, 1886-12-21
THE "vooDoo BAGS CHARMS.


The superstitious but nIimitable Faith
of the Negroes In Their Virtue.
\ voodoo bag is an amulet which calls
up and impresses in its deep significance
the superstitious fears, breads and hopes
of the southern negro. 1t is his guard
against all ills Of flesh and fortune. In
appearance Il voodoo bag isa Hat. rough
" made pouch of cotton cloth. Stitched
by unskilled hands. its edges are uneven
and raw. From being suspended around
the neck in its contact with the skin for
49, days of the year, and, in the case of
the one which was seen by a reporter
for twcnty-cight years. the surfaces had
become bcgrimed and greasy. \ cord
of cotton rudcly knotted held the charm
in position and was like it soiled from
age.
1t was with some feeling and only in
response To repeated and eager inquiry
that the lucky losses,or of the charm. a
negro roustabDnt. who for many years,
"Sencc bcfo lie wall. % hal been working
on the river, consented to allow its ex-
animation. lie would not part with it
under any consideration.
without any difficulty the pouch was
opened at the top and an inventory Of
the contents made. A wisp of hair much
resembling that used by plasterers which
it was finally decided was from IL dogs
back. came first. closely followed bv IA
lock which had seen service rs the cover
ing of IA cat before it became part of the
protector. A little deeper and a chickens
f..fI.,r rttn.tI.1 lao contact ,HftI,. moo,
Of rusty nail and a long, sharp tooth,
which had a place in the amulet. was
pulled out. Asmall piece OF paper such
rs one would get by tearing off one cor
nrr OF a newspaper. devoid of marks by
pen or pencil. concluded the inventory,
and when each was replaced, the strings
readjuStcd and rcswung to its place on
the breast Of the owner. the charm was
TO all appearances as good as if it had
Just left the hands OF its maker. Simply
these and nothing more could be found
in the bag.
Nor were there any evident signs of
arrangement. Rather it seemed the
whole had been juinbled together with
ont Thought. the doctor being out of a
supply OF the other ingredients some
times found in the amulets.
Deed, boss. Use reason to know de
charm all rite. | could tell We of many
times it's saved me. Oars wunst when
! was at Louisville, three OF us niggera
was runnin along the gunnel of II barge
when de line we was carryin' got cotched
and bof de man in front and de maj be-
hind me fell into de rivah and wal
d~rowned'd. Use been through lots o.
sech things and | always cum out rite.
Whar did | git it. OATS way back in
Mississippi. When | wal "a chile / wu2
sickly. and my dad got it foh to make
me well. l'se never been rite sick
sense
Such is the faith, superstitious but il.
limitable. that has taken possession OF
the minds of those of the colored race
who from childhood up have heard sucl
things spoken of in solemn whispers, in
the half light of n cabin in the evening,
or preached by AN old man whose inn
pressive speech was mixed with meta
plIOr and bristling with horrible exam.
pies which have made the pickaninn,
creep to his cot and lie awake half the
night thinking of what he has heard.
1t is growing to he IA wonder to hear OF
u '"'or'n man VINO practices or breaches
'IIe N"o'ioo oeilei' WIN The education
Oh ''' misses II mas NED out or been con
S'g'''i l" ',e 'ie darkest corners OF the
V''"''eS' Wherc IT'S oellevers are eve II
Vi "e'eo',o"' i" the negro Whose
""'"Ee soes pa'h 10 an ancestor wh'
,,;,i.n ''a we iuoi''rous Super
"'"'' f'e""'nIhaiit as he can
s'o '"' ei'eNe more iuiiy 'hat by the
N""''" '''s' 'c Sous may pe Placated.