Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-01-27


duced to call in physiclon, who lanced
the gums of the child. and in duo
course OF time the teeth appeared.
Shortly afterward. however. 1t was ru-
mored, that certaiD old woman was
suffering grievously with a sore mouth.
Sometime afterward another example
of how n witch used her powers TO an
noy II farmer who came under the OBJ
servatiOn of the writer. One of tho
COWS of the farmer who had previously
possessed an excellent reputation for
producing rich milk, suddenly gave
forth milk that absolutely refused to
be converted into butter. This was suf-
ficient evidence that the COW had been
bewitched. witch doctor was called
IN. and. after studying the case in
structed the milk maid to pour some
of the milk into n shallow pan. then
get n good hickory stick and thrash the
MIX until not IL drop of it remained.
Ihe milk maid obeyed the instructions
with vengeance. The next day 1t
was confidently reported that an old
woman (witches are nearly always old
women) residing in the neighborhood
was was suffering from very sore back.
inc writer never learned whether the
eXorcism improved the quality of the
milk.
FIFTY years ago the belief In witch
craft was one of the most prevalent
or all slincrstitions in Berks and Le-
hlSh. Witches were supposed to be
able to transform themselves into ami
mails. notably cats, and to this day, i'm
many IL Pennsylvania German family.
,hfiiiing stories are told Of strange,
huge, black cats. followed by sickness
in the family which these sinister crea-
lures had visited If witch doctor
could be secured in time to shoot at tho
cat ana hit her. no evil results would
follow. and it would be certain, also.
that some one in the neighborhood
would receive a charge of shot in some
portion Of his body. If no person woa
found in the vicinity suffering from n.
Sunshot wound, 1t simply proved that
the witch lived in some other locality.
IL was a poor witch doctor that could
not furnish some excuse for his failure.
nevertheless, owing TO such traditions
hundreds of Intelligent people in this
part OF Pennsylvania cannot be pre-
vailed upon to shoot n cnt-not That
they believe it is anything else than n,
cat, but they have an indcfnable dread
of impending i'll luck
1oWwowing is still believed In 10 n
great extent by the PENNSYLVANIA Cor
mans and the belief is by 10 means
confined to the ignorant. The services
oi inc powwowcr nowadays are mostly
sought by persons suffering from
burns. sciatica, rhcumatisr sore Cyns
ana crysipclas-- Powwowing consists
| simply in stroking the afflicted ports
three times with tho palm or the hand
ana rccttinE certain formulas. which
! vary with the character Of the ailmcnt
After the strokng process the DOW
| Wower blows over the SeaIof the dis
case three times. The formulas used
are never repeated aloud and never rc-
Vealcd until tho powwowor rctires from
business. Then he imparts them to
some ono who is anxious to follow his
trade. The formulas always partakc OF
n religious nature Tho Datient nuet
nave perfect faith in the efficacy of the
terminus, or no cure can be effected.
| ana 'oiemnity is observed on both sides
| curing the combinations. The powwow-
/ rr Is prohibited from demanding any
| fees for his services that is left alto
| Ecthcr 10 the generosity or the patient.
| should he demand payment his work
would he In vain. If no money is forth
| coming there is no Ill feeling manifest
| cd only ono thing is dcmanded-abso-
| iutc faith If there is no cure. II shows.
| at least To the satisfaction of tho
/ powwower that there was no faith.