Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1884-12-10
DARK MADAGASCAR.
Strange Customs and Superstitions-..
A Picturesque Dance.

A correspondent of the Springfield
Republican,, writing from the interior
| of Madagascar. says:
One OF the most curious customs
practiced by the Sakalayas is kind OF
incantation and dance called the Sala-
| manga, to- induce the spirit OF evil,
which they believe possesses every one
who is I'LL; 10 leave the body In which it
has entered. TO drive out this spirit
many forms arc gone through under
| the direction OF . sorccrcr. In all
| Sakalaya towns there Is . place az
ranged for tie driving out of evil spir-
its. A platform about seven feet long
| and three feet broad Is supported
twenty-five feet, in theair by straight
up-and-down ladder constructed ON one
OF the polas, Two more pefpendi cular
poles stand at either END Of the plat
form, and about twelve feet from it
At the. tops 81 these last two poles
charms are tied. and ON the ground
leaning against them, two wooden
idols are placed. When spirit Is to
DO driven out. wood ID 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 the scaffolding, the mum Der depend
ing upon the rank of tho sick person.
AS night approaches the invalid is
brought out, arranged In full dress,
and hoisted upon tho platform. The
cattle are then killed and their blood
smeared over the two idols. and also
over the bodies of tho 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 tho people, 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 to act.
All have on their dress ornaments,
and the sorcerer, under whose direo-
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 mo-
notonous refrain. After the general
dance the people fall back out of the
ring, and q woman OF rank, throwing
off nearly all her clothing. steps with
In the circle of fire and begins to
dance, keeping time to the drums and
bamboos, which make terrible din.
This performances is often repeated
several times before the sick person is
given up. Upon one occasion, in order
to 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 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 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 q kind 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. ALI 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 q colored scarf Of some
kind is waved in the other. To me the
whole performance was strange and
exciting, and, undoubtedly, it Is very
inspiring osthe savage Sakalavas.
Later In the evening the women and
children join in the dance, and singing
and chanting begins. Upon these war
dance nights large amount OF native
rum is consumed, and sometimes sew
eral people are killed. This dancing,
singing and spreeing always lasts
throughout the whole night.
In this land, where superstition,
treachery and murder. predominant, 1t
is not strange that funerals are con-
stantly occurring, and that the strang-
est and most revolving performances
are INDUCED in upon these occasions.
The first funeral which / witnessed
was that of a man of no particular
rank or position. As tho corpse was
being carried along it was followed by
rabble Of mourners, who were all
screaming and yelling. At intervals
along the road the corpse was placed
on the ground and series of athletic
games were commenced, in which
spear exercise was the most prominent
When the place Of burial was reached
the corpse was thrown naked into .
shallow grave and then covered up
with earth. A large pile of rocks was
then placed over the grave. Some
pieces Of silver and a few other articles
were buried with the body in order to
give the ghost . start in the next
world. When people of rank are
buried the ceremony is more extensive
and somewhat different. At the death
Of a chief the great bulk of his cattle
are Killed and his wives are obliged to
cut off their hair and Otherwise disdgure
themselves.
A coffin Is made BY, cutting o log
somewhat longer than the corpse. This
log is split lengthwise, followed out,
and the, body placed within, The
funeral ceremonies are, never complete
until the succeeding chief has captured
town or fought q battle in which
blood has been shed. Whenever
great sorcerer, or person of more
than ordinary distinction, departs this
life. his body is allowed to decompose
before burial. It is covered with aro-
matte substances and placed on o
bamboo platform In the sun, where it
is left for several days. The decompo-
sition produces q putrefying liquid
which Is caught in ! earthen vessels
placed under the platform. This horri.
BE liquid is then divided among those
present Each receives the liquid in
his hand and quickly rubs it all over
his body. After this revolving per-
torrance the body is wrapped in a
kind of cloth and buried with various
ceremonies.
/ The Champion Unlucky Boy.