Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-11-08
The Congo Dance.
HOW NEW ORLEANS NEGROES AMUSED THEMSELVES
SIXTY YEARS aGO

SIXTY TEARS AGO.
the lazy tinkle OF the bell on the car mules,
the drows y drumming OF the cicadse on the tall
sycamore trees, and the green fiat OF sunlit grass
trembling beneath the warm afternoons rays
made Congo square yesterday anything but a
cool retreat. sixty years ago, on a Sunday
afternoon, Congo square would present a very
different appearance, and as the boys who then
spOrted on the green are getting fewer and
fewer every day, 1t Is well worth the while to
get from those with us picture OF this old
landmark OF our city for those who come after
us The square takes its name, as is well known
from the Congo negroes who used to perform
their dance on its sward every Sunday. They
were curious people, and brought over with
them this remnant of their African jungleS In
negroes, named after the section of country
from which they came, and their representatives
could De seen on the square, their teeth filed
anu tner eneeks sun bearing the TATTOO marks.
the kraelS, a numerous tribe who dwell in stock
ades We had here the Minahs, proud, digni-
shrewd. relentless people; the Mandringas a
branch Of the Congos; the GangaS, named after
river of that name, from which they have been
taken the HiboaS, called by the missionaries the
''OHlS," Sullen, tntractable tribe; ard the
FoulaS, the highest type of the African, with
but few representatives here. The slave trade
which had been abolished In 1897, was still kept
up until as late as 1S45dDy cruisers which ran UP
the bayCus and lagoons Astounding on our coast,
as safely deposited their cargoeS at appointed
places. Bayou Barataria was regular thorough
fare for this trade.
These We're the people that one would meet on
the square about 1916 and 1917. 1t was gala
occasion, these Sundays of those years, and not
less than 1000 or 5000 people would cOngregate
TO see the GuSky dancers. low fence Enclosed
tie square and on each street there was little
gate and turnStile. There were no trees there
then. and the ground was worn bare by the feet
OF the leople. About O'Clock the negroes be-
gan to gather, each nation taking their places in
different parts OF the square. The Minans would
| not dance near the CongoS, nor the Mandringas
near the Gangas. Presently the music would
strike up and the parties would prepare for the
sport. Each set habits own orchestra. The in
StrumentS were peculiar kind Of banjo made OF
Louisiana gourd, several drums made of gum
stump dug out, with Sheep-Skin head, and
beaten with the fingers, and two jawbones of a
horse, which when shaken would rattle the loose
teeth, keeping time with the drums. About
eight negroes, four male and four female, would
make a set, and generally they were but scan
tily clad. 1t took some little time before the
tapping of the drums would arouse the dull and
sluggish dancers, but when the point OF excite
ment came, nothing can faithfully portray the
Ma ana m9ons dhey would GO
that, now together and now apart every motion
intended to convey the most sensual ideas. AS
the dance progressed the drums were thrus,-,ed
faster and faster, the cOntortfOnS became lnore
groteSque, until sometimes in frenzy the men
and women would fall fainting to the ground.
Al Al this tins was going on with dense crowd
locking on and with hot sun pouring its tor
rid rays on the infatuated actors of this curious
ballet.
Alter one set mad become fat1gued they would
drop out to be replaced by others, and then stroll
OF to the groups OF some other tribe in a differ
ent portion OF the square. Then it was that
trouble would commence, and regular set-to
with short sticks followed between the men,
and broken heads ended the days entertain
ment. on the sidewalks around the square the
old negresses, with their spruce-beer and pra-
lines OF peanuts, cocOa-nutS, and popcorn did a
thriving trade, and now and then beneath petit
coats bottles Of tafia, kind of Louisiana rum,
leeped out OF which the gendarmes were OBJ,
livious. When the sun went down stream of
people poured out of the turnStileS and the gen
darmes walking through the square would order
the dispersion of the negroes, and by gun-tire,
at O'Clock, the place was well-ntgh deserted
not later. Subsequently, however, the descend
ants Of the original Africans got up an imita-
ton: but it could not compare to the weird orgie
oct. 3D.