Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1874-01-09
3fliscettangs
sorcery in Martinique.

Sorcery in Martinique
Ssrcery, or obeah, is extensively prac-
ticed by the creole, or negro population
of all the West India Islands, in spite OF
all the efforts of the civil and religious
authorities for its suppression. The sor-
cerer is generally some person superior
in cunning and other qualities to the
mass of the negrspopplation, and is held
in great dread and generation by those
over whom he is supposed to hold
mysterious power for good or evil. I'm
der the protection of this dark supersti-
tious fear, he is able to commit or insti-
gate the most atrocious crimes, as no ne
gro, and few white people viii volunta-
rily testify against al obeah man, lest
he or his accomplices should take sum-
rmary vengeance upon them. These sor'
cerers are employed by persons who have
grudges against their neighbors ; and as
ipquests on The bodies of negroes are
rare occurrences in Martinique, it is the
easiest matter in the world for the obeab
man to furnish customer with the poi
sons he wants in order to get rid of some
one who may have wronged or offended
him, But such-is the terror inspired
by these sorcerers in the minds of these
ignorant negroes that 1t is not always
necessary to resort to actual poisoning.
A word, assign, a look, from the obeah
: man is enough to strike his victim with
horror, under the influence of which
many a poor creature has pinned away
into the grave 1t is said that sorcerers
are not only very skillful in preparing
poisons to be administered with food OIL
drink, but that some of them carry a
small globule of serpent's venom under
sharpened finger nail, by which they
can infict death with slight puncture
OF the flesh. These are dangerous GUS
toners, and are rarely meddled with.
The sale of charms and love powders is
also part of their business.
Strange as it may seem, these obeah
men are frequently employed by whites
who wish to get rid of an obnoxious per.
son. The name of Cowpeer Karr, who
was few years ago famous sorcerer
in Martinique, will long be remembered
with detestation in the island. After q
long career Of crime, during which he
and his accomplices were believed tC
have committed many murders and
lesser offences innumerable, he was ar
arrested and brought to trial with an ole
negro women, his partner in guilt bu
although every one believed them to b,
worthy of the severest punishment, M
one was found willing to give evidenc'
against them, and they we're finally re
leased, with a recommendation from
the court to be careful as to their futur
conduct. On leaving the court room
they passed through dense crowd o
whites and negroes, who had assemble,
to witness the trial and Cowpeer kar
stopping for moment to face a groul
of citizens, said, with slow and stern de
liberation, Look we'll at me now
Should | declare how many of you bav
applied for my services, there would b
few who would not hang their heads.
This remarkable trial took place in 1871
Cowpeer Karr was no common charac
ter. He was shrewd, quick witted, an
well qualified to exert powerful Unfit
ence on his ignorant fellow-country
men. His bearing during the trial ws
discreet, and his answers to the interrc
cations of the court evlnced sagacity an
intelligence.