The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-01-10

II ,vould he n matter OF surprise TO many of
our readers who confin" themselves 10 the
society of the well uniformed ana lAleihSch' ~
learn by actual experience, 10 what an extent
. the Noudou superstition l. believed III ny Il
large class of orr population. This t9tlshlSm
or serpent worship exercises its baneltl ihilU-
encc not only over the colored popuiauo4' p"'
every day furnishes evidence that it finds nu-
mprols supcrst itiouS followers In the foreign
population Of our city. Witchcraft mas hot
vet died out, and inCartatlonS, the worship o.
devils and the mummcry ana magic Oh TWO
hundred years ago, sun mere III oi lAi'9' io4'
their actual sway.
4 short time since we had the opportunity
afforded us, i'll company with medlcol lflehu'
of visiting two patients who had undergone
The SoudOu treatment. The first was an
Italian woman. whom we found occupying
room hung with pictures OF the SAINTS ana
APOSTLES. Her general appearance was ghaStly
and cadaycrous. There was 4 fixed look oil ter
ror III her eyes, and an lrresolllte movement
about her hands and arms. Her face was nope
less and melancholy, and altogether her APP
pearancc left the impression that her mind hid
had been affected. A year ago she stated th2i
she en- loved remarkable health. Al that ume
She had Il violent quarrel with neighbor. 1t
was TO her malignant influence that she attrl.
butcd the loss OF her health, but could lind no
immediate reason for thinking 50 beyond Inc
discovery of Il bundle of part-Color1d rags,
chicken claws, &c, hid away in her pillow
She became subject 10 fainting It's and sp1sns
The usual remedies had been applied, but TAILED
in ailording any relief. 4 colored doctor was
called in. who applied some substance 10 her
head which so matted her hair that IL was ever
afterward impossible 10 be combed. Inc liant
ing fits left her, she stated, after the appiIca-
! ton of the remedy, but her constitution, from
whatever cause. was evidently altrCtcu fofllIe'
The other case was that Of Spanish girl,
WI , was subject 10 the attacks OF the same
nature Several physicians had been called In,
in the early stages Of her sickness among
whom was the doctor who accompanied u.s.,
none of whom could afford her any reliei, or 50
much as 10 produce sleep.
BY some means, or al SOlaehoaS suggestion,
= Noudou doctor was introduced who declared
that the girl would never recover so long rs
she remained with her mother. 1t was neccs-
sarv that she should 20 aW'N--lhat she should
live nj the house Of 4 male rclatiVc-I man
who inspired her with horror, ana whom she
had never been hitherto willing 10 see. Shr
did rs she was directed, and had most OF the
time since lived with him. The oalrapparcnt
remedy employed was 10 sprinkle the yard adj
Joining The house with 4 white powder. Her
sickness meanwhile, had left her. once or
twice she had gone back TO her mothers, but
disease had soon compelled her 10 return.
Her conversation awakened many obvious
susDicionS but We Wer" credlb!y informed
that there was noquestion whatever about her
former dangerous illness.
Before We left, the negro medicine man, OF
"dcvil" who attended her, made lis appear
aacc. We once or twice cudcaNcrrd to increase
our information BY qucS lions addressed 10 nm
but We're not remarkably successful. Africa
was The land Of his nativity, i" stated, but h"
Aad been here since ISIS. lie praclIced his
profession rs it had been taught him In his ma
tive land. His treatment was entirely WIN
herbs and simples. He put in modest denial
rs TO the use Of any magic rites pecullar 10
race, but declined impartng any hints as 10
what his exact remedies were. Dressed IN 4
suit of black, with n heavy So!d cham nan&ln"
from his neck. his appearance was SUilcicn'iy
respectable. Save for decidedly foreign ac-
cent the appearance of tattoo marks Sul!upoh
his face, and Il cat-like, walcAfni expression OF
conntenance. his appearance was in no respect
out of the usual way.---N.,o O'tCuHS St"''.