The Warner weekly sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1885, 1884-08-22

Strange Customs and Guperstitions
a. Picturesque nance.

practlced by the SakalavaS IS q 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 q sorcerer. In all Sakala-
towns there is q place arranged for
the driving out Of evil spirits. A plat
form about seven feet long and three
feet broad is supported about twenty
five feet in the air by q straight up-and-
down ladder constructed IN n OF the
poles. Two more perpendicular poles
stand at either end of the platform, and
about twelve feet from it.
At the tops of these last two poles
charms are tied, and on the ground
leaning against them, two wooden idols
are placed. When a spirit is to be
driven out, wood is brought to this
place and arrangements are made for
building fires round the circle inclosing
the scaffolding and idols. Oxen and
bullocks are also brought and secured
near ~scafolding, the number depending
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
bodies of the people collected about the
place. As the sun goes down the fires
ere lighted, and drums and bamboos are
beaten. A circle is then formed around
the scaffolding and idols, and the peo-
pie, shouting and screaming, begin to
circle around in q 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 80 act.
All have on their dress ornaments,
and the sorcerer, under whose direction
the affair is being conducted. usually
wears avery high hat, ~gorgeously trim
med and decked with leaves and flowers.
As the dance continues the screaming
suddenly stops, and women and girls
begin to sing in o monot0nous refrain.
After the general dance the people fall
back out of the ring, and a wom1n OF
rank, throwing off nearly all her cloth
ing, steps within the circle OF fire and
begins to dance, keeping time with the
drums aid bamboos, which make q
terrible din. This performances often
repeated several times before the sick
person is given up. Upon n occa-
sion In order to keepin the good graces
of the people, your correspondent was
obliged to take part in this dance. An
invalid who does not get any better after
repeated attempts to drive out the evil
spirit, is often treated IN q most barr
barous manner poison is either admin
istered or a spear driven through the
breast. This last sure from misery is
usually resorted to by the request of
the invalid.
The Sakalavas have another peculiar
and picturesque dance which takes
place by moonlight-usually upon the
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 . kind Of parade
ground. The music continues and the
dance begins, &khe men in their actions
representing the various movements
assumed in battle. There is the attack,
tha conflict, the pursuit and the VIC
tory. All are shown by a kind of act
- Ill., @4~ISr{. - u~xs@>
long and bright, glisten in the moon
light as they are repeatedly hurled up
in the air and caught again in one hand,
while q colored scarf of some kind il
waving in the other. TO me the per-
Torrance was strange and exciting and,
undoubtedly. ii is very inspiring to the
savage Sakalayas. Later in the even
ing the women and children join IN the
dance, and singing and chanting be-
gins. Upon these war-dance nights q
large amount of native rum is consumed.
and sometimes several people are
killed. This dancing, singing and
spreeing always lasts throughout the
whole night.
In this land, where superstition
treachery aud murder predominates il
is not strange thatfuneraIs are constant
" occurring, and thatthe strongest and
most revolving performances are in-
Judged III upon these occasions. II
first funeral which / Witnessed was that
Of a q OF no particular rank or posi-
ton. As the corpse was being carried
along it was followed by q rabble 81
mourners, who were all screaming 81