The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1899-02-04
ODD FILIPINO CUSTOMS.
DEVIL DANCE FOR THE ExoRcISM OF
EVIL SPIRITS.

Cherished-Modern Jacobs and Rachels
-Buddhist Theory That the Soul Goes
| Cavorting Around Nights-Other Facts.
An English physician now living in
London, who has spent many years
on tho island of Luzon in the Philip
pines, relates these superstitions and
customs which prevail among the less
enlightened Filipinos.
''Many of those who conform out
wardly to the rights of the church, "
he said, s'still cherish a belief in
witches and demons. They believe
that witches congregate at the birth
of children and watch an opportunity
to snatch the soul of the newborn in
FAINT. When birth takes place the
room is Theoretically sealed not so
much as a crack of the door or win
dow being left 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. If the attending mid
wife has occasion to believe that the
witches are actually at work charge
of gunpowder is blown off in the room
to frightem them away.
"When the child thus bewitched is
born it is placed in draught of air in
an open door or window so that the
witches may have a chance to escape
and the exorcism begins. Three witch
candles are placed upon the little face
-one 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 to 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
it is custom for the prospective
bridegroom to serve for q time in the ]
of the brides father, if he
has not money enough to make a cash
payment for the bride.
zone of their most interesting SUI
perstitions is the belief that the soul
Of man leaves his body during sleep
and goes forth on some mysterious
GRAND of its own. This belief was
doubtless borrowed from the Bud
lhists, and one can offer no greater in
suit to Filipino than to step over
him when he lies asleep, which, &C
,ording to his idea, is getting between
MS body and his absent soul.
''The islanders have many super
'titions in regard to bats, animals and
'eptiles. The huge caymans, which
.bound in the Philippine rivers, fill
hem with peculiar horror. They
believe that the caymans are always
IN the lookout for those who have
sworn falsely or broken their prom
ses, and almost any native can tell
wonderful stories about the terrible
ate which. has overtaken liars who
lave fallen into the jaws of the cay
nan.
"The old belief, so common in Asia
nd elsewhere, that certain sounds
AVE power over non-human pres
noes is cherished by the natives of
he Philippines, and several of their
most powerful incantations are said
o be preserved in secret manuscripts,
'ut though the Spanish clergy have
ried every means to procure these
looks of the devil, as they call them,
heir efforts have been .unrewarded,
nd the dreade formul@ still remain
he secrets of the native priests.
Zone of their customs is the devil
ance for the exorcism of evil spirits.
+ an epidemic of smallpox, cholera
+ other disease occurs in a village
be mischief is at once attributed to
ONE evil spirit which has taken up
Is abode in neighboring banyan
rec. The particular tree inhabited
y the devil is determined upon by
he native priest. and on the night
for the exorcism the entire
opulation of the village marches to
be spot, bearing sacrifcial meats and
pices. They form circle round the
anyan tree aud await the comiug of
be priest. Presently strange-look-
1g figure appears, clad in long,
owing gown. and with high, peaked
ed hat upon his head. Then din
egins, and the tomtoms and other
arbaric instruments make night hid
ous. The priest takes his place in
,e centre Of the circle, occasionally
randishing his great, curved sacri-