Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1868-10-28
A. rVOnIOu Ceremony

youdou is an African superstition current
nthe South Sometimes, though. not often,
# is known as obi and sometimes! as conj,r !
this latter, indeed, being the most usual name,
OBJ being peculiar to South Carolina and
voudou to Louisiana and Southern Mississippi. !
In Jamaica, where it was atone time SO pre-
valept as to be made the subject of legislation,
had it, origin, is called fctisch. The etymology
Of these words is entirely unknown, with the
exception of conjiur, and that, which will be
readily seen 10 be the negro form, suficie Mt
II describes voudou as. Witchcraft. Owing to
the extreme secrecy with which it is carried on
it is but very little. known even to the Southern
whites, while as to the North the very exis-
teuce of such superstition is doubtless an alb
solute revelation. For years past the writer
has known of the vcudou, but it has only been
of late, and by reason of divers circumstances,
which seem to strongly indicate that the belief
is spreading that his attention has BEEN SO
awakened as finally to lead to this article.
In the winter OF 1866, and while conversing
over one Of those pleasant little suppers tor
which New Orleans is famous, with a member
of, the then Legislature of Louisiana, the sub
iect of youdou was introduced, and urcompan-
ion, chatty little creole, was moved to speak
Of his own personal experience in the matter
By the city laws it is made penal offence to
practice youClou, and, from this circumstance,
as well as the obscurity which is purposely
thrown over the meetings, it is by no means an
easy matter to tell when the voudou sovereign
holds court = - ...,- .- tn =
At this time, February, 1866, it happened
that this sovereign was an old negro woman, lG
reiae lNarae,:, and OF great reputation, in her
peculiar Way Learning that at such and such
place, and on such night lareine would have
the roudou, our informant repaired to the spot
and carefully hid himself where, through a
crack in the wall, he could see the presence
chamber Contrary to the usual wont of the
Louisiana negresses, who delight in the gayest
colors but in entire consonance with the ao1dou
law, la refine War1e made her appearance in a
black dress and sable turban, twined fold upon
fold about the head. After a while the faith
fui began to appear, and the mystic rites began.
Iu the centre OF the room, sort of outer
apartment with dirt floor, was posted the ira
ditional csuldron, and under this cauldron was
kindled fire. AS preparations progressed so
far, the subjects of the Queen formed them
selves in ring about the kettle, in which, as
the water began to boil, were cast chickens,
toads, small snakes, roots and other objects
ing hands the devotees moved round and round
formed her charms upon the cauldron, wild
and thrilling air. At this point we stopped
our informant to ask if he could hum this
strain, but after an effort or two be found it
impossible to crafty our curiosity. En- passant
we may remark that since that time we have
come across in an old book upon the West
Indies the notes of native African air
sung at the obeah rites, identical, as be-
fore mentioned, with the Uout2ou, and it
would be difficult to describe the weird ma
ture Of this music, which was sung per-
haps in that great unknown continent centuries
and centuries before America was discovered.
But to resume. As the song progressed and
the filthy mixtures boiled and seethed upon the
fire, the roundabout movement changed into
heathenish sort of dance and the song became
series Of barbaric yells. Contrary to the ordi-
nary impression that at the voudou the partici-
pants denuded themselves, our informant
stated that only the upper garments were re-
moved, leaving on both men and women at
least one article of attire. After so long a
time the process was supposed to be through
with and then la refine Marie threw open a
door leading to supper room, where long
table was spread out with eatables and wine.
hungry as they were, however, her subjects
iorbore to touch even so much as crumb, and
at hrst the object of the delay was not appar-
esnt. But it was not long in doubt. Starting
from one end of the table, the voudou queen
made its circuit to bless, or charm, or con5ur-
Just as you please-the viands; this process OF
sanctlhcation consisting in splitting at them,
Whereupon whatever wasthe recipient, chick
en-, plate of buiscuit, ham, cold meat, was at
o. once pounced upon and eagerly demolished
linen glass of wine was drank, with some
magical gesticulation over it first, and then the.
deVotees resuming their clothes, the gathering
merged from a voudou into simple< negro
Dali. What on this particular occasion, was
the object Of the uoudou did not appear, but,
iTon the general nature of the superstition,
tlsprobable that some believer either desired
to avert calmity from himself, orinfict an1pjury
Oh an enemy. aa
MARRIED WITHOUT GLOVES. few days
since, young gentlemen and young lady ap:-
peared at the parsonage of an eminent clergy
man ma OF this city, for the purpose of having
!nelr respective destinies united in the holy
bonds of matrimony. Everything being ready.