The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-09-26
A DEVIL INFESTED EDEN.
Strange Experiences Of Europeans With The Sp,ois
Of tbsslnia

Cant. Welby. who has recently re-
turned from an expedition through
Abvssinia. tells the following extraor-
dinary story of the haunted land Of
Walamo:
lone of the most weird ana remark
able scenes | ever witnessed was in
Walamo some forlnights Journey
south of Adis Abeba. The place had an
evil reputation. and ! had frequently
heard that any person venturing TO en-
ter the country became the special
prey of demons-in fact became pos
sessed by demons. OF course, I pooh
noobed The idea, but nevertheless II
made me more determined than ever to
go there. My Abyssinians did not even
demur when told them Of my resolve
but the fact really was that they did
nos think | should be permitted to en-
ter the deviI-infested zone. on reach
ing the mysterious place / found it to
be one of great beauty. IL was a fertile
country. with luxuriant vegetable
growth. fntersected with streams. 1t
was. moreover very hilly and wen tim
bered. The inhabitants ! found 60 be
most friendly. although they told me
they had never seen a white man be-
fore. So far all had gone wel, and
| was more certain than ever that the
evil reputation of the place was only
based ON supersititious nonsense. 1 do
not say that subsequent experience has
left any very clear idea in my mind.
and / can in no way explain the mar
velous phenomena which l Witnessed
| only state the facts.
THE first sign OF anything wrong
was when one Of my SOmau escort rush
ed into camp shouting 'Waamo. Wal
amo.' He was frightfuby excited no
shook violently and kicked like a mad
man. and In the interval between his
shrieks he told me that ne was pos
sassed by a devil The LAAala-4-4- tAtt
night he was neither more nor less
than a maniac, but the next day he
was perfectly well. / had been previ-
ously told that once man had become
'Walamo' or devil-possessed he was al
ways liable 70 a second attack. and as
simple measure of precauuon the
mans rifle was taken from him. While
of this curious madness. In the course
of which he drew a knife and rushing
about threatened TO Kill everybody. III
took several men 10 hold him down. II
is supposed 10 be especially dangerous
10 eat food in the presence OF the Wal
amo' people. and on one occasion one
of my Soudaneses saw Walamo gaZ-
ing tntently upon him while he was
having his meal. Nothing unloward
stsa.affF ~ he l.tHy a lsl
ter this man became a raVing lunatic.
THE latest victim. who was my hea,
man. had always been a peaeeable or
DERBY fellow, but he profeSsed 20 know
before the outbreak that he had be
come possessed. Certain il is that n
like the Somali. kicked ard yelled an
exhibited similar symptoms 10 the 9th
er unfortunate. Without intermissiol
he shouted 'Walamo' at the top Of hi
voice and in his madness injured three
men. Eventually he had TO be tied up
but the next day he was perfectly well
thinking | could perhaps do some
thing To explain these extraordinary
occurrences j resolved to eat Solemnly
meal In the presence OF the 'WalamO
myself. When all was prepared / haC
something like a hundred of these peo
pie watching me. In due time the mea
was over, and / thought no NOR,
about 1t. Here / should state that
had not had a days Illness during th,
Journey and was in the best OF health
AT the time. The next day. however
| felt thoroughly III. Needless 20 say
did not let any OF my people know thai
anything was wrong nor can | attemp
10 explain the cause. was quite an
able 10 md cause for this mysterious
business. | merely conhne myself 10
pare statement of the facts. IL was al
anxious time for me. as | did not know
whether at any moment the whole
camp might not become 'Walamo'