Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1868-10-31
VOUDOU,
The SuperstitiOus Ceremonies of the
Negroes of LOulSiana.

Il NeSfOch OA A-OuA81anN.
The New Orleans correspondent of the
New York World writes as follows:
Voudou is an African superstition cur.
rent in the South. Sometimes, though no.
often, it is kown az c6i and sometimes a.
cOnjur, this latter, indeed, being the most
usual name, OBJ being peculiar to South
Carolina and goudoIto Louisiana andSoutL-
ern Mississippi. In Jamaica, where it was
az one time go prevalent as to be made the
subject of Legislation, il is known as Obeah,
and in Africa whence il had its origin, ia
called fetiseh. The etymology Of these
words is entirely unknown, with the ex-
ception of eoyur, and that, which will be
readily seen to be the negro form of con-
jury, sufficiently describes U0ldou as witch.
craft. 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 existence Of such
a superstition is doubtless an absolute re-
yelation. For years past the writer has
known of the roudOU, but it has only been
OF late, and by reason Of divers circum-
stances, which seem to strongly indicate
that the belief is spreading, that his at
tention has been so awakened as finally to
lead to this article.
In the winter of 1865, and while conyers.
ing over one of those pleasant little sup
pers for which New Orleans is famous,
with member of the then Legislature of
LouisiaSa, the subject of TOltd0u was in
troduced, and our companion, a chatty
little Creole, was moved to speak Of his
own personal experience in the matter.
By the city laws it is made penal offsnss
to practice uoad0u, and, from this circuu-
stance, az we'll as the obscnrity which il
purposely thrown over the meetings, il is
by no means an easy matter to tell when
the uoudog sovereign holds a court.
At this time, February, 1866, it happen
ed that this sovereign was an old negro
woman, Ia refine Marie, and of great repu.
tation in her peculiar way, Learning that
at such and such place, and on such a
night Ia refine would have the u0udou, our
informant repaired to the spot and care
fully hid himself away where, through a
crack in the wal, he could see the pres
ence chamber. Contrary to the usual
wont Of the Louisiana negresses, who
delight in the gayest colors, but in entire
consouance with the U0UdOu law, Ia refine
Marie made her appearance in a black
dress and sable turban, tWined fold, upon
fold about the head. After a while the
fIilhful began to appear, and the mystic
rites began. In the center OF the room,
a sort of outer apartment with a dirty
floor, was posted the traditional caul-
droU, and under this cauldron was kindled
a fire. As preparations progressed so far,
the subjects of the Queen formed them
selves in a ring about the kettle, in which,
as the water began to boil, were cast chick
ems, toads, small snakes, roots and other
objects that could not very we'll be dislin-
guished. Joining hands, the de7otees
moved round and round the mixture, sing
ing, while the Queen performed her charms
upon the cauldrOn, 4 wild and thrilling
air. At this point we stopped our inform
ant to ask if he could hum this strain, but
after an effort or two he found il impossible
to crafty our curiosity. En- PEASANT 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 ObeGh rites, identical, as before
mentioned, with the UOUdOu, and it would
be difficult to describe the weird nature Of
this music, which was sung perhaps 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 seeihed
upon the fire, tie roundabout movement
changed into a heathenish sort Of dance
and the song became series of bar
barrie yells.s Contrary to the ordinary
impression that at the VOudOu the partici-
pants denude themselves, our informant
sraSrd tuav UuIy TIIe upper garments were
removed, leaving on both men and women
at least one article Of attire. After go
long a time the process was supposed to be
through with, and then Ia refine Mdrie
threw open door leading to a supper
room, where q long table was spread out
with eatables and wine. Hungry az they
were, however, her subjects forebore to
teuch even so much as q crumb, and at first
the object of the delay was not apparent.
But it was not long in doubt. Starting
from one end Of the table, the U0udOH
queen made Its circuit to bless, or charm,
or cOnjw-just as you please-the viaIds,
this process Of sanctifcatioD consisting in
splitting upon them, whereupon whatever
was the recipient, chicken. plate of buis-
cult, ham, cold meat, was at once pounced
upon and eagerly demolished. Then a
glass Of wine was drunk, with some msgi-
cal gesticulaliOn over it first, and then, the
devotees resuming their clothes, the gath
ering. merged from a rOudOu into simple
negro ball. What, on this particular OC-
casion, was The object Of the UOlldou did
not appear, but, from the general nature
of the superstition, it is probable that
some believer either desired to avert cal
amity from himself or inaict an Injury on
an enemy.