The Portland daily press., 1899-04-01
THE cHIRos OF PORTO RICO.
A Curious Religious Sect ofthe Island.

Strange tales OF curious religious scot
in Porto Rico are told, says q bingham
ton letter to the Baltimore Herald, by
Rcv. William Mnxneld. returned mis-.
sionnry. The sect, which carefully ex-
cludes foreigners, Is known as Chiros.
One of Its peculiar ceremonies Is that OF
"flogging the devil. "
This rite is celebrated every Friday, at
daybreak. In the seaport towns 1t takes
place on board fishing smacks or other
craft owned by members of the scot and
often is attended by the entire population
Of the village.
The life-size figure of a man supposed
to represent his satanic majesty Is drsggeu
on deck, and amid jeers and curses. ias-
tened to the yard arm. For some time
h figure is allowed to hang, then IL is
carried three times around the deck oil
the craft, and finally fastened to the cap
stan or some convenient post, where the
crowd proceed to belabor 1t with CLUBS,
shrisking that they have killed the devil.
When the clothes are cut into shreds
and the figure entirely denudsd, expos
in0 the block of wood that serves as O
head, IL is repeatedly dipped overheard,
and finally chopped into splinters anu
burned.
saw the cereomny," says Mr.. Maxheld
{" / was reused from sleep by the passing
of a bowling mob, dragging the form OF
a man, which they occasionally jumped
upon and kicked. My first impression
was that some unfortunate wretch had
incurred their wrath, and they were
wreakiny vengeance on him. j.,
"Hurrying on my clothes rusnea
forth. hoping to save the body from fur
Their mutilation at least. Following the
crowd to the public square l saw them
halt and haul the body..onto the limb OF
a tree. Then saw that the figure was
stuffed with straw.
"OuickIy tho bundle Of rags I was
fastened to the trunk, sticks were piled
around It. and soon the fire was blazing
merriIy. Around this pyre danced the
dasorderly crowd, until suddenly there
was an Oh plosion, and the figure was
blown to pieces. A bag Of gunpowder had
been fastened around the neck. Ihen
the tire went down, and the hooting
crowd dispersed.
Another ceremony OF this strange people
Is called drowning the devil. and this
is sometimes accompanied with serious
consequences. The victim Is a man or
woman of incorrigible temper whom u
neighbor has charged with having
"devil."
A council of the "Chiros" is called and
evidence taken as to the truth or falsity
OF the charge. Ii in the opinion OF the
board 1t has been sustained, day is ap
pointed when the victim shall be purined
and spot is selected. This is usually IN
a running stream, as 1t is held that the
devil cannot stand running water.
A crowd of worshipers form ring
around the unfortunate subject and
march to the stream, chanting weird
wall Arriving, two of the strongest men
force the victim into the water, ana
though he struggles violently, they hold
him under until 1.-The ldevil goes out =
that is, until he becomes quiet; and ire
ouently when taken out prompt remedies
have to be resorted to to prevent death
from drowning.
In one or two instances the victims per-
i.hed, After that the authorities inter-
fered, and ceremonies of this KIND are
now rare and conducted much more
ca, etully.