Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1876-05-12
A Hindu Devil-Dance.

Night, starry and beautiful, with broad,
low moon seen through palms. A still, sol.
emn night; with few sounds to mar the ST.
lence, save the deep, mufiled boom Of break.
ers bursting on the coast full eight miles
distant. A lonely hut, huge solitary ban
yam tree, grim and gloomy. All round
spread interminable sands the only vegeta-
ton on which is composed of lofty palmyras,
aud few stunted thorn-trces aud wild figs.
In the midst Of this wilderness rises specter-
like, that aged, enormous tree, the banyan,
haunted by most ruthless she.devl. Chol.
era is abroad in the land, and the natives
know that it is she who has sent them the
dreaded pestienco. The whole neighbor.
hood wakes to the determination that the
malignant power must be Immediately pro-
pitiated in the most solemn and effectual
manner. The appointed night arrives out
OF the village, and hamlet and hut pours
the wild crowd of men, women and children.
In vain the Brahmins tinke their bells at
the neighboring temple; the people know
what they want, and the deity which they
must reverence just now. On flows the
crowd to that gloomy island in the star-lt
waste--that weird hoary banyam. The cir
Gle is formed the fire is lit; the offerings
are got ready-goats and fowls, and rice and
pulse and sugar, and ghee aud honey and
white chaplets Of oleauder-blossoms and jas
mine buds. The tom-toms are beaten more
loudly aud rapidly, the hum of rustic con-
verse is stilled, and deep hush Of awe
struck expectancy holds the motley assem-
blage. Now the low rickety door Of the hut
is quickly dashed open. The devil.dancer
staggers out. Between the hut and the
ebon shadow of the sacred banyan lies a strip
Of moon.lt sand aud as he passes this
devotees can clearly see their priest He is
a tall, haggard, pensive man, with deep
sunken eyes and matted hair. His forehead
is smeared with ashes, and there are streaks
of vermilion and saffron over his face. lie
wears high, conical cap, white, with a red
tassel. A long white robe shrouds him
from neck to ankle. On it are worked in
red silk, representations OF the goddess o.!
small pox, murder and cholera. Round his
ankles are massive silver bangles. In his
right hand he holds a staff or spear, that
jingles harshly every time the ground is
struck by it, The same hand also holds a
|
struck, emits dull, booming sound 10
his left hand the devil-priest carries his sac
riticial knife shaped like a sickle, with
quaint devices engraved on its blade. The
dancer, with uncertain, staggering motion,
reels slowly into the center Of the crowd, and
then seats himself The assembled people
show him the offerings they intend to pre-
sent, but he appears wholly unconscious.
He croons an Indian lay in a low, dreamy
voice, with dropped eyelds and head sunkcn
on his breast. lie sways slowly to and fro,
from side to side. Look You can see his
| fingers twitch nervously.
His head begins to wag in strange, un-
eanny fashion. His sides heave and culver,
and huge drops Of perspiratlon exuie from his
skin. The tom-toms are beaten faster, the
pipes and reeds wall out more loudly. There
is a sudden yell, singing, stunning cry, an
ear-piercing shrek, a hideous, abominable
gobble-gobblc Of hellsh laughter, and the
devil dancer has sprung to his feet, with eyes
protruding mouth foamng, chest heavlng,
muscles quivering, and out.stretched arms
swollen and strainlng as if they were cruel
fed Now, ever and anon, the quick, sharp
words are jerked out Of the saliva.choked
mouth-"I am God am the true God ~
Then all around him, since he aud no idol
is regarded as the present deity, reeks the
blood Of sacrifice The devotee crowd round
to offer citations aud to solicit answers To
their questions "Shall | die Of cholera
during this visitation ?" asks a gray-hearec
farmer of his neighborhood. 40 God, bles!
this child and heal il " cries n moor mother
from an adjoining hamlet, as she holds forth
her diseased babe toward the gyratIng priest
Shrieks, VOWS, imprecations, prayers, ant
EXPLANATIONS Of thankful praise, rise up, al
blended together in one internal hubbub
Above all rise the CHASTITY, cultural laughter
of the devil.dancer, and his stentorian howli
d am God am the only true God :!
He cuts and hacks aud hews himself, and no
very unfrequently kills himself there anc
then. His answers to the queries put to hin
are generally incohorent. Sometimes he i
sullenly silent, and sometimes, while tn
blood from his self.inficted wounds mingle
freely with that Of his sacrifice, he is mos
benign, and showers his divine favors O
health and prosperity all around him
Hours pass by. The trembling crowd stan
rooted to the spot. Suddenly the dance
gives a great bound in the air; when he de
sends he is motionless. The fendsh loOI
has vanished from his eyes. His demoniaca
laughter is still. lie speaks to this and t
that neighbor quietly and reasonably. ii
lays aside his garb, washes his face at tn
nearest rivuet, and walks soberly home,
: ,,odaaf ,pall- conducted man