Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-03-23


Rico, Cuba, Jamaica and Louisiana, in all
these places finding abundant material
among the colored people, who, naturally
superstitious, are especially prone to re-
gard the voodoo with ave. since q tradi-
tional fear of the voodoo queen and her
supposed power has become almost hered-
itary trait in the African character
For voodooism is no new thing How
long it has existed in Africa it is impos-
sible to SLY, but certain it is that the ear
lest European explorers of both the east
and the west coasts of the dark continent
found 1t ilouriShing, both on the coast and
in the interior, while from numerous al
lusions in ancient authors there is reason
to believe that it. or something like it,
was known before the Christian era.
Stripped of the meaningless forms and
ceremonies that are now said to constitute
the greater portion of the voodoc incanta.
ton, 1t Is nothing more nor less than a
survival of the serpent worship that once
prevailed over part Of the old world.
Save in Africa and India the worship
OF the serpent as a special cult is now
almost unknown, the voodoo practices of
the West Indies and among the colored
people Of Louisiana being not SO much in
the nature of worship as of lamentations
to secure some desired object.
Noodoo worship is seen at its best. or
more properly, at its worst in Whydah, u
town of Dahomey, situated on the Gold
Coast. The whole town virtually lives by
voodooism. for there are largo temples and
numbers Of oracles SO famous that men
come from near and far to consult them
with regard to enterprises about to be I'M
dertaken and regard their decisions as of
no little weight. The principal temple is
devoted to the pythons or great boas which
are the objects of alteration. There are
always FROM 80 to l0o of these repulsiye
creatures belonging to the temple
The translation OF python worship to
the West Indies stripped the cult OF many of
its characteristic features, but one, the
veneration OF the serpent, has survived the
change, and in every voodoo Incarnation
the presence Of the serpent forms yery
important, indeed an essential. element
But pythors are not to be found in the
West Indies and in default of their pres.
ence an easy transition was made TO the
most poisonous reptile that could be oh.
tanned In the vicinity. Rattlesnakes are
most commonly used, though copperheads.
adders. vipcrs and other poisonous reptiles
may be employed, and when none Of these
is to be obtained, a common blacksnake
Will answer tiie purpose. but there must
be snake, for the serpent is the emblem
or embodiment of wisdom and without its
presence there can be no incantation
Strange stories have been told of the VOC
doc incantations of New Orleans in former
days, but most Of them are probably exag-
gerated, for during the French occupation
voodoo practices were vigorously suppress.
ed. In Jamaica, Porto Rico and Cuba there
are laws against the voodoos and their wor,
ship.
In Louisiana it is believed that very lie
tie Of the cult remains. An occasional old
oolored woman. living alone in tumble
down cabin, and having an uncanny repu-
tation among both whites and blacks, c.
casionally consulted by some foolish wom
an or superstitious man, shutting a pack
of greasy cards or practicing rites of which
she knows neither the history nor the sig
nificance, dreaded as witch, and on the
strength OF her bad reputation selling
charm bags, hoodoo packages or rabbits
feet, is the sole survivor in this country Of
q form of worship that once prevailed Over
half the surface Of the earth.