The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-12-19

community In Africa he had probably
been "a Prince Something bur he never had
any other name than liardtimea In this
country HIS denlsc Vas he signal for a
gathering OF the hosts from three or tour
adjoining plantation NihdEoS. for being a
'lradeF' II was necessary that he should
haye hie aend- OF Al his funeral,
flardiimes was n liShefm M. he died as
the evening tide vent cut That ntrht h a
followers. 10 the numbec OF prnbdhly totty.
shs With the corpse ANA sang moUruful
dirgts. The following dag was Iassed IN
the same manner M gycuilg Hpprua hed
the hosts began to gather Negro furcIlls
en- the Neck arc held af,cr ntEhtfnl. AS
the sun was sinking hvhtud the trse tors
the proc, ssion To thr 6rlycyuo was
formed Daddy Hahiim.S p1IY IL . pine
box. was given tho place OF nono'. tho
hearse tan OK carn heing prcceCed only by
two banner bearers. one NJ MnOm carried a
banner If yellow and the other a hlnuet or
blue calico. Following tln Fart ctne an
other banner Of red, lui at intervals alot &
tho liue which followed werA tHuucrS OF
white, but there was not our o. black, Tho
graveyard wac two mil $ away. As the sun
sank the procession mo ,cl - Il slow, mo
potouous chant,
sampit Gohack was he master Of cere-
moui,s Tie marched at the left Of the cart
and the ret,nuc Of mouvncrs Kept time With
both his singing ANA his mirchlng. He
chose his songs to mark the time OF the
march step. From the slow monotone the
song presently came more animated aud
the mourners step: Il lNelier, Then sam
pit struck into rather brisk tune;
do Mnssa Jesus. come dis away,
tSwing low, chaliot swing lown
Don lie, Bro liGrdtimos' soul 10 stray,
tSwing low. chariot, sWlng low!)
There were probably a dozen stlpza..
Sampit sang the verses solus aud The cor
tege took up the refrain swaving tieir
bodies and keeping stem With tho time OF
the music at each verse the leader would
make hts time a little faster and call upon
the others TO catch up. "Fastcri iasterl"
he would shout, Zach succeeding sopy
and verse was more spirited than inc one
which preceded II gntil when the harying
ground was reached the mournrrs were In
log trot with Precipitation streaming
down their faces. their breath soll,lg Lard
and their eyes bright with excitement.
The blacks Of the Neck never put spade
into earth 10 die grave until the corpse
rs literally ca the ground. ArriY,,L al ths
graveyard, beautiful oak grove on ma
sloplns bank Of the river Daddy Hard
times body, in its Pine casing. Was deposit.
Cd upon tne ground. and the mourners
struck big ring around 1t With hands
All round. as children do WHEN PLAYING
ring around rosy rha, WAS 10 Keep
ont "Platt-eye' aud the devil PLAT oyeH
IS the pnrlierler imp and fayorite OF tho
deVii, aua next TO the devil himself tn
most feared Spirit In the lem )nulogy OF tho
Waccamaw Neck blacks. ''platt-eye'' Is
the scout and fa1toum Of HIS aatanle mas
ter. He spies out opportunities 10 slip
into open graves and capture souls, for
Dc II known according TO he theology OF
the Neck. the soul OF the departed does
not leave the presence NJ tue boiy until thu
tinerHl has helu completed, 10 The last
shovel ~ earth.
However neither "platt-eye" nor nj,
master can 80 through a ring made by the
Joined hand OF devout believers, nor can
they tolerate the singing OF the religious
songs, The postponement of the digging az
the grave until the arrival OF The BODY.
therefore. Is precautionary measure. ani
the striking o. Rug around both corpse
ana grave space Is for the purpose of max.
ing assurance double sure.
Pine-knot torches had been called int,
requisition BY the time The cortege reached
The burying ground and the corpse MAS
'grounded~ AMI the ring struck. rharo
prlmttIve flambeaux III up tie grow, win
prevailing .onc OF rsj, and flung fIittipy
mostly swallows Among the trees Thr
Orch bearers FORMED circle outside ~
9Rte OF haiy dancers" With Joined b,na.
'prroundlng the corpse and grave pIa"s
r.neir eyes dlstsndcd with exrIter,an,
a, oone n tue req glare, and their teeth.
~ nf8f1es nave magnificent. peari-vl,lt, |
tmstenen IN the light. The torcl. |
~ statues With ivory eyes and testp