The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1874-02-07
0hines gbroad,
sOrcsry in Martinique.

!
sorcery, or obeah, is extensively prac
tieed BY the creole and negro population d
all the West India Islands, in spite Of al
the efforts Of the civil and religious au.
thorities for its suppression. The sorcerei
Is generally some person superior in cum.
ming and other qualities to the mass Of the
negro population, and Is held in great dread
and veneration by those over whom he i
supposed to hold a mysterious power for
good or evil. Under the protection Of
dark supestitious fear, he is able to com
nit or instigate the most atrocious crimes,
as no negro, and few white people, viii
Voluntarily testify against an obeah man,
lest he or his accomplices should take sum
mary vengeance upon them. These sof-
cerers are employed BY persons who have
grudges against their neighbors and as
inquests on the bodies of negroes are rare
occurrences in Martinique, it is the easiest
matter in the world for the obeah man to
furnish customer with the poisons 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 sor-
eerers in the minds Of these iguorant
negroes that 1t is not always necessary to
resort to actual poisoning A word, sign,
look, from the obeah man is enough to
strike his victim with mortal horror, under
the influence Of which many poor crea.
ture has pinned away into the grave. Its
said that Sorcerers are not only very skill
ful in preparing poison to be administered
with food or drink but that some ofthem
carry small globule of serpent's venom
under a sharpened 6nger-nail, by which
they can inhict death with slight pune.
ture OF the flesh. These are dangerous
customers, and they are rgely meddled
with. The sale Of charms az love-powders
is also part Of their business.
Strange as it may seen, 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, win long be remembered with
detestation in the island After long
career Of crimes during which he and his
accomplices were believed to have commit.
ted many murders and lesser otfeuses
innumerable, he was arrested and brought
to trial with an old negro woman, his
partner in guilt but although every one
believed them to be worthy Of the severest
punishment, no one was found willing to
give evidence against them, and they were
finally released, with a Recommendation
from the court to be careful as to their
future conduct On leaving the court
room they passed through dense crowd
Oh whites and negroes, who had assembled
to witness the trial and Cowpeer Kari,
stopping for moment to face group Of
citizens, said, with slow and stern deliber-
ton, Look well at me nowi Should I
declare how many Of you have applied for
my services, there would be few who
would not hang their heads" This re-
markable trial took place in 1871. Cowpeer
karr was no common character. He was
shrewd, quick-witted, aud well qualified to
exert powerful influence on his ignorant
fellow-countrymen. His bearing during
the trial was discreet, and his answers to
the interrogations Of the court evinced
sagacity and intelligence --"H aper's Nag |
asiae for January"