The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1866-12-07

copied from the Georgia and NIississip-
pl papers statements showing that ma
ny OF the negroes in certain localities in
those States were afflicted with the
most gr0tesque and absurd religious
superstitions. The Rev. c. X. Mar
shall, Of the latter State, also made a
statement Of Well-authenticated facts.
indicating that these crude superati-
tions were much more general among
the negro population Of the South than
was generally known. One of the forms
of this heathenism is denominated
NoodoO by the negroes, and was eXem-
piitied practically in Memphis on Sun
day last, in the manner stated by the
appeal, as follows:
"NOODOoIsM-We believe that this
barbaric religion of worship is Begin
ming to take hold among the negroes.
Free from the check which was once
held over them they have unlimited
control over their baser passions, and
now and then it bursts out, and proves
that the worship of their barbaric faith
ers still runs in the blood Of the Amer
icanized negro. 1t was but last Sun
day night that party of five negroes,
dressed in the garb which Father Ad-
am is supposed to have worn, dashed
down across South street into an open
field, yelping and shouting like mad
men, to the terror Of the women and
amusement and surprise of the men,
who did not know What to make of
them. Talking with some negroes
yesterday about this incident, we ask
ed them what it all meant. Several
shrugged their shoulders innOcentIy,
but one, more ignorant than the rest,
informed Us 'dey are tryin' to voodoo
de niggars.' Noodooism, from what
we can learn, is a superstition little
less than the idOlatrous religion Of At
rica. 1t prevails more extensively in
New Orleans than elsewhere, and its
rites and ceremonies are most disgust
ing. They believe in incantations and
charms, bewitch their enemies by piec-
es Of hair, feathers, and similar arti-
cles, which are charmed. They have
been suspected Of human sacrifices and
are known to robgraves that they may
procure materials for their charms,
which are as varied and disgusting as
thoseused by the witches in Macbeth"
Strange to say, they have made white
converts, and, in one or two cases, of
sensible people. The initiatory rites,
a. described by the New Orleans pO-
lice, who have several times broken in
upon them, consist of naked dances a.
round a leaking caldron 0f charmed
snakes, toads, human remains, and
similar articles. They have a woman
to whom they are subject. This wo-
man, who resides in New Orleans, is
known to the police as being beaui
ful octoroon. The subject is one Of in
terest, and the only works we know Of
on it are very unsatisfactory. The ne
gro DR.. Randolph, lately travelling
with the Southern loyalists, delivered
some lectures on the subject at New Or
leans, claiming that he had learned its
mysteries in Africa, but he evidently
knew very little on the subject. 1t is
known to be practised on most Of the
Louisiana plantations. GilmoreSimms
has written astory called the 'Enchant-
ed Crow which is evidently based on
this heathenism and supcrstiti0us reli-
gion. 1t is to be hoped that some com
petent person will study it, for it is the
religion Of Africa brought toOur doors.
The Galveston Texas Bdletij1, few
weeks ago, stated a case occurring in
the County Jail, as follows:
''There is at the County Jail dar
key supposed to be voodooed. Sambo
has been there more than Il month.
He has never spoken, except when hun
CRY and forced to say bread, and on
one occasion when he was heard to say
nice morning. Yet the rascal can ev-
idently talk and understand what Is
said to him. He will stand by the hour
straight in the position of soldier
staring at the blank wall. At other
times he will sing 'Bobbing Around
for half the night, when he will curl
himself on theground, put his head on
his tin plate and sleep like a pig. The
other negroes say he is either voodoo-
ed or else is voodooing somebody"
Within the last ten days a case has
transpired in this city, with similar
characteristics. \ negroes, of the
half-blood, who was for many years a
slave in thefamily Of the writer Of this,
and who has borne and reared fam
lily of several children, was taken sick
some six weeks or two months ago,
with some scrofuIous form Of disease.
Failing to get relief she called in ne
GRO ''medicine man." who at once pro-
nounced her bewitched, or voodOoed.
Hetold her that the bed on which she
Law contained certain feathers, bones,
and hair which had produced ali her
suffering, and whereby she had been
voOdooed. To prove it he proposed to
rip open and examine the bed. Upon
doing so he found certainm minute chick
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