The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-05-08
THE GOLD CHAIN.

NV attention was one day directed to
passerby in the street, the friend who was
walking with me saying:
do you observe that man? He has a
gold chain round his ARM"
"Oh," 1 replied, ''that's nothing very
wonderful
'sBut this is" said he SIT is fastened on
SO that it cannot be removed. 1t was put
on him somewhere abroad, and he is bound
by it in some mysterious way so that he has
to go there whenever he is called"
This was certainly something unusual,
and as my friend could tell me no more my
curiosity was reused. and determined to
find out the truth for myself if possible.
There was no great difficulty in getting
an introduction to the gentleman in ques-
ton. He was well known, and though
rather reserved was accounted a good fell
low by his more intimate acquaintances
We soon became very good friends, but
though was eager to know his story did
not venture to ask him point blank, as
could see that nothing could be got in that
way. So waited patiently, and at length
hit on an idea which proceeded to carry
out on the first favorable opportunity. One
evening brought the conversation round
to the subject of hypnotism, and after
little preliminary fencing asked him wheth-
er he believed in these SO called mysterious
powers said to be possessed by some people.
Believer replied he, ''yes, | do, and in
truth have good reason to. And SO would
you if you had passed through what have
suffered from these same Internal powers
for that they are Internal l am as sure as
that am at present in their grasp, into
which had the i'll luck to fall. Look at
thatp' said he, suddenly barring his right
arm to the elbow, there is the mark of the
demons who have killed for me all pleas
ure in life. Would they had killed me
outright!'
1t was certainly a most extraordinary
sight. Around his arm, midway between
the elbow and the wrist, there was deeply
imbedded in the flesh a gold chain COM
posed of massive links of very peculiar
pattern. At first sight it appeared to be
merely cleverly tattooed design, for the
links, though perfectly distinct, did not
appear to interfere with the continuity OF
the skin, but closer examination revealed
their actual solidity 1t was mystery how
such an object could have been so implant
ed in the living tissues without, as he as
sured me, inconveniencing him in the least
at ordinary times. When / had exhausted
my curiosity and sufficiently expressed my
establishment, he proceeded, though ap-
parently with considerable reluctance, to
tell the story connected with it,
This chain" said he, (which appears to
you a mere object of curiosity, and the re-
suit of some mad freak on my part, is to
me a terrible badge and a real bond OF
slavery.
''Ten years ago was in the West Indies
partly on business, partly on pleasure.
had already wandered over a great part OF
the earth, and wherever / went I made
point of examining as closely as possible
into every strange phase of human life, and
nv cursed curiosity-1 can call it by no
more digniied name-led me to visit Haiti,
that ulcer of the new world where the ne
gro has covered his native barbariSm with
an all too thin veneer of civilization. One
day had wandered into the country, adj
miring the rank luxuriance Of the tropical
vegetation and, unluckily for me, having
gone too far, lost my way. Night, the
sudden black night of the tropics, came
down, and 1 knew not whittier to turn.
'.In the wilds there were no signs of hui
man dwellings, but as 1 aimlessly STUN
bled on, hoping sooner or later to light on
some trace of human life or some track
which I might follow, | saw the glad CLEAN
of lights at no great distance. Fastening
on, l soon heard voices, and breaking
through some thick underground | found
myself at the entrance to small level
clear space surrounded by lofty trees. So
glad was to be, as I thought, within reach
of shelter for the night that l hastily adj
vanced few steps before glance at the
group of wild figures. now clearly illumi-
mated by the light of the fire. told me that
had broken in on an Obeah ceremony.
II we'll knew the fate that awaited I'M
authorized intruders on these horrid rites
and turned to fee but l was too late. l
had been observed, and ere / had taken
couple of steps backward pair of swarthy
negroes sprang on me and bore me to the
ground. Their knives were already at my
throat, when the leader of the band-the
priest, suppose, if he can be called priest
who presides over these orgies-came for
ward and with werd staid them. Set
on my feet again at his command, he eyed
me steadily for few moments, and if ever
devil looked out of human eyes he did then.
Such another diabolical countenanceI have
never seen.
'He appeared to cogitate few moments,
GQen SPEAK W UuS uoSIOCS LII q Jdi gun VI
which all but a few words were unintelligi-
BILE to me he spoke to me in fairly good Eng
lish.
"'You are an Englishman. Had you been
of any other race l would not have wasted
breath on you, but left you to your fate.
But you English are the boosted conquer
ors of the world and think you know every
thing. Before l have done with you will
opA oil raoon1a If
choose, that there are some things you
have not got hold of yet. Meantime, first
of your proud race, you shall behold the
most solemn rite of Obeah in this one of it's
most sacred places
$50 saying he turned on his heel and left
me, while the negroes seized me again, and
hrrrying me nearer the huge fire burning
in the center of the open space, bound me
securely. but not must say. too tightly,
to q tree, while right before me the rest of