Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1884-06-05
CEYLON DEVIL DANCE.
A Curious Performance In the Dark,
ness Of q Colombo Jungle
A Weird Scene and Dlabollcal Music
...Amaxons OF binEhaleso Su-
perstltiOn.. Ecnt trance OF
tho Serpent King.
[Moncure D. Conway.1

tMoncure ID. Conway.]
The first sign of what was coming was
fare Of torches approaching from variou.
quarters irregulary, held by men nearly
naked. Then there was loud beating OF
tonl-toms-drums Of long hollow wood, at
each end Of which Is q skin beaten with the
hand alone. Presently man began todrawl
out a wild, wailing chant, with which all
other and then another joined These were
words, but the gentlemen present who knew
the languages Of this region could not make
out their sense, and one Of them thought the
singers themselves did not know. BY this
time a considerable crowd Of people ba
gathered around the outer column Of the por-
tico, and tho faring of the torches upon
their shining black bolies and eager faues
made q scene Of wondrous picturesqueness.
Presently there was something distinctly
dinbolical in the rotes, which, in combina-
tion with the silent throng Of nearly naked
people, their white eyes lighting up their
dusky faces along with the livid torches,
caused strange sensations to shoot through
ones nerves. A deafening succession of TOM
tom thumps accompanied the entrance before
us Of the serpent king (Naga Rajnh>. His
mask-face and crown together-represented
every terrible and beautiful curve and con-
tortion Of the cobra. Serpents coiled out Of
the corners Of his many-toothed mouth and
about his huge protruding eyes; they made
the pendants Of his ears and five blended
cobra houds and heads rose into canopy for
his crown. With him was his prime ninis-
ter, who also had an ingeniousy horri-
BILE decoration of serpents, three monster
hoods rising above his mead and three smaller
ones being erect over his forehead. With
x1o,,, h;,~l v,o.v Nth
five cobras. The three faces were blood red,
goggle-eyed, dusky. the forms dressed in red,
with touches Of green, beneath which patches
of dark skin were occasionally revealed as
they drew themselves about in snuous' ecsta-
sizes. Though no word was uttered the theme
of their dance was evidently the serpent, AMI
do not doubt that we were looking upon all
ancient rite of serpent worship, or what is
called such, my own opinion being that pro
pitiation of dreaded objoct is not "worship.'
They coiled, twined, twisted and wrung their
necks SO long as to make ono uneasy.
recognized an interesting legendary per-
sonage in fiery figure that followed the
Nagas already described. They called him
Kalu Cumara, the black prince but none
present seemed To know his legend, with
which met some years ago in the Asiat!c
told me, through gentleman kindly inter-
preting for me, that this prince lived on
mountain, surrounded by she devils. Iaskod
him if it were not true that women at
tributed to him all their ailments and
he promptly assured me that such was
the fact. The early legend, which would
thus seem to have nesly died out, was that
this prince was once beautiful and great;
race of female warriors (Amazons) besie2eu
his kingdom, but, on seeing him, they all fell
In love with him. Each Amazon tried to APP
propriate him, and in their competition he WAS
torn to pieces. He then became demon,
and ever since has been avenging himself Oh
the female sex in the way stated. The classic
Amazons have become the "shedevilS' OF
Singhalese superstitition. l thought l could
perceive an unusual shrinkase back on the
part of the crowd when this black prince
came dashing on the scene. He aared torches
with both hands, and burning brands issued
from the corners of his mouth. His mask
was pallid and hideous. He mover rested an
instant, hut danced and leaped furiously,
going through movements which expressed
commissions, gripings, delirium, epilepsy
sometimes setting fire to his beard and
clothes in an alarming way. have observed
that even educated people here-and some of
them are even learned-are rarely free from
the influence of the superstitious atmosphere
In which they dwell. AMI easily accept some
rationalizei modification Of popular de-
lusion.
In tho finale there moved before us an
embodiment of malaria that recalled to me-
Blake's picture OF tho Shiny green sower
scattering seeds. Then deiirium appeared,
ami finally fearful, Evid mask, with NOV
ing saw-teeth in q cavernous mouth, in
whose face one need not look twice to recog-
nze the graveyard demon, Marua-death.
This was the demon conceived by village
which made cemetery ON hill that over
hung it, whence came poison to the springs
from which they drank. Marua was the last
enemy. The chief deities of the Buddhist
and Hindu heavens, Sakra and 1ndra, came
out to bid us goodnight and receive compli-
ments on the interesting demons provided in
their universe, for they were all demons-no
devil was among them, for dovils do not ro-
pei, but allure; they are not ugly, but fasci-
mating. coolie performed somersaults and
contortions suggestive Of bonelessness, and
then the ton,-toms ceased for the first time.
The torches were extinguishcd. The dusky
crowd dispersed among the palms and nlali-
goes. Our revels were ended.