The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-10-25

They believe that the odor impaired TO
the clothing by the body has power 10
excite love. Those who wish to attract
some one OF the opposite sex viii scheme
to bring that person in contact with some
article OF clothing which has been worn
by themselves. When plignted lovers are
blige to separate for a time they ex-
change garments with each other. They be-
lieve that by this means faithfulness Is
assured. So keen is the sense OF smell
among the Ff,ipinos that they say they
can tell to whom any article belongs by
merely smelling of IL. There Is a peculiar
manner of kissing In vogue among many
OF these tribes. Instead Of touching the
lips they press the nose against the cheek
OF the person they wish TO caress ana
draw a long. deep breath.
There are many modern Jacobs and
Rachaels among the Fflipinos. for II II a
custom for the prospective bridegroom 10
serve for a time in the household OF the
brides father. IL he has not money enough
to make a cash payment for the bride.
zone OF their most interesting supersti-
tions IL the belief that the soul OF a man
leaves his body during sleep and goes
forth on some mysterious GRAND OF It's
own. This belief was doubtless borrowed
from the Buddhists. and one can oner no
greater insult to a Filipino than TO step
over him while he lies asleep. which, sc-
cording To his idea. IL getting between his
body and his absent soul.
The islanders have many superstitions
I'm regard to bats. animals and reptiles.
The "a caymans which abound In the
Philippine rivers nj them with a peculiar
horror. They believe that the ayman are
always on the lookout for those who have
sworn falsely or broken their promises.
and almost any native can tell wonderful
stories abou the terrible fate which has
overtaken liars who ave fallen into the
jaws of the cayman.
THE old belief, so common In Asia and
elsewhere. that certain sounds rave power
over non-human presences H. cherished by
the natives of the Philippines. and certain
OF their most powerful lamentations are
said to be preserved in secret manuscripts.
but, though the Spanish clergy have tried
every means to procure these books of the
devil, as they call them. their efforts have
been unrewarded and tbe dreaded formu-
lac still remain the secrets of the native
priests.
zone of their customs Is the devil dance,
for the exorcism of evil spirits. III an ep-
idemic of smallpox. cholera or other dis
ease occurs In "A village, the mischief Is
at once attributed to some evfle spirit
which has taken up its abode in a neigh
boring banyan tree. The particular tree
inhabited by the devil is determined upon
by the native priest. and on the night ap-
pointed for the exorcism the entire popu-
latiOn of the village marches to the spot
bearing sacrifcial meats and spices. They
form i'm a circle round the banyan tree
and await the coming of the priest. Pres
entity "a strengthening figure appears.
clad I'm "a long. flowing gown. and with a
high. peaked red hat upon his head. Then
the din begins, and the tom-toms and 9th
err barbaric instruments make night hid
eous. The priest takes his place i'm the Gen.
ter of the circle, occasionally brandishing
his great curved sacrificial knife. and o
and then striking the strings of his bow
which adds its deep. booming sound ia
the noise Of the tom-toms and drums
Swaying slowly to and fro, the gradually
works himself up into a state of frenzy
all the time grooming to himself strange
melodies. As his movements become fastei
and more frenZied the noise of the tom
toms increases. Suddenly the priest leap;
into the air and proclaims himself to b,
a god. and the wild devil dance begins
The assembled natives offer their sacri
fees and pray aloud to be delivered from
the evil spirit. The dancing priest becomes
more and more excited and slashes hi'
body with the sacrificial knife. The sigh
still further and he shrieks and dances OF
till nature calls "A halt and he sinks e
the ground in a swoon. After a few mo
ments of utter prostration he rises from
the ground. washes away the blood from
his body and goes quietly on his way
The evil spirit has been driven out of tn
banyan tree and the dance ends."-Nev
York sun.