Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1889-08-09
TWINS.
MYSTERIOUS SYMPATHY WHICH
EXISTS BETWEEN THEM.
A Great Antipathy Shown Toward
All Twins by Some Savages
The Peculiar Customs
of the Ishogos.

the undefinable sympathy which often
exists between two beings who came into
the world together There can be no doubt
that this sympathy is real, and not the
effect of the Imagination, as some have
supposed So far as is known it does
not always develop itself, and when it is
present its cause is not by any means un-
derstood very real affection generally
exists between twins, and often seems to
show itself in the earliest days of infancy.
1t is no uncommon thing for a twin who
has lost his or her counterpart to pine
away, dropping gradually into the
clutches of the destroyer, who in taking
away the other, has deprived life of all
its JOY. But though intense fondness is
no doubt to great extent the cause of
such sad occurrences, the sympathy which
twins have for one another shows itself
here. With many savage races twins are
hurried out of the world Immediately
to live, but only under certain conditions.
In western Africa, little below the
equator, beteen 10 degrees and 10
degrees east longitude live a
large tribe called the Ishogo. They have
many peculiar customs, but none more so
than their treatment of twins and of the
mother who is so unfortunate as to bear
them. An idea seems to exist with them
that no woman ought to produce more
than single child at a time, and they
seek to rectify the error by giving their
deities every chance of killing one of the
children before they have arrived at the
age at which they are considered able to
take care of themselves. This is held to
be at about 6 years old once that age has
been passed, is is thought by these peo-
pie that proper balance between life
death has again been struck, and they do
not deem any further precautions neces-
sary. Immediately the birth of twins takes
place, the hut in which the event hap
pened is marked in some manner which
will render it readily distinguishable from
all others in the village.
Those who have read accounts of Afri-
can travel will probably remember the
unanimous testimony which explorers of
the dark continent bear to the extraordi-
nary loquacity of its natives. Africans
talk as they breathe--unceasingly, and
vet the unfortunate mother of twins is
forbidden to exchange single word with
any but the immediate members of her
family. She may go into the forest for
frewood, and perform the household
work necessary for the existence of her.
done in strict silence, unless she finds
herself near one of her close relatives.
The consequence of this peculiar custom
is that the Ishogo woman breads the
event of twins more than anything, ex-
cept perhaps, being childless; and moth
ing irritates newly married woman more
than to tell her that she is sure to become
the mother of two children at a birth.
When the six years of probation have
dragged out their weary length, grand
ceremony is held to celebrate the release
of the the three captives, and their
admission to the society of their fell
lows At daybreak all the village is
aroused by proclamation made in
the principal street, and the mother and
friend take up their stand on either
side of the door of the hut, having pre-
viously whitened their faces. The rest
of the inhabitants of the place congre-
gate round about, and at a given signal
the women march away from the hut,
followed by the twins, the mother clap
ping her hands and capering about, the
friend beating lusty tattoo upon drum
and singing a song appropriate to the
occasion. After this procession has gone
the round of the village there is a general
dance. Then every one sits down to a
great feast, and eating, drinking and
dancing are carried on for the rest of the
day and all through the night. As soon
as the next day dawns all restrictions
upon the mother and her offspring are
held to be removed. This ceremony is
known as 'tM'paza," a word which sig
nifies both the twins, and the rite by vir
tue of which they and their mother are
admitted to the companionship of their
kind.
Cases in which one of pair of twins
has felt some disturbing influence at
work within him when evil was Detailing
his other self are numerous. As with all