The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1884-08-29
DARK MADAGASCAR.
Strange Customs and Superstitions---
A Picturesque Dance.

A correspondent of the Springfield
Republican, writing from the interior
of Madagascar, says:
practiced by the Sakalavas is a kind of
incarnation and dance. called the Sala-
manga, to induce the spirit of evil,
which they believe possesses every one
who is i'll, to leave the body in which it
has entered. To drive out this spirit
many forms are gone through under
the direction of sorccrer. In all
Sakalava towns there is a place ar
ranged for the driving out of evil spir-
its. A platform about seven feet long
and three feet broad is supported
twenty-five feet in the air by straight
up-and-down ladder constructed on one
of the poles. Two more perpendicular
poles stand ut either end of the plat
form, and about twelve feet from it.
At the tops of these last two poles
charms arc tied, and ON the ground
leaning against them, two wooden
idols are placed. When q spirit is to
be driven out, wood is brought to this
building fires round the circle inclosing
the scaffolding and idols. Oxen and
bullocks are also brought and secured
near the scaffolding, the number depend
ing upon the rank of the sick person.
AS night approaches the invalid is
brought out, arranged in full dress,
and hoisted upon the platform. The
cattle are then killed and their blood
smeared over the two idols, and also
over the bodies of the people collected
about the place As the sun goes down
the fires are lighted, and drums and
bamboos are beaten. A circle is then
formed around the scaffolding and
idols, and the people, shouting and
screaming, begin to circle around in
kind of dance, first slowly, then faster
and faster, until they are nearly crazy.
At the same time spears are thrown
high in the air and the idols are struck
at again and again in order to force
the gods to act.
All have on their dress ornaments,
and the sorcerer, under whose direc-
ton the affair is being conducted,
usually wears very high hat, gorge
ously trimmed and decked with leaves
and flowers. AS the dance continues
the screaming suddenly stops, and wo-
men and girls begin to sing in n mo-
notonous refrain. After the general
dance the people fall back out of the
ring, and o woman of rank, throwing
off nearly all her clothing, steps with
in the circle of fire and begins to
dance, keeping time 10 the drums and
bamboos, which make q terrible din.
This performance is often repeated
several times before the sick person is
given up. Upon one occasion, in order
10 keep in the good graces of the peo-
pie, your correspondent was obliged to
take part in this dance An invalid
who does not get any better after re-
peated attempts to drive out the evil
spirit, is often treated in a most bar
barous manner; poison is either admin
istered or spear driven through the
breast. This last cure from misery is
usually resorted to by request OF the
invalid.
The Sakalavas have another peculiar
and picturesque dance which takes
place by moonlight-usually upon tho
nights of the full moon. Drums are
beaten, bamboos and horns are blown,
and the whole village is turned out
All the men then form in an open
space, which serves as akind of parade
ground. The music continues and the
dance begins. the men in their actions
representing the various movements
assumed in battle. There is the at
tack, the conflict the pursuit and the
victory. All are shown by kind of
acting. Their spears, which are very
long and bright, glisten in the moon
light as they are repeatedly hurled up
in the air and caught again in one
hand, while colored scarf Of some
kind is waved in the other. To me the
whole performance was strange and
exciting, and, undoubtedly, 1t Is very
inspiring to the savage Sakalavas.
Later in the evening the women and
children join in the dance, and singing