The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-06-20
THE vOUDOo DANCE
Described by the Eyewitness of a
Crazy Orgie Near Port-au-Prince.
u. i.

Described by the Eyewitness of a
Crazy Orgie Near Port-au-Prince.
From the Neto York Sun.
Voudooism is practiced quite generally
in Hayti, but with such secrecy,
especially in the cities, that few ex-
cept natives ever witness its rites.
Opinions vary as to human sacrifices
Many say they are not offered. Others think
that they are always made at the great
festivals, but SO secretly that it is almost
impossible to see them. 1t Is a matter of
record, however, that few years ago sew
eral worshipers were caught near Fort
Bizoton devouring the fragments of a child,
''the goat without horns" Of their altar, and,
after trial, they were found guilty and
executed.
During political celebration in Port-au-
Prince one Saturday not long ago | learned
that on Sunday voudoo dances would be
held in the vicinity of the city, and on the
following morning started out TO find one.
had walked out about q mile when l hoard
drum in the distance. toifed along
under the broiling sun, and at the last lo-
Gated the sound behind q screen of freshly
cut palms at little distance from the road.
A number of saddled horses were tied to the
trees, and pushed my way through a gap
to find in front Of me a pavilion about thirty
feet square and open at the sides. The fat
roof was formed OF palm branches and was
supported at the center by q big post, AT
one eud were three men with cylindrical
drums made or followed logs, one end
closed with dried goatsklns, the Other. solid
wood. They varied in length from four
feet TO two. Near the smallest was man
with long cow=bell s5,ss, ts,1- 4. 49,.
1 took position outside bf the aSber. and
| little or no attention was paid to me at first,
as all hands were watching the entrance to
| hut. Presently the drums struck up, all
the spectators joined In cultural chant,
and the high priest or "Papaloi, came
frum the hut, bearing china mHgFcaretul-
ly covered with silk handkerchief With
him were an assistant priest and a master of
ceremonies, with a small silver bell. Then
came the "Mammaloi," or priestess, with a
small gourd, covered with strings of beads.
This she ratified almost constantly in time
with the drums. All were well dressed, as
were also the fifty or sixty spectators.
| mostly women, who were seated or cTouched
! on the ground on three sides Of the arbor.
! The Papaloi was an enormous man, over six
; feet tall and splendidly proportional.
The little procession passed around the
! pavilion aud paused In front of the drums.
! The Papaloi made number OF gestures
holding his covered mug high in front OF
4 him, and then he slowly brought 1t toward
/ his lips. Another large silk handkerchief
was thrown over his head, mug and all, and
| he drank. Instantly he threw off the
handkerchief and poured the mugs con-
\ tents, which looked like water, on the
i ground on three spots in front of the
1 drums. He sprang to one side and there
/ was O mad rush of women to the spots.
They groveled on the ground, licking the
| wet dirt and covering their noses with dabs
| of mud. Then one by one they crawled to
| the Papaloi, kissing the ground before him
| and striking it with their foreheads He
| raised them to their knees, wiped their
| faces with silk handkerchief, and, taking
one by the right band, he elevated his arm
! to its full length, and she turned under it to
| the right, then to the left, and all resumed
| their seats.
One middle-aged woman began dancing
alone. She became violent and streams of
| perspiration rolled down her face. She
| danced up to the Papaloi and bent over sc
| that she touched the ground with the tips
| of her fingers, aud then, springing up,
| touched her breast. He arose and repeated
each Of her motions. She took a silk
handkerchief and wiped his face carefully
He did the same to her, The dance
became more violent, until the Papaloi dis
appeared In the hut. He emerged with tbs
covered mug, and offered it to her, while
the master Of ceremonies threw the usaa
square of silk over her head. She emptiec
it at draught. The priest gave another
| chant to the drums the Mammaloi took of
the dancers shoes and stockings anC
''kiftedn her dress to her knees
Hardly waiting for her to finish
the dancer broke away from her, and
Selling her dress with both hands, did mos
wonderful hopping around in circle
| Finally she fell, rolled over and over, raiseC
herself to her knees, her eyes closed, bel
mouth foaming, and her face contorted ,anC
commenced moving her head round anC
round, faster and faster, until it seemed tina
it must Fly of. Suddenly she stopped, ros
to her feet, and then, without an effort Il
save herself, rumbled over backward as /
she were dead.
The old Mammaioi handed her gourd *
another, took her place in the center, ant
grasped the post. Suddenly her who'll
body gave a chastity twitch and her fac
became contorted. Again and again tn,
shudders were repeated with shorter IL
tervals, while her large eyes seemed about
to start from her head. It was the most fas
cinating thing have ever seen, and fel
the perspiration gather and rol
down as l stared ct her. Suddenly sh
broke into gallop around the post. Ronnt
and round she went, stopping OCCASIONAL,
to twitch and glare about her. Then sh
| sprapg to the Papaloi, seized him by tn
hands, dragged him out, and stared into hi
face. She whispered something In one ear
then In the other. Then she kissed him OF
both cheeks and the mouth. She rubee'
the point of her nose against his, then boil
rubbed faces. Ste broke away 70 re
sumo her position at the center pole
wtsle the Papaloi withdrew for thp mug
Her eyes met mine. she advancedI seize
my hands, gnd repeated the kissing an
nose rubbingA Il was MOI pleasant, but
} furtive glancel at the solemn faces aroun
me informed ME that discretion vas bett
than cleanliness. ! submitted While b