Connecticut western news., 1889-09-04
THE LOVE OF TWINS.
HOW DOUBLE DOSES OF HUMAN
 TTY ARE RECEIVED.
Gross Superstition of the savages

Gross Superstition of the Savages.
 Few things are more mysterious than the undefnable 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 imagina- tion, as some have supposed. So far as is known it does not always develop itself, and when it is present it's cause is not by any means understood. A real affection generally exists between twins, and often it seems to show itself in the earliest days of infancy. It is no uncommon thing for 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 it's joy. But though intense fondness is no doubt to a 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 they have entered it; others allow them to live, but only under certain condi- tions. In Western Africa little be- low the equator, between ten and twelve degrees East longitude, live a large tribe called the Ishogo. They have maay peculiar customs, but none more so than their treatment of twins and of the mother who is so unfortu- nate as to bear them.
 An idea seems to exist with them that nowomsn ought to produce more than a single child at 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 about 6 years old. Once that age has been passed it is thought by these people that a proper balance between life and death has again been struck, and they do not deem any fur ther precaution necessary. Immedi- ately the birth of twins takes place the hut in which the event happened is marked in some manner which will render it readily distinguishable from all others in the village.
 Those who have read accounts of African travel will probably remem- Der the unanimous testimony which explorers of the Dark Continent bear to the extraordinary loquacity of the natives. Africans talk as they breathe -unceasingly-and yet the unfortu- nate 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 fire wood and perform the household work necessary for the existence of herself and her children, but it must be all done in strict silence, unless she finds herself near one of her close relatives. The consequence of this peculiar GUS tom is that the Ishogo women dread the advent of twins more than any thing, except, perhaps, being childless ]; and nothing irritates newly-married woman more than to tell her that she is sure to become the mother of two children at birth.
 When the six years of probation have dragged out their weary length, agrand ceremony is held to celebrate the release of the three captives, and their admission to the society of their fellows. At daybyeak 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, hay ing previously whitened their legs and faces. The rest of the inhabitants of the place congregate round about, and at given signal the white legged women march away from the hut, fol lowed by the twins, the mother clasp ing her hands and capering about, the friend beating a lusty tattoo upon a drum and singing an appropriate song.
 After this procession has gone the rounds of the village there is a general dance. Then everyone sits down to a great feast, and eating, drinking and dancing are carried on for the rest of day and all through the night. As soon as the next day dawns, all re- strictions upon the mother and her off spring are held to be removed. This ceremony is known as "M'paza,' ,'' word which signifies both the twins and the rite by virtue of which they and their mother are admitted to the companionship of their kind.
 Cases ill which one pair of twins has felt disturbing influence at work with him when evil was befalling his other self are numerous As with all matters of the kind, the instances related are apt to border upon the land q Il are perfectly well authenticated
 Though twins are usually alike in form case. The writer knows twins broth.