Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-07-05

were left the way down the lake-shOre to-
ward the now brilliant bOniires was diff
cult, for in the darkness one had TO pick
his steps. Between the lake on one side
and the swamp on the other there was
belt OF land not more than iiitv feet across,
and IN some places this was diminished by
more than hall by the encro,chment Of
Ponc hartrain's waves. There was NJ road
way. but simply devious by-path, which
wendell around stumps and mud-holes in a
most irregular manner.
After some ten minutes walk there came
10 the ear the iantest sound a. OF drum
beaten rythmIcally, and on listening
chorus Of voices could be heard.
Behind, the hundreds OF small watch
fires aloug the shore tvinked like stars in
the distance, and where they were buit
upon little points OF land they were re-
flected in the water so brightly. the dupli-
cation added weirdness to the scene that
was peculiar.
Puisung the same path was a party OF
creole negroes, the men carrying musical
instruments and .he women laden with
ccf!ce-potS and tin-buckets OF gumbo.
They were not inclined to talk. and when
All cd where the voudOu dance was to take
Mace answered thet they knew nothing
about II.
Passing around a little willow cop>e that
grew almost in the lake. there opened 10
The view scene D0re would have de-
lighted TO paint. The belt OF land here was
about one hundred feet in width. and IN
the middle Of this little plat was burning
huge fire. Grouped around it were some
thirty or forty negroes. the rising aud 'ali-
ipg Of the freight giving a grotesqueneSs
To their figures that was - curious rs It was
entertaining. Their shadows stretched out
over the rushes and reeds OF the swamp.
and their faces, brought out in effect.
looked Wild enough 10 satisfy any lover OF
the wild and mysterious.
Built h0lf over the swamps, and hall on
the land. stood a small hut, or, to give ii
all lis pretensiOns, house OF two rooms.
II was ike most Of the flhcrmen's cabins
seen along the LAKE, but rather more roOmy
than most Of them.
Through the open window there came
quite food OF light, and a the party ap-
prooch,d a song was head, chan. ed, 1t
seemed. by some eight or ten voices.
IL was about three quarters o. mile be-
low MIincburg. and the place was apprO-
priatelv selected, for certainly no more
dismal and dreary spot could have been
found Citywards the swamp, win lts
fIIncreal cypress, stretched n gloomy per-
succtive, while in front, tapping the PUSHES
and stumps, the ripples IN the lake came
in. the water appearing almost black rom
the vegetable matter it held In suspension
Near the fire were two or three tables
laden with gumbO and dishes OF rice, While
on the embers Kissed pots Of coffee.
When the group near them was ap-
preached they gave evidence OF uneaslneSs
ut the appearance OF the party, there beng
no other white persons save the three
seekers after novelty.
4 few words in the creole pa.OlS made
| the negroes feel more at ease. aud when -
cup Of coffee was purchased they ceased 10
look su,pcousIy on the new arrivals.
Tie music in the house began with re-
newcd yigor at this time, and there was bN
/ general consent u movement thither. 1t
/ was nearly midnight. and, y the house was
/ the centre Of attraction. the TimeS-Demo-
| cr0t delegation followed.
/ The wide gallery on the front OF the house
was soon thrOnged. and it was noticed that
/ hut 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 it on !hc in
! side.
few words from Chief Bachemin IN
creole proved an open sesame. and TIC
door was opened Just wide enough to per
nit The. party to enter one at time. with
! their entrance the mu.ic ceased and all
eves were turned upon the newcomers.
bright mulatto man came forward,
and. in good English, said that II the gen.
tl,mcn desired to remain they would have
To obey the orders that were given. II
would spoil the charm IL they did not take
of their coats. Accordingly the coats were
removed
The picture inside the room was not par.
ticularly novel 10 an! OF the party. a. al
had been present OH such occasions before
but TO A stranger il would have been nov
city, to say the least.
Seated on the floor, with their legs cross
ed beneath them, were about twenty-five
negro men and women, the men IN theli
shirt-sleCyes, and the women with theli
heads adorned with the traditional head
handkerchief or tignon.
In the centre OF the floor there was : preaC
small table-clOth, at the corners OF "hlct
two talIow candles burned, being held II
place by bed Of their own grease.
As centre-plece on the cloth there wa
shallow Indian basket filed with weeds
or. as they call them. herbs. Around the
basket were diminutive piles OF wnlt'
beans and corn, and Just outside OF these
number OF small bones, whether human OF
not could not be told. some curlously
wrought punches OF feathers were the mex
Communications near the edge OF the cloth
and outside Of all several saucers witt
small cakes in them.
The only person enjoying the aristocrat'
ic privilege Of chair was bright Gaze "a
tail woman Of about forty-eight, who sat u
one corner OF the room looking on th'
scene before her with an air OF dignity
She said but little, but beside her two oll
and wrinkled negresses whispered 10 mel
continually. She was OF extremely nand
some figure. and her features showed ina
she was not Of the class know IN Ola time
As feld-hands. She was evidently ralse'
about the plsntstion-houSe. Sae Wa
neatly attired in blue calico, win "hi',
dots sprinkled over II, ana on heT heau
brilliant tiguOn was gracefully tied'
On inquiry il was learned tina, her nam
was Nalyina Latour, and that she was tut
queen. .aao.r
As soon as the visitors had squatted doWr
in their pisces against the wall IN olu heSl'
man. whose wool was white win years %
gan scraping on two-stringed sort Vi
! fiddle, The instrument bau ''"-
and its body was not more than three ihche
in diameter. beng covered with brightly
mottled snake-skin. Tins was the Sighal L
Two Young mulattoes beside him. VINO com com
menced TO best with their thumbs on nun .,,
drums made Of gourds and covered Will
sheepskin. -. L,lIou
These tam-tams cave forth short hollow ,''
aote OF peculiar sound. and were OF accom- !
panlments Of the primitive hddle. rs /,
10 Inspire those present with the ea rn,1oI
ness of the occasion, the old Darn! tom.'
his eyes around the room, ana men stamp
ing his foot three times, eNciaiiieu'
"a present commenced! y ,,
Rising and stepping out toward .nc m,u
dle Of The door, a tall and sinewy heg r.
called sthe attention OF all TO hlni' ~
looked a Hercules. and his face was any
Nervous with restrained emotion, n
commenced at first in low voice, wn'c'
gradually became louder ana iouner,
sony. one stanza OF which ran as ioiiows
kf.re court dan deser,