The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-12-19

4 ITinsicye Aagazin".j
| One Of the grossest OF Javanese super
stitions Is that the "kaiman ''--'he Ja-
yanese name for the crocodilc--is actually
the evil spirit personifed. The dervishes,
| for their own motives Of profit. OF course.
do all that is In their power to foster this
belief. Sedan SATAN Is the name be
slowed upon the crocodile by the ma
tivcs OF Java, and every incident OF mis-
fortune. whether death by misadven-
ture. pcstilencc, failure OF crops, &c.
Is attributed TO his agency, II being
presumed that on such occasions the
/ spirit IL, for some reason or other,
displcased with the people. In order,
therefore, TO appease the supposed demons
wrath the Javancse-instigated, OF course,
by their dervishes-comc to the conclusion
that some animals must be slain and offered
up TO MIN as sacrifice, and arrangements
are accordingly made for that purpose, as
follows: The person who Is suffering from
any calamity which he supposes to have
proceeded from the anger OF "Sedan
goes Mt once to the chief magistrate or
mayor OF his village (bapella kdmpong)
and consultation takes place. After
this the Mayor causes all the inhabitants
to be summoned together by the means OF
the heating OF a peculiarly-shaped wooden
bell, which has singuarly doleful sound.
When this tocsin Is heard the Javanese as
semble in great numbers and fix day and
hour for the sacrifice, which usually takes
place at sunrise, and the sufferer from ca
lamity Is enjoined to bring two sheep and
| a goat to the dervish TO be consecrited pre-
viOus to the sacrifice. When the hour OF
sacrifice arrives the people collect in great
numbers in front OF the Mayors residence,
dressed In their holiday garments; the
dervish makes his appearance, arrayed in
long gown and a turban OF many colors.
As he advances the whole assembly pros
trates itself, uttering prayers aloud. At a
signal from the dcryish the people rise,
and, by the direction OF the Mayor, are
formed INTO pairs lin silence) for the sacri-
| fetal procession, the dervish proceeding ~
their head to the place Of sacrifice. In
| front of the dervish walk four men, in
yestments OF various colors. having their
faces painted with yellow. These men
strew flowers and palms in the path of the
advancing dervish. Next follow several
persons leading the consecrated animals des-
tined for sacrifice, after whom comes the
official who Is to slay the animals, attended
by the MAYOR and the men OF the highest
rabble, the women taking the last place Of
all IN the procession. They then pass
through the main streets OF the town on
village until the place Of ceremony is
reached. In the case in question this was
a large. sandy plain near the seashOre. A
huge stone was set up to serve as an altar
for the Offering TO A" Sedan" the evil
spirit. Here the leaders Of the consecrated
-, 10 I'M
while the derviSh assembled the steps OF the
altar. As soon as he reached the altar
itself the whole assemblage fell on their
knees and joined him in a prayer. which
was loudly uttered, and with many ges-
ticulations. The dervish then, with most
vehement adjurations, addressed the
Spirit himself, imploring him not to
visit the Jayanese with any further ca
lamity. Strangely enough, from some wa
ter at hand. two or three crOcodilcs at this
moment put up their heads, Il coincidence
which of course produced great impress
sion on the superstitiOus assemblage. Pro-
badly, however, the truth was that the
crocodiles were attracted by the rank smell
Of the goat The dervsh's address TO the
evil spirit concluded. room was made for
the person who had been appointed to
iUt NDlCH lItNl-
ously been bound and laid upon the sand.
This official advanced, armed with
a most formidable knife, and with
considerable dexterity laid open the bowels
of the victims, which he then placed in
row and decorated with gay-colored
flowers. Next followed another prolix
prayer from the dervish, after which he
bestowed his blessing upon the entire as
scmblage. who, in the full conviction OF
having appeased the evil spirit, re-
tired to their homes and smoked pipes
OF opium. which they alleged TO be
for the gloritication of their duties,
but which, it seems more reasona-
bic to conclude, was for their own self
qualification. Soon after the crowd had
dispersed that very sensible "evIl spirit"
crawled out of the water with grunt OF
satisfaction and proceeded to devour the
sheep and the goat with which the igno-
rance and superstition OF the Javanese had
provided him.