, 1884-07-29
A yoUDoU DANCE.


New Orleans Times Democrat
The reporters had been directed 10 a place
between Spanish Fort and MilnebTg. which
they found we'll surrounded with negroes.
who seemed 10 be enjoying themselves laugh
Ing, talking and romping like children, hiit
the music which came from the shsnty, wbsr-
a dance had evidently been started, sounded
u the experienced ears too much like that Of
an ordinary negro ball to permit them to lO--
much time there. 50 they went on 10 Milne
burg, aud noticing large fires ON the shore to-
ward the east. resolved to tempt fortune In
that quarter, for II there wns any voudou
celebration to be made that night it must ms.
suTedly he In that dirsction. As there is M
carriage road on this side tie reporters aban-
doned thsir cab, and resolutely pushed for
ward through the night aud over the lonely
pathway.
AZ soon Us the purlieus OF MiIneburg were
left, the way down the lakeshore toward the
now brilliant bonfiTes was difficult, for in the
darkness one had to pick his steps. Between
the lake on side and the swamp on the other,
there was II belt of hand not more than fifty
feet across, and In some places this was Iii
unfinished by more than half by the encroach
ment of POntchartrain's waves. There WINS
no roadway, but simply a devious by-path
which wended around stumps and mud-holeS
In II most irregular manner.
Passing around II little willow copsc thai
grew almost in the lake, there opened to the
view u scene Dore would have delighted to
paint. The belt of land here was about one
hundred feet in width, and In the middle Of
this little plat was burning a huge fire.
Grouped around 1t were some thirty or forty
negroes, the rising and falling Of the freight
giving a grotesqueness To their figures that
was as curious as 1t was entertaining. Their
- 49,. a. -.l --l
reeds OF the swamp, and their faces, brought
out in effect, looked wild enough to satisfy
any lover OF the wild and mysterious.
Built half over the swamps, and half on
the land, stood a small hut, or, to give it all
its pretentions, a house Of two rooms. 1t was
like most OF the fishermen's cabins seen along
the lake, hut rather more roomy than most
OF them. Through the open window there
came quite a flood Of light, and as the party
approached II song was heard, chanted 1t
seemed, by some eight or ten voices.
The music in the house began with renewed
vigor at this time, and there was by general
consent II movement thither. IL was nearly
midnight. and as the house was the center Of
attraction. The Times Democrat delegation
followed. The wide gallery on the front of
the house was soon thronged, and it was
noticed that but few were allowed to enter
the large room which formed The eastern side
Of the building. The door was closed, and a
stout young negress guarded 1t on the inside.
The picture inside the room was moi par.
t~icularly novel to any Of the party, Us all had
been present on such occasions before, but 70
a stranger it would nave been "a novelty, TO
say the least. Seated on tho door with their
legs crossed beneath them were about twenty
five negro men and women, tho Inen In their
shirt-sleeves and the women with their heads
adorned with the traditional head handker-
chief, or tignon. In the center of the floor
there was spread u small tAble-cloth, at the
corners of which two tallow candles burned,
being held in place by q led Of their own
grease.
As a center-piece, on the cloth, there was Il
shallow Indian basket flled with weeds, or,as
they called them, herbs. Around the basket
we're d%ininutiyg piles OF white beans and
corn, and just outside Of these Il number of
small bones, whethsr human or not could not
be told. Some cuIiously wrought punches Of
feathers was the next ornamentations near
the edge of the cloth. and outside of all sew
eral saucers with srlnii cakes ii them.
The only person enjoying the aristooratic
priyii,ge of a chair was a bright cafe all lait
woman ~ about 4S, who sat in one corner OF
the room, locking ga the scene before her
with an mir OF dignity. She said but little,
but beside her two old and WriRtied negresses
whispered 10 her continually. She was Of
extremely handsome figure. and her features
showed that she was not Of the class Aiowa in
old times as Held hands, She was evidently
raised about the plantation house. SHE was
neatly atrired ia II blue calico, with white
dots sprinIIed over it, and ON her head Il
brilliant IguUu wa gracefully tied.
On inquiry it WINS ieni!lcd HAT her naIIe
was MalvifH LntouT, amt that she was the
queen.
As soon IL, the visitors had squatted down
IN their places against the wall an old negro
man. whore wool was white with years, be
gan sciaping on II two-stringed sort oil q
fiddle. The instrument had II long neck ard
its body was not more than three inches in
diameter. beiag covered with brightly
notified snake skin. This was the signal to
two young nulattoe, beside him, who com
menced TO beat with their thumbs on little
drums made Of souIds and covered with
sheepskin.
Rising and stepping out toward the middle
al the floor, q tall nnd sinewy negro called the
attention Of al tc him. He looked a Hercules,
and his face was anything but attractive.
Nervous with restrained emotion, Le com
inenced at first in a l"" voice, which gradu-
ally became louder und louder. "a song, une
stanza OF which can be translated as follows:
/ will wander li,to die desert,
| will march through the pfaiiis,
| viii walk upon the golden thorn
Who j. there who cnn stop met
As ho sang lie seemed to grow In stature
and his eyes began to roll in a sort of wild
frenzy. Thers aas tlrncity in every worl,
boldness and defiance Ia sSsiy gesture. Keep
ing time to his song tie tam.tams and fddles
gave a WENT and sayugelJ InonotuGau
Accompaniment thai IL was easy to believe
was not unlike the savage music OF Africe.
When it CnIne tins Tor al 10 Join in the ne
frain, he waved ms arms. and then from
every throat went up;
Mali Dir ca ya di moiI.i
HI had hardly ended the fourth staDxa 10
fore two DYmrh, uttPIipg q loud cry, Joined
their leader on tis fioor, and tlE4 three De
gan u march around the psom. As tie gong
progressed, am enlaciAted young negro stepped
out and. amid the shouts Of an, rel Ia be
hind the others.
The last addition ~ the wild dancers was
most affected of all, and In "a sort OF dehrium
he picked up tive .qr three candles and
marched ON With them ~ BIZ nagG. Yhsn
he arrived opposite the queen she gave him
something 70 drink out of a bottle. Aftei
syallagipg some be retained a %niouthful,
which, with q psclliSr blowing souno, he
spuIted in a mist from his lips, Aotaing The
alcohol it blazed. up, and this attempt al
necromRDcy was hailed with a shout.
Then commenced the regular voudou
dance, With all its twistings and ~aontprtions
Two of the women feb exhausted to the hco,
in a frenzy and frothing at the mouth, ana
the einaciated young man was carried out 81
the room unconscious. Enough had beer
seen TO satisfy the guests; leaving the now ex
cited cr9wd still continuing the dance, a star
was mad icy thS cry the hour being }