Gulf Coast breeze. [volume] (Crawfordville, Fla.) 1897-19??, 1898-12-09
ODD FILIPINO CUSTOMS.
DEVIL DANCE FOR THE ExoRcIsM OF
EVIL SPIRITS.


Observation-Disclosures Jacobs and Rscheis
Buddhist Theory That tho Soul Goes
CavortinE Around Nfghts-other Facts.
An English physician now living in
London, who has spent many years
on the island OF Luzon in the Philip
pines, relates these superstitions and
customs which prevail among the less
enlightened Filipnos.
"Many OF those who conform out
wardly to the rights OF the church."
he said, s'still cherish belief in
witches and Demons. They believe
that witches congregate at the birth
Of children and watch an opportunity
to snatch the soul of tho newborn in
FAINT. When birth takes place the
room is Theoretically sealed not so
much rs crack Of the door or win
dow being loft open, because to do
that would be TO allow the entrance
OF the patianac, or witch, who is sup
posed TO be able to get through the
smallest hole. II the attending mid
wife has occasion TO believe that the
witches are actually ut work charge
of gunpowder is blown of in the room
to frightem them away.
"Wheu the child thus bewitched is
born ii is placed in draught of air in
an open door or window so that the
witches may have chance to escape
and the exorcism begins. Three witch
candles are placed upon the little face
lone on each cheek and another on
the chin. These are lighted and al
lowed TO burn until they are almost
consumed. Though the child some
times gets badly burned in the pro-
cess, such an accident is considered
of small account so long as the witch
is expelled.
''The Filipinos have some curious
customs in regard to courtship and
marriage. They believe that the odor
impaired 10 the clothing by the body
has power to excite love. Those who
wish TO attract some one Of the OPP
posite sex will scheme to bring that
person in contact with some article
Of clothing which has been worn by
themselves. When plighted lovers
are obliged to separate for time they
exchange garments with each other.
The believe that by this means faith
fulness is assured. So keen is
the sense OF smell among the
Filipinos that they can tell to
whom any article belongs by
merely smelling of it, There is
q peculiar manner OF kissing in vogue
among many Of these tribes. Instead
Of touching lips they press the nose
against the cheek of the person they
wish to caress and draw long. deep
breath.
"There are many modern Jacobs
and Rachels among the Filipinos, for
1t is custom for the prospective
bridegroom to serve for time in the
household of the brides father, IL he
has not money enough to make cash
payment for the bride.
zone OF their most interesting su-
perstilions is the belief that the soul
OF man leaves his body during sleep
aud goes forth on some mysterious
errand of its own. This belief was
doubtless borrowed from the Bud
dhists, and one can offer no greater in
suit to Filipino than TO step over
him when he lies asleep, which, ac-
cording to his idea, is getting between
his body and his absent soul.
1.-The islanders have many super
stitions in regard TO bats. animals aud
reptiles. The huge caymans, which
abound in the Philippine rivers. fill
them with peculiar horror. They
believe that the caymans are always
on the lookout for those who have
sworn falsely or broken their prom
Uses, and almost any native can tell
wonderful stories abolt the terrible
fate which has overtaken liars who
have fallen into the avs Of the cay
man.
"The old belief, so common in Asia
and elsewhere, that certain sounds
have power over non-human pres
ences is cherished by the natives of
the Philippines, and several 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,
aud the dreade formulas still remain
the secrets Of the native priests.
Zone OF their customs is the devil
dance for the exorcism Of evil spirits.
II an epidemic Of smallpox, cholera
or other disease occurs in a village
the mischief is ut once attributed to
some evil spirit which has taken mp
its abode in neighboring banyan
tree. The particular tree inhabited
by the devil is determined upon by
the native priest. and on the night