The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1899-12-23
"Darkie surerstitions.
To The Free Lance:

10 Inc rec Lance;
The following amusing Incidents
occurred among the colored people 10
the neighborhood in whicuI live.
Most of them were told me by some
of the colored people living on the
plantation Ii is amusing and also
shocking, the ignorance and super
stitution that still prevails among
the colored race, when they are not
educated, or have lived most of their
lives in the houses of the white peO
ple) They believe firmly in "con-
iure.n Some of their modes of cast
ing spells on an enemv are ridiculous.
There is negro woman living not
far from US, who makes her living as
"Copjure doctress." And really
to look at her countenance one would
almost imagine her capable of any
thing. She has cultivated q pecu-
lar stare, IS If she saw visions. She
is a typical "ginger cake" color, and
| have seen her with her checks
painted a brilllsnt red, with her hair
combed into a regular bush. and
really oidu't wonder at her fright
euing the poor ignorant darkies. She
is unsually intelligent, for she knows
good deal about herbs and their
uses. She doesn't for an instant be-
lieve in the foolish charms and spells
she practices. Bat being a tolerable
reader Of human nature, she
manages to fad great many credu-
lous and superstitiOus subjects. One
poor negro woman had received
quite present from some relation
in distant city in the shape of q
box of second clothing, no sooner
did the copjurer see it, than casting
her eyes up, she said in shrill voice
to the owner, lyon are very near
death, Anr can see death looking
over your sholdeIl I've driven him
away this time, but he will come
again" Poor Ann was, Of course,
frightened almost to death, and beg.
ged and prayed the copjurer to keep
him off, which she promised to do, If
she was paid from time to time, and
ss the first installment, looked over
the box and took all of the best
things. She has since worked the
woman (Anp) regularly, and though
her children may need clothing to
cover them, the copjure doctress re-
ceives her money. Another one OF her
subjects has a grievance. One OF his
pigs died. He went to the conJurer
to know if an enemy didn't kill it,
She told him Yesl She saw him
when be did it, and that was only
the beginning Of the evil he would do
him. unless be paid her to stop him.
And this poor credulous goose has
been known to pay her as much as
five dollars at time. for a small
bottle Of some red liquid, to bury
near his enemy's house, or in some
path he frequents, for the copjurer
has told him if his enemy walks over
this bottle charm, he will become
icon jured." and will soon go ill, and
will die if the charm is.not removed.
Another woman in Richmond has
paid a copjure doctor, in this county,
regularly for the last three years to
keep death" away from her, Her
daughter died from consumption and
her friends persuaded her she was
charmed by her enemies, aud she
would be the next victim. There are
numberless other cases of their super
stitious beliefs in coDjuring, which
would fill volume, but only men
ton these, which came among our
servants. Hoping they may amuse
others, as they have our household,
"Saugus."