The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1881-01-06
Negro Belief in COnjuring.


This belief of the negroes has always
been of peculiar interest to me and /
never lose an opportunity of talking to
them and making inquiries upon the
subject, and although they are rather
reticent upon such n mysterious and
awe-inspiring topic, Ihave never found
more than one out of fifty who did not
firmly believe in coniuring. About half
the disasters and earthly ills of the race
seem to be imputed to q tricking." The
ever ready and final solution to every
unaccountable sicknessO or accident is in
that awful word cunjered." 1t is
generally believed that no one but a
genuine "cunjer doctor can relieve
patients of this kind, but sometimes
shrewd physicians do much toward eff
fecting cures by humoring the whims
of the victims and giving them the nee
essary medicine with an air of mystery,
and under names suited to the case.
Calomel, quinine and other common
remedies sometimes work wonders if
the patient is told in strict confidence
that they are - trick powders" to "un-
cunier' him with. Once, in the alb
sence OF physician, experimental
little myself IL simple case. Almost
.yery planter is a good doctor and keeps
on hand a supply of medicine most
frequently used; and nearly all ladies
living on plantation learn, in nursing
the sick, to treat common cases.
- Mistis' is generally considered an
authority in sickness, from case of
''hives'' among the black babies up to
the rheumatic of the old. One day
a young fellow in our employ came up
from the . quarter" complaining OF be-
ing pow fie bad Off and feeling
mighty poly" His feetwe somewhat
swollen and after q few questions we
found that his case was not beyond the
reach of the usual plantation remedies;
continued chills had left him in slight
" drOpsical condition, which would
readily yield to tones. But there was an
air of utter hOpeleSsnesS and an express
sion of woe DegOnenesS on his cOUnte
nance in, almost comical contrast to his
usual broad grins. Jake had something
on his mind, that was very evident,
and he soon proved that we
would have to minister to mind
diseased as well as 2 body. And at
last the secret came out; he was
- cunieredr' He shook his head sol
EMMY, and groaned. - faint no use
to take nuthin', 'cus nuttin' ain agwine
TO kyore me. Gabe put cunier powders
in my shoes, an that's how come my
laigs an foots all swelled up so; I'm
trickedip
. Tricked. Is that all? Then | can
cure YOU in twinklingr'
You! You kyore cunier? thought
I'd halter 90 to cunjer doctor to take
off the spell"
g No, l will kill the spell and make
well man of you quick enough; there's
nobody can beat me uncunjering folks"
Jake opened his eyes in astOnish-
ment, but expressed confidence in my
doing exactly what | promised. After
some mysterious incantatiOns | solemn
ly muttered a long string of high-sOund-
inc senten ees, without rhy me or reason,
a most absurd medley of Shakespeare,
Mother Goose and botanical terms, and
in tragic tones concluded with the old
time playground jingle improved:
One saw, TWO saw, lit lie ziezaS zan;
BDD-tall, dOmlnick, tory tan,
Haylum, scayl I'M, jInglum ,nglum;
Go, cunjer g.! I've k llel the spell!
Now yO Pre- well, Jake. Ding dong bellp
NV awe-struck patient stood gazing
at me with as much reverence as if |
had been a priestess of the Delphic or
acle. | can never forget the look of
mingled awe and wonder on his face.
The necessary medicine-under a mys-
FERROUS name invented for the occasion
was prepared, and after maling him
promise not to '' break the charm" by
repeating what l had told him "a need
less injunction, as he couldn't have re-
membered a word OF it-and requiring
him to walk backward three steps as an
imposing conclusion to the ceremony,
Jake was solemnly dismissed. Ina short
time he was strong and well. So much
for faith! (and tincture of from And
to this day he firmly believes l can
"kyore cunjer. "-PeasaH RilerhOOd,
IN Detroit Free Press.