Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1912-02-23
The ate ofAcobra

kIkCI1 Dub INC FOlsOlOuS BCEpCnN tUAt
man has most cause to dread. In the
villages Of Hin6ustan or Ceylon some
such scene as that which q writer in
the Pail Mall Gazette wildly describes
Is repeated twenty thousand times a
year.
The day had been unusually hot and
sultry, even for CeyIon. But there
was the prospect ola change. A cluster
of small clouds which had risen over
the hills had been followed by others
larger and bIac&er, until at length the
north was darkened
Ia one of tile native dwellings that
stood back from the road, embowered
in palms, ayoung man lay between
life and death. He had been bitten by
cobra, and fatal inclination to sleep
was overpowering him. The KapuraIa
had been sent for, and had Just arrived
with his company Of dancers, tomtom
heaters and singers. They were pre-
pairing for the ceremony by means of
which they would try to drive out the
evil spirits from the sick man. They
covered him with leaves and flowers,
and erected by his side figure repre-
senting the demon they sought to ex-
ercise. Near at hand they placed an
altar, on which they arranged offerings
Of flowers, rice and flesh, by way of
Precipitation. Then they LEFT to put on
their professional attire.
| The company returned to the hut
arrayed in weird apparel. The dancers
wore short cotton skirts, puckerei up
into fiounces, and thick leather girdles
gaudily decorted With co.ered buttons
and metal knobs Their breasts were
covered with network of beads in
coneentric circles, which met in the
middle under bright disks of brass.
L heir headpieces had white metal
crowns, the casteilated rims Of which
spread out over their forheads, and in
front rose sever ornaments of plated
silver like tuft of feathers, and from
Round their necks and their arms and
feet were necklaces of beads, heavy
bangles, armlets, and halow anklets
filled with beads.
The ceremony was conducted by the
dim light of small coconut-oil lamp,
which barely sufficed to show the
features of the performers but the light
nlpg, cleaning almost without inter-
mission through the open doorway,
mace up for its shortcomings. Stand
ing by the head of the dying man,
holding out his hands and twisting
himself about, the kapurala was
chanting strange incoherent air, in
W hich The singers at first joined list
lessly.
AS he proceeded, his fervor increased
until his movements became those OF
maniac. He was accompanied ia his
spasmodic gestures and grosesque post
ures by the other dancers, who scream
ed, shouted and haliooed frantically as
they followed him about.
AT length they desisted, ana the in
mates OF the hut grew more composed.
The storm, too, showed signs of abat-
ing. The lightning was less vivid, and
except now and then for singl daza-
ling flash, it was passing away toward
the horizon. The Kapurala was stoop-
ing owes the PROSTATE form of the sick
man. Coma had superveued, despite
the extraordinary efforts of the DEVIL
dancers to prevent it. The face was
set, and there was tranquility about
it that caused the exorcist to e NE at it
earnestly tor some minutes. Then,
seeing that his rites were unavailing,
he turned away, aud taking the offer
ings of food and flowers from the altar,
as custom allowed, stole out into cool
night, followed by his companions.
The cobra had prevailed.