The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-09-14
THE DARK CONTINENT.
Life in Central Afriea-The Religion Of the
Natives African Etiquette How
Weddings are Celebrated
in Urna.

From Com'r Cameron's Lectures Befnro the
London Archaeological Society.l
Conr Cameron told how the king Of this
people, Urna, Casango by name, claimed
divine honOrs; how II Was supposed BY the
people that on the death Of one king the spirit
entered the body VI his successor, and how,
@sl the death Of the monarch. his wives, With
the exception OF one, VINO remained 70 pc the
pythoness Of his successor were buried alive
with him with savage rites. AS the king has
1000 wives, the picture Of slaughter thus sug-
gested to the Imagination Was sensational
enough, but the tragic scene was subsequent
~ brought more wildly before US by an ac-
count Of the mode of intermPnt. The course
of the river is diverted to furnish q ready
grave. Here the terrible sacrifice was made,
and then the waters sent back 10 tnelf OIL
ginal course flow placldly over the dreadful
tomb 1t seems that the religion Of those
people centres round an idol which ID said to
be located In an immense Jungle. SUCH ID tho
reverence, or rather awe. III which the people
hold this god that they fear 70 pronounce lts
name. None but the king may SACRIFICE 10 IL,
excepting The SoYeregn'S sister. VINO IS given
to the idol rs a wife. Priests, Of course,
guard the grove Of this oracle and smaller
oraclps, Of which tho people do not stand IN
80 much ave- are consulted on matters Of
every day life. The ventril0quial powers Of
the wizards who carry those idols are exer-
cised when the answers are given.
A cIearly-ticfined caste prevails among the
people. One chief may not sit down ~ the
presence OF another OI superior grade. Eacu
class wear d distinctive apron.
MutilatiOn Is common as u punishment.
story was told VI one wife of the king Offering
to undergo the penalty Of having her ears cut
off II she might have 2 slave. Inc King TOOK
her at her word. The mutation was done
without much apparent pain or vexatiOn TO
| the lady. The flow Of blood il staunched by
an application Of boiling porridgc.
Their notions Ut propriety are peculiar, ana
will not allow them to cook at another per
sons fire, OF to drink while another y LOOKING
| Oh.
! Tattooing is an elaborate work Of art in
| this curious country, and one OF the punish
mentsa husband may infiict ~ an insnbordi-
| nate wife Is to cut, say out OF her arm, pof-
| ton Of the pattern tattOOed there The lady
is then Obliged to stay ut home. She Is not
received in society The skill Ofthis rude peo-
| pie in communicating long messages to dis
| tant places ny the beat OF the drum IL extra
ordinary. They employ, In fact, q KIND Of
Morse's telegrahic system.
! Weddings generally lasted three or four
days. He was present ut one, and had an OPP
portuni,y Of witnessing the festivities. All
| the people in the village were assembled.
Some men blowing pipes and beating drums
stood in the centre Of Il great circle OF people,
who danced around them, grooming and howl
| ing and making o great noise. This was Kept
| up day and night Suddenly at the END OF the
| third day the bride came out Of d nut dressed
III all the finpry the village could muster. She
wore q small apron made OF IL piece Of linen
which had been given to the chief, and was
adorned with feathers, beads and shells.
She was carried on the shoulders Of Il
| very stout woman. and supported by W.
man on each side. she was brought into
the middle Of the dancing people. and jumped
! up and down on the shoulders OF the woman.
number OF beads and shells were given 70
her, which she scattered about indiscrlmi-
nat.ly, and tie people scrambling for them,
as they are considered to possess some virtue
as charms. The jumping up and down Of the
bride was carried % 50 energically that the
the skin was completely worn off the shout
ders Of the woman who carried her. Then the
husband, a great big fellow, came In, picked
up his bride, put her under his arm and
| walked off with her"