Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-01-22
a Revelation of the Mysteries
I bgr - of Voudouism. - 80
The Devil and His Works Among
the Coiered Population Of the
Sonth = VOudou Mira cles : The
Widespread Influence of Savage
Heathenisa In the United States,
From the New York Sun.

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| -ziissts -ekH1n.sLlYl- 81 TizsE13 aea
| LIZ 81 Prom the New York Sun. -.
| A great deal has been written abour
Youdouism, but very few people of ths
North have any distinct idea in relation K
lis mysteries; still fewer know the extern
and power of its influence over the negroe.
OF tae South No white men are ever
initisted into its secrets, and no means car
be found which will induce colored peopI.
who are familiar with its workings to re-
veal what they know of it. But thoss
who have had the best opportunities te
form an intelligent opinion have no doubt
that 1t Is the devil worship of native Afri.
cans, with additions suggested by the
teachings of the Hebrew and Christian
religions Enthusiastically adapted to suit The
purposes of those who thrive upon the
credulity of its believers. s.,srs ~
/ ~.- THE BELIRyERs IN voUDoUIsM.
The belief in Voudouism is almost Uni
versal among the colored population Oh
the South, but its stronghold is in Louisi-
ana, and the lower regions of Mississippi.
1t also thriyes exceedingly in the Sea
Islands of South Carolina and in Georgia.
Not only the ignorant negroeso of the plan
tations, but also the intelligent and well
educated mulattoes of New Orleans
those of the place. class, who are wealthy
| and refned-are firm believers in the su-
pernatural powers of the Voudous. There
are colored men in Louisiana who have
been educated abroad, and are possessed
of superior intelligence and thorough sci
entific requirements of them ex-
tremely wealthy-who are as much afraid
of the Voudous as the most ignorant field
hands. Even white men of intelligence
and high social position are in dread of
the my sterious powers of the Voudou
practitioners, and frankly say there is
something strange and unaccouniabIe
about the matter which they can not
fsthom, and of which they stand in awe.
Nothing positive is known in relation to
the rites of Voudouism, bat it is certain
that its priestesses, or queens as they ar
called, are its leading spirits, snj exercise
much greater influence than the males.
The present Voudon queen In New Or
leans is full bloomed black, and is
sister of Harry Lott, member of the
Louisiana Legislature from Rapidss.
ATRUE SNAKE STORY.
Among the symbols Of Voudouism the
serpent holds prominent position, and
the Voudous are credited with wonderful
power over snakes of all kinds. A Lou
isiana planter of undoubted veracity, re-
lates an instance of the power of Voudou-
ism which fell under his own observation.
A party of field-hsnds were engaged in
gathering Spanish moss, when q certain
scream arrested his attention, and PIES
emily negro boy came running toward
him with a rattlesnake hanging from his
arm, the poisonous reptile having his fangs
firmly imbedded in his flesh The boys
father caught the snake by the tail, threw
it on the ground, and killed it. The Gaze
was serious one. The planter was two
or three miles from his house, and there
was no time to procure medical assist
ance. Just then couple of negroes
came forward and Offered to cure the
boy. They first plunged his arm up to
the shoulder in mud, after which they
took him into hut, where they passed
some time in mysterious proceedings,
which no one was allowed to witness.
The next morning the boy was about as
usual and though he was somewhat at
fected with nausea for day or two, his
cure was complete. Soon after this gen.
tlemsn's Overseer was bitten by q rattle
snake, and although he had the best of
medical attendance, in less than twelve
hours he was q corpse.
YOUDOUINa A RATTLKSNAKE
The same gentleman relates still |
more remarkable story. As some of his |
hands were at work in the fields, in turn
ing over large log they discovered an
immense rattlesnake which had been hid
den under it. The reptile at once phowed
fight A short distance away was a
negro woman, q half Congo, who was
reputed to be a voudou. The gentleman |
sent for this woman, and on |
her approaching he told her TO take up |
the snake. The instant she approached
the reptile its rage appeared to subside, |
and it commenced boring with its |
head In the ground as if trying to get out |
of sight. The negress walked up to it, |
patted it on its head and handled it with |
out its lnanifesting the least disposition to |
harm her, though only minute before is
was aggressive and furious. In this case
there was no possibility of deception, as
the snake was discovered by accident, and |
the woman did not know of Its existence |
until she was called by her master. After |
it was killed its fangs were examined and
found to be of extraordinary length.
voUDoU QUEEN IN A TRANCE.
The Voudou Queen, or Mistress, as
some of them are called, are usually of |
extremely nervous temperaments, and |
often subject to frances and epileptic at
tacks. A trustworthy gentlemen Uf Lou.
isiana once saw one of these women in a
state of suspended snimstion-to all ap-
pearsnces she was quite dead-which |
lasted forty eight hours. When she re-
gained her speech she raved incoherently |
for day or two, giving vent to all kinds |
Of extrayagances, which were carefully |
treasured up by her negro hearers as the
utterances of inspiration.
THE DEVIL IN A CHAPLAIN.
One of the most noted cases of Voudou- |
ism that ever occurred was that of the |
Rev. Mr.. Turner, chaplain of the Louisi- |
ana Senate, a colored clergyman of great |
influence and exemplary piety. Mr.. |
Turner became afflicted with a strange
disease, which baffled the skill of the best |
physicians. He acted like a man with |
the delirium tremens, yet he had always |
been strictly temperate in his habits. |
The doctors could do nothing for him,
and he came to the conclusion that he
had been voudoued. The services of i
Madam Lott, the Voudou Queen, were
called into requisition, and in church,
in the presence of Lieut.. Gov. Dunn and
a large crowd of well known citizens,
white and colored, he was made to vomit
up the devil which had possessed him in
the shape of black mouse. After this
he rapidly regsined his usual health.
CURIOUS ADVERTISEMENT.
Many eminent religious men among the |
colored people, while they dread and abb
hor Voudouism, implicitly believe in it.
The following curious advertisement,
taken from late number of the New |
Orleans Standard, which is edited By |
Mr.. Menard, who was elected to Congress
from Louisiana, Is evidently the produc-
ton of some pious and troubled soul who
wishes to enlist the aid of Congress to |
protect his fellow citizens from the power
of the devil: ... ....
T RT CONGRESS be asked TO pass the following |
IL laws by all who love themselves: II any spirit |
shall take possession Of any persons body, and in