Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1889-05-18

among the people the human victim
destined to be offered as a saci lice. AS
he passed along the line from one TO
another many lrembled with fear, whilst
abiect terror was painted on many faces.
He came at length to the spot where l
with w friends were locale !, hesitated
| for a moment, passed on, but returned
| again, and drawing his bloody knife
across my shoulder, yeiiet out, 'basselia.
Bnssellal ("The vlctiml The viCtiml')
at the same time commanding four young
men who had held the oxen for the knlfe,
to approach and seize the sacrifice that
the great spirit might have human blood
to drink and breathe the fragrance of the
| ascending smoke of his roasted heart.
Being somewhat apprehensive Of the
turn affairs might take, ! and my two
friends had taken the p%recautlon Of
| carrying u arms, and not seeing the
matter In the same light as the mutt, we
prepared to defend ourselves. In the
present state OF excitement, it was useless
TO attempt q parley. So, as The servi-
tors approached, without Il moments
hesitation we fired on them.
" EEL DEAD,
and taking aim ut the villainous priest,
| sent a bullet through his head, and be-
fore the people could recover from Their
astonIshment, Vs. took 10 our heels and,
gaining 4 rock. placed cur backs against
il, determined to sell our liyes az dearly
a3 possible, II any further attempt was
made on us. The mutt being dad, con
sullation was held amongst the chief and
his advisors, who evidently decided NOS
to carry on the game any further.
La q parley which followed we cX
planned TO the chief very plainly what
the consequences would be to him and
his tribe ii We were harmed when the
news reached our friends on the coast
We were not subjected TO further out
rage, the only stipulation being that We
leave their country at once, a condition
we were noI loath 10 comply win.
There Is no cannlbailsm amongst even
the lowest and most degraded tribes ii
South Africa. They have different re-
hglons and forms of worship. Some
OF Them have a belief IN two great splIits
one OF evil and one of good, who CON
SANITY war wnh each other, sometimes
he koOd prevailing and sometimes the
evil, 50 10 be safe lney render about equal
alteration to each, their wOisnlps bGlng
actuated solely by notions OF fear
Otaers believe oHly IN one great power
10 whom they attribute qualities Of "a
mixture OF good aud evil. inelr deity
sometimes is IN IA mild, amiable and be
nes Olent mood, and at oLEers Is blood
thirsty and cruel. lhere are tribes who
beiieve the splrlt OF the delly enters into
the crocodile aud cons Iently they rem.
der to this brute divine homage. These
tribes have n pies hUOd st apart to the
worship OF this deity. Their duties are
TO hold communion with the
SPIRIT IN THE CROCODILE
and communicate hts commandments to
the people. The nCoau, or high priest,
seldom makes his revelations direct 10 The
people, but generally through subordl-
mates. The Incua / Is provided with u
SANCTUARY IN which he oid communion
win The deity. inns sanctuary Is the
center hut OF about 100 All enclosed by "A
tail pallsadc made OF bamboo and inter
laced, SO as TO make 1t Impossible to see
through. The huts surrounding the cen
ter one are for the use Of the subordinate
priests. None but me prlesls are allowed
10 enter the enclosure, and non ever en-.
ter the center hut or sanctuary except the
incoati. Here he releases to have con
verse with the spirit, who reveals him.
self in IA my sterious manner in The form
Of a crocodile. Tue priest is feared auo
avoided by the populace on the few occa
sions that he does appear on side.