Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-07-30
TWINS.
How Their Coming II Regarded In DIFF
ferent Countries.

from the LONDON Stan0nrQ
Few things are more mysterious than the un-
defnable 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 40 is known II
does not always develop itself, and when IL IL
present its cause il not by any means under
stood. Areal affection generally exists between
twins, and often seems to show itself in the
earliest days of infancy. II is no uncommo6
thing for twin who has lost his or her coun-
terpart 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,
sne sympathy which twins have for one another
shows itself here.
with many savage races twins are hurried
out OF the world Immediately they have en-
tered 1t. Others allow them TO live, bat only
under certain conditions. In western Africa, q
little below the equator, between 10 and u de-
grees' east longitude, live 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 80 unfortunate as to
bear them. An idea seems to exist with them
that no woman ought to produce more than a
single child at q time, and they seek to rectify
the error by giving their dieties 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 six years old. Once that age
has been passed 1t Ia thought by these people
that a proper balance between life and death
has again been struck and they do not deem
any further precautions necessary. Immedi-
ately the birth of twins takes place the hut in
which the event happens is marked in some
manner which will render il readily distinguish
able from all others in the village.
Those who have read accounts OF African
travel will probably remember the unanimous
testimony which explorers of the dark CONT
nent bear to the extraordinary loquacity OF its
natives. Africans talk as they breathe-un-
ceasingly-and yet the unfortunate mother of
twins is forbidden to exchange q single word
with any but the immediate members of her
family. She may 60 into the forest for fire.
wood and perform the household work neces-
sary for the existence Of herself and her chill
dren, but it must be all 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
advent of twins more than anything, except,
perhaps, being childless; and nothing irritates
q 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, O grand ceremony is
held to celebrate the release of the three cap
tves, and their admission to the society Of their
fellows. At daybreak all the village is aroused
by proclamation made in the principal street,
and the mother and a friend take up their
stand on either side Of the door of the hut
having previously whitened their legs and
faces. The rest of the inhabitants of the place
congregate round about, and at q given signal
the white-legged women march away from the
hut, followed by the twins, the mother clasping
her hands and capering about, the friend beat
ing lusty tattoo upon drum and singing an
appropriate song.
After this procession has gone the round Of
the village there is a general dance. Then
every one sits down to great feast, and eat
ing, drinking and dancing are carried on for
the rest of the day and all through the night.
upon the mother and her offspring 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 hey and
their mother are admitted to the companion
ship of their kind.
Cases in which one of pair of twins has felt
disturbing influence at work within him when
evil was Detailing his other self are numerous
As with all matters of the kind the instances
related are apt to border upon the land of fc-
ton. but there are many which are perfectly
well authenticated. Though twins are usually
alike in form and feature, this is not invariably
the case. The writer knows twin brothers who
can scarcely be said to bear even a family like
ness to one another, and whose compilations
go to the very extremes of darkness and fair
ness. But though unlike bodily, they resemble
one another mentally to such an extent that
they passed from the bottom to the top of one
of our great public schools side by side.