The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-10-23
CUSTOMS OF THE FlLlPINOS'
Fear of Witches at Birth. OF Chiidreh'
The Native Devil Dance.

The Native Devil Dance.
A, English physician now living IN
r.ondon. who has spent may years on the
island Of Luzon. in the Philippines re-
I Iates these superstiuons and customs
I which prevau among the less enlightened
| Filipinos: ,
"Many Of those who conform ou1"aI47
! " 10 the rites OF the Catholic CnuIch'
No said "still cherish a belief in witches
! ana demons. They believe thar witches
! congregate at the birth or chidreh anu
watch an opportunity 10 snatch the SOU
| ~ the newborn infant. When brth
| ,a,res Mace the room is hermetlcany
sealed. not so much "a crack OF tHe
door or window being left open, because
10 do that would be to allow the en-
] trance Of the pstianac or wien who is
/ sunposed to be able TO get through me
smallest hole. II the attending micNiie
/ has occasion to believe that Witches are
/ actually at work. charge OF gunpowdcr
is blown of in the room TO irisn'eh
| them away.
born II IS placed in draught Of air In
an omen door or window 20 that the
/ witches may have a chance to escape,
and the oXOrcism begins. Three Wltch
candles are placed up In the little race
one on each cheek and another on the
! chin. These are lighted and allowed 10
burn until they are almost consumed.
Though the child sometimes gets DaHy
burned in the process, such an accident
is considered Of small account 50 long
as the witch is expelled.
"The FIlipinos have some curious Gus
toms 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 atliact
some one Of the opposite sex viii scheme
TO bring that person In contract WIN
some article OF clothing which has been
worn by themselves. When phghtcd
lovers are obliged TO separata.for time
they exchange garments with each other
They believe that by this means faith
fitness is assured. so keen IS the sense
Of smell among the F1lIinos tnat they
say they can tell TO whom any article
belongs by merely smelling OF II. Ihefe
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
q custom for the prospective bridegroom
10 serve for time in the household OF
the brides father. If he haa-not money
enough TO make cash payment for the
bride.
"One Of their most Interesting super
stitions Is the belief that the soul OF
man leaves his body during sleep and
goes forth on some mysterious errand
OF its own. This belief was doubtless
borrowed from the Buddhists, and one
can offer no greater insult to Filipino
than to step over him while helies asleep,
which. according to his ideal. is getting
between his body and his absent soul
1.-THE islanders have many sLpersu-
lions In regard 10 bats, animals ana rep
tiles The huge caymans which abound
I'm the Philippine rivers FIJI them with
peculiar horror They believe that the
caymans are always on the LOOKOUT TOT
those who have sworn falsely OF broken
their promises. ana almost any hauNe
can tell wonderful stories about the
terrible fate which has oyertaken liars
who have fallen into the jaws Oh the
cayman.
.'The old belief. so common In Asia and
elsewhere that certain sounds have
power over non-human presences -
cherished by the natives Of the Philip
pines. and certain OF their most power
ful Vaccinations are said TO De 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 the dreaded tormulae !
stin remain the secrets OF tho native |
priests.
lone Of their customs is the devil !
dance for the exorclsm Of evil spirits |
II an epidemic Of smallpox. cholera or !
other disease occurs IN a village the |
mischief is at once attributed TO some !
evil spirit which has taken up its abode |
In a neighborng banyan tree. The par |
tlcuiar tree inhabited by the devil is de- /
termined upon by the native priest and |
on the night appointed for the exorcism 1
the entire population Of the village |
marches 70 the spot, bearing sacihcial |
meats and spices. They form in cir |
Gle round the bsnyan tree and await the |
coming Of the priest. Presently a
strengthening figure appears, clad IN |
a long, flowing gown. and with high. |
peaked red hat upon his head. Then !
tho din begins, and the tomtoms and |
other barbaric instruments make night |
hideous The priest takes his place In 4
the centre OF the circle. occasionally |
brandshing his great, curved sacrihcial /
knife, and now ana then striking the I
strings of his bow. which adds its deep, ,
booming sound to the noise OF the |
tcmtoms and drums. Swaying slowly !
20 and fro, ne gradually works himself
up into strange melodies. AS his move
ments become faster and more frenzied
the noise OF the tomtoms increases. |
Suddenly the priest leaps into the air !
and proclaims himself TO be a god, and 4
the Tild devil dance begins. The assem-
bled natives offer their sacrifices and
pray aloud TO be delivered from the evil
spIrit. The dancing priest becomes more
and more excited and slashes his body
with the sacrihcial knife. The sight OF /
his own blood seems to madden him
stin further and he shrleks and dances
on tin nature calls halt and he sinks
to the ground in swoon. After a few
moments 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 the banyan tree and the dance
ends"