The sun., 1873-07-18
A FETISH CAMP MEETING,
AG GLIMPSE At VOUDOUISM IN THE
BRITISH WEST INDIES.

cred Fire, and the -acriacisi snakes-visit
toa Protrncted Meeting.
Correspondence Of The Sun.
KINGSTON, Jamaica, w. J., June A.-ln
my last tried to give you some idea OF how
they sot obeah The practice OF obeah Is not
necessarily associated with fetishlsm. The lat
ter seems to be practsed among the negroes
here, more commonly as aseparate set, although
the two frequently 20 together. About ten
years ago, Mr.. Wilson, planter OF st. Aimess,
was murdered under circumstances OF great
atrocity. 1t was shown on the trial that certain
rites Of fetishism were observed before the crime
was committed, and that after its preparation
the brain was scooped out and mixed with rum
and the horrible compound drunk and poured
on the ground by order OF an obeahman as IL
baton to the god, to secure as he said the safe
y OF the guilty persons.
| once came across an aged negro near Green
wall, In st. Thomas in the East, who told me
that he had been priest in his own country
He was certainly the most intelligent negro OF
direct African descent ever met He retained
knowledge of his own language, which he said
be had managed to do by repeating certain forms
Of PRAYERS TO the gods every ay since his cap
lure and sale as a slave over sixty years before.
forget now what part of Africa he came from,
but | remember his saying that the priesthood
practised the rite Of circumcision, and worship
ped with their hcdts covered remember also
that he said they adored one supreme ruler but
that each tribe or family had god or gods Of
Its own, made generally out Of wood which they
preserved from generation to generation with
great reverence.
FETISH CAMP MEETING.
While on visit recently to the north side,
had an opportunity Of witnessing what you
might call camp meeting Of fetish worshppers.
Dur party arrived at the tavern at Aunatto Bay
about dusk, and after bath and a light supper,
we retired to our rooms. As we entered the viii
lAgs, we heard the sound OF the monotonuus
ton-tom and all night long we were disturbed
ment Of brain torture is made simply enough.
over top Of an old -four barrel they formerly
have have The sVS ton,-tom. by the Side Of It sits the
performer with nothing on but a very slim pair
hard wood. With the clubs he beats the skin.
There you have the noise. IL Is the same thing
oyer and 1Ser 9gG win rSaes noes th R
tertah, tattertah, tattertahtah. AS general
rule II is all man can 90 TO- sleep Tor tne rum
OF the tight are aided and abetted by the infer
nnl din uf the tom-tum, repose Ia out OF the
visIr 10 THE FETISH woRsnIPrERs.
All next day the tom-tom was at work. Late
50 the afternoon we went nccompamei Dy
enclosure where the fetish worshppers were
gathered. You must understand that this fetish
ism Is prohibited, and consequently its Notares
practice 1t under the name OF dance or, as
they term it, II shay-shay. Inside the enclosure
we're some ten or dozen negro huts. The
place was amply seaded by cocoa-nut palms,
and hid from view by the surrounding
bush. Niainous looking scouts were stationed
around to keep ~ intruders. our companion,
who appeared to know them all, explained to
one Of them that We were strangers desirous ~
seeing the shay shay, and at the same time he
brought the demijOhn well up In front and
the suggestive wickerwork and grinned. Then
he said lie would 90 and see the father, that Is,
the leader Of The ceremonies. by and 10y an old
negro came out with the scout and moved to-
ward us. lie had a fearful crop OF gray wool
and feet enough for at least half tribe: lie
lat nltaly vii n IN fha dap,
john. our companon brought the demijohn to
the present and saluted. The father srinned
arm and told the father what he wanted. The
old man hesitated for some time. Our friend
gave the demiJohn shake, which
MADE THE LIQUOR IYsIDE SPEAK.
We've brought our Refreshments with u.s."
sAid our friend.
"Hi, massa," the old man replied, "come
along" That suggestive gurgle beneath the
cork was too much for him
the enclosure. sorne 100 men, women, and girls
were inside. Judging from the-r appearance,
while there were girls as young Us ten year..
The girls were all seated under a tree In one
elderly women. On each side the enclosure
we're sguattsd young women TO the number Of
the ground. Others were passing IN and out Of
the hutS The men wore nothing but panta-
looms. The women were dressed IN gaudy cali
Goes, with bandanas around their heads, As we
approached the tom-tom ceased. We were led
Dy tIe ola III Ia tllt tdr tuu OF the enclosure,
and there We sat down. our friend then pre-
seuted the master Of the ceremonies with
the DEAIJoHS OF RUN
He retired with 1t TO a nut, and It was soon
gether Presently the old man came out with
the empty deiniJohn, and holding ii up, said (:
HI, de men dem drink all de sperrit and no
Here all the ladies exclaimed Hi. and be-
gan to murmur, Our friend called the old man,
and hastily writing an order, told him to send
the empty bottle down 90 his store aud get II
reAed. This put them all I'm great good humor,
and after some whispering aud shufing about,
the tom-tom began TO sound.
Two young men bore from one Of the huts a
quantity Of dry wood and lighted bonfire in
the middle Of the enclosure. Then the old man
sembled black do" hum f roand an with ia' vine nS,
leaves. This figure he placed at the threshold
with his right hand as thouGh he was pushing
something away from his ear. At this signal, as
we wesupposed Il TO be, the tom-t9ms began to
messenger returned with the demiohn reflled
and PLACED IL IN the old mans hut. The old
man followed the me ssenger quickly, and the
latter came out again somewhat precipitately
Soon the old man returned, lIe looked around
slyy, a though he was wlshiul Of discovering
whether the others suspected him Of having
taken private drink.
WILD DANCE.
Presently the women arose and began mo.
nOtonouS dance, which consisted OF shaking
their heads Violently and moving round at
gan To wave their hands above their heads aud
To approach the fire. After they had circled
fOund the OTc three times the men arose and
one by one mingled with the dancers. And now
the tOm-tum went at railroad speed, and the
motions Of the dancers became wild and indie
cent. For three hours this dance continued
varied IN a thoucand ways, until at length the
dancers dropped IN one by one and retired "a
the hut where the rum was. by this time il was
getting dusk and several new faces appeared
within the enclosure, More wood was piled on
the hie, and the enclosure was lighted up with
lurid glare. Then We noticed for the first time
that the girls had disappeared, And now began
one OF the most remarkable exhibitions even
witnessed, The men and women were again
squatted on the ground To the mOnotonous
boom or the tonl-tOm every ngure within tha
enclosure excepting ourselves began to move
First all went round the lire at slow short
trOt, with arms bent at the elbow and hands
dangling. Then they Increased their speed un
I'll each step seemed
TO DRIVE THB WIND OUT or THEM
with q" "oom." Then they gradually slackened
and swayed TO and fro, advancing toward the
nre until the circle was compact, and then with
drawing until there was yard or two between
each person. Next their antics emerged into a
dance not unlike the chn-can. After this had
gone on for about half an hour. the old man sud.
denly Appeared the FIRE. lhiR WAS "A .iyn Al