The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1881-01-20
Negro Belief In COnjuring.

This belief of the negroes has always
been OF peculiar interest to me and I
never lose an opportunity of talking to
them and making inquiries upon the
subject, and although they are rather
reticent upon such mysterious and
awe-inspiring topic, have never found
more than one out of fifty, who did'not
firmly believe in conjuring. About half
| the disasters and earthly ills of the race
seem to be imputed to q tricking." The
ever ready and final solution to everyi
unaccountable sieknessor accident is 10
that awful word cunjered." 1t is
generally believed that no one but O.
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 i1ec!>
essary medicine with an air of mystery,
and under names suited to the case.
Calomel, quinine and other common
remedies sometimes work wonders il
the patient is told in strict confidence
that they are " IT, nowders'" to "un-
cunjer' him with nee, in the abb
sence Of q, physical, experimental
little myself in simple case. Almost
every planter isa good doctor and keeps.
on hand a, supply of medicine most
frequently used; and nearly all ladies
living on q plantation learn, in nursing
the SICK to treat common cases.
' Mistis" is generally considered an
authority in sickness, from q case of
"hives" among the black babies up to
the "rheumatiz" 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."i His feet were somewhat
swollen and after q few questions we
found that his case was not beyond tho
reach of the usual plantation remedies;
continued chills had left him in slight
ly dropsical condition, which would
readily yield to tonics. 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 a mind
diseased as well as body. And at
last the secret came out; he was
cunjeredr' He shook his head SOL
emnly, and groaned. "'.Tain't no use
to take nuthin', Gus nuttin' ain't agwine
TO kyore me. Gabe put cunjer powders
in my shoes, an that's how come my
laigs an foots all swelled up SO; I'm
trickedr' 'F~''''
Tricked! Is that. alp Then can
cure You in q twinklingI' @
You! You kyore cunjere I thought
IL hof 10 Il,
off the spell" ..
No, will kill the spell and make
we'll 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 muttereda long string of high sound
ing senten ,es, without rhyme or reason,
q most absurd medley of Shakespeare,
Mother Goose and botanical terms, and
in tragic tones concluded with the old
time play ground jingle improved: "t
One saw, two saw, little zigzag gan; ..r
Bob-tail, dominick. tory tan;
Haylum, scayllm, jinglum, janglum;
Go, cunjer, go I've killed the spelIE
Now you're well, Jake. Ding dong bellI''
My awe-struck patient stood gazing
at me with as much reverence as i'll
had been priestess of the Delphic or
acle. can never forget the look Of
mingled awe and wonder ON his face.
The necessary medicine-under mys-
terious name invented for the occasion
was prepared, and after making him
promise not to '' break the charm by
repeating what had told him--a need
less injunction, as he couldn't have re-
membered word of it-and requiring
bim to walk backward three steps as al
imposing conclusion to the ceremony,
Jake was solemnly dismissed. Ina short
time herwas strong and well. So much
for faith! (and tincture of iron). And
to this day he firmly believes can
"kYore cunier. .n=Reds snnk Riderhood