The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1875-07-24
AYOUDOU ORGY.
Negro Incan:atiOns at New Orleans
Oh 81. Johns Eve.

On St. Johns Eve, little before Md
nigb,, saws u New Orleans correspondent
If the New York IVOrid, found myself,
in company with friend, on the wharf
! Yt Lake POnchurtrain, whittier we had
gone To witness the annual public cell
cbration of the fetish rites of the YOU
dous. Though familiar with everything
connected with the Crescent City, dis
gust had always kept from me any de-
sire to see this revolving spectacle; but
this wear | determined TO so there and
place before your readers true dcScrip-
ton of the barbaric ceremonies practiSed
by the people whom the military have
twice been used to keep in power over
the Intelligence and virtue Of the com.
munIty.
We reached the wharf little before
midnight, and after little trouble sue
ceeded in lin ling q morose old Spaniard,'
who Tor three times rs much rs the SER
vice WAS worth, consented TO row us to
the spot selected by the Noudou Queen
tor her reception and ceremonies.
Shortly after embarkation our Charon
GUIDED his frail craft into the sluggish
waters Of Bayou st. John, and after
rowing a short distance made the shore
where he babe US land, pointing at the
same time TO Il faint light glimmeringin
the distance Towards this we directed
our steps, and shortly the confused MUIR
muir of human voices appriSed us OF our
nearncss the Noudou camp. We APP
preached some steps nearer, finally
taking up a position by large cypress
/ tree. whence we could see all that
/ went ON without being seen. In the
pale RAYS of the moon the dark outline
of u large aSsemhiaCe was visible, gath
cred about small fire converslng IN
different tongues. They were all negroes
Of ull agcs-women. children and men.
Finally the noise was hushcd and the
assembled group assumed an attitude OF
respect. They made way tor their Queen
and a short, black old negroes
came upon the scene followed by two
assistants, one of whom bore cauIdron
and the other a box.
The cauldron was placed over the
diving embers, the Queen drew forth
from the folds of her gown magic
wand, and the crowd formed ring
around her. Her first act was TO throw
some substance in the fire. the flames
shot up with lurid glarc-now 1t with
ed in serpent coils, now It dartcd up
ward in forked tongues and then IL
GRADUALLY transformed itself into u veil OF
dusky yapors. At this stage, after GER
tain amount Of giberbish and wild geS-
ticulaton from the Qneen, the box was
opened and frogs, lizards, snakes, dog
liver and beef hearts drawn forth and
thrown into the cauldron. Then follow
ID more gibberish and gesticulation,
when the congregation joined hands and
began the widest Ounce imaginable,
keeping it up until the men and women
sunk to the ground from mere exhaustion.
This dance was diversified with every
species of Indecent and vulgar exposure.
Ii was living expression OF all that Is
low anduncivilizcd. Many OF the wo-
men and not Il few men lost part OF their
dres. in he wild coutortion of the
dance. and one or two of the dancers
were perfectly nude. Atthe conclusion
Of the dance an intermiSIon IN the ccre-
monies WAS announced. The dancers
then dispersed, and an orgie OF the most
revolving character followed. LIVING
stone never witnessed anything worse in
the heart of savage Africa. No magma
ton Gun paint the scene. Sell respect
drov, us from the spot. we sought
our bark, and as the morning approach
ed We found ourselves once more III the
city.