The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1886-01-23
Dark Madagascar.

~
publican, writing from the interior of
Madagascar, says:
One of the most curious customs prac-
ticed by the Sakalavas is kind of incan-
tation and dance, called the Salamanca, 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 sorcerer. In all
Sakalaya towns there is place arranged
for the driving out of evil spirits. A plat
form about seven feet long and three feet
broad is supported twenty-five feet in the
air and is reached by straight up-and-
down ladder constructed on one 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
spirit is to be driven out, wood is brought
to this place and arrangements are made
for building fires round the circle inclosing
the scafolding and idols. Oxen and bull
/ locks are also brought and secured near the
scaffolding, the number depending upon
the rank Of the sick person. As night ap-
proaches the invalid is brought out, ar
ranged 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 bam-
boos are beaten. A circle is then formed
around the scafolding and idols, and the
people, shouting and screaming, begin to
circle around in a kind of dance, first slow
ly, 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 direction the
affair is being conducted usually wears a
very high hat, gorgeously trimmed and
decked with leaves and flowers. As the
dance continues the screaming suddenly
stops, and women and girls begin to sing
in monotonous refrain. After the gen
eral dance the people fall back out of the
ring, and a woman of rank, throwing off
nearly all her clothing, steps within the
circle of fire and begins to dance, keeping
time to the drums and bamboos, which
make terrible din. This performance 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 repeated attempts
to drive out the evil spirit, is often treated
in a most barbarous manner; poison is
either administered or aspear driven through
the breast This last cure from misery is
usually resorted to by request of the in
valid
The Sakalavas have another peculiar and
picturesque dance which takes places 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 a kind of
parade ground. The music continues and
the dance begins, the men in their actions
representing the various movements assum-
ed in battle There is the attack, the con-
1ict, the pursuit and the victory. All are
shown by kind of acting. Their spears,
which are very long and bright, glisten in
the moonlight 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 perform
ance was strange and exciting, and, un-
doubtedly, it is very inspiring to the savage
Sakalavas. Later in the evening the women
and children join in the dance, and singing
and chanting begins Upon these war
dance nights a 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, treach
cry and murder predominant, it is not
strange that funerals are constantly occur
ring, and that the strangest and most re-
voting performances are INDUCED in upon
these occasions. The first funeral which l
witnessed was that of a man of no particu-
lar rank or position. As the 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 prom
inent. 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 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 ex-
tensiye and somewhat different. At the
death of chief the great bulk of his cattle
are killed and his wives are obliged to cut
off their hair and otherwise dis6gure them
selves
A coffin is made by cutting log some
what longer than the corpse. This log is
split lengthwise, followed out, and the
body placed within. The funeral ceremo-
MES are never complete until the succeed
ing chief has captured town or fought
battle in which blood has been shed.
| w neneFer great sorcereI, VI Pelson u
more than ordinary distinction, departs this
life, his body is allowed to decompose be-
fore burial. 1t is covered with aromatic
substances and placed on bamboo plat
form in the sun, where it is left for several
days. The decomposition produces pu-
trefying liquid which is caught in earthen
vessels placed under the platform. This
horrible 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 performance the body
is wrapped in kind of cloth and buried
with various ceremonies.
A curious fact is that, although the
lynching of Henry Mason, colored, recently,
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