert
r nterminged with roots, their eyes closed
:. the master of cerimonies or High Fetisl
u Priest, with a snake.skin around his neck
and his wool grizzed with age aud garnsh
ed more profusely than the rest, was
chanting something in droniDg voice, while
o the remainder of the "congregation" re
e sponded, as it were, with a lew and long
1t drawn howl. The old negro with the snake
is skin clapped his hands, and the Who'll
party rose and commenced most furiou
10 stamping in a circle around the pot.
At This being over they all squa,ted dow
=. again, and the "Obi man" resumed hi
., a covered basket, from which be drew an
! dropped in the pot-first, a dead snake
u next frog, then young alligator or lizard
,e and last of all the herbs and roots from hi
Y. own and the heads of the other negroe.
"a Silence was observed by all for some min
- utes after the last deposit had been made
~ after which the pot was taken from the fire
oil and, while the nauseating mixture was Ye
reeking hot, they each dipped the end (
D. the middle finger of the left hand into /
or and applied the end Of their finger to the
=" tongues, another dip into the pot was take
p with the middle finger Of the right ham
or and certain cabalistic figures described c
e. the breasts, forehead and shoulders-OI
ID assisting the other in the operation. N
u, word was spoken until their clothes h;
" been resumed and they had got clear Of Il
ne house.
Although on high occasions the Fetish
ne "Obi man" may demand human sacrlfi
in his inhuman rites, and which sacrifice
- geneally young child nothing of the xii
he was attempted in the Vondoo pow-wow
ng last night. The presence cf the poll
on would, of course, have prevented any thil
,is of this nature, had it ever been thoug
on ecessary by the old negro conducting t
=" affair. Old negro woman were sometim
ey used up as "material" in these meeting
ON at Vondooton, near New Orleans, one
ere whom escaped the sacriiical knife on @
-. occasion, and caused the arrest Of the VIII
" gang.