Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1912-01-27
Ancestor Worship Among The
Laos.

Of spirits, as to have lost almost all
resemblance to the parent religion.
By whatever name they may be cali
ed. the religions or beliefs Of ell
primitive and uncultured people
have at least two common character
istics: a. A belief in many gods,
and e q worship Of all these gods
through fear. Among all idolaters.
the gods that have the most COR
Reous temples and the greatest num-
Der of offerings and worshippers.
are those most blood-thirsty and
cruel. The idea of God of love is
so foreign to them, it is small won
der that they fail to grasp it at first,
and that old people often say: Il
want oil my grandchildren to be-
come Christians, for / believe all you
tell me about a Saviour, but / am
too old to change" or that our con-
verts sometimes go back to their de-
mon-worship at times of misfortune,
in hope of averting the wrath Of the
spirits. find many superstitions
among the Laos to remind me Of the
negroes of the south, and suppose
one would find a like similarity in
the beliefs of all primitive peoples.
The Laos believe that at death the
spirit of the departed takes up its
abode at the place where its owner
passed away. So rather than have
the home infested by spirits, the sick
are often taken out to the pig sty.
or the roadside, and left to die. No
matter how dearly beloved one has
been in life. their spirits are greatly
feared, and must be Rppeased by Of
ferings of food, flowers, aud even
1t is needless to say that
those who profit by such a belief are
the priests. Last term, we had a
death in our school, and though the
girl died in the hospital, for nights
no one would sleep in the part of the
room where she had lain, but all our |
Christian % girls cuddled together
in the opposite side of the room.
with their umbrellas raised; evident
ly being ignorant of the belief in
civilized America, that to raise an
in the house is bad luck"
Recently. Laos of high rank, who
lives just back of US, gave an all-day 1
to his ancestors, and 1
was kind enough to allow me to take
some pictures not of the ancestors,
but of their descendants. In the
paved courtyard, a booth had been
under which the customary
took place. In the rear
vas a shelf. upon which was placed
lowers and raw meat, for the delec-
alton of the departed. Underneath /
md at the sides, we're hung some
fifty scarfs of every conceivable tex
ure and color, for the dancing
women. From the ceiling was sns-
pended long strip of white cloth,
It which each woman took her turn.
they swing around on this until
thoroughly dizzy. after which they
ire supposed not TO know anything
hat goes on. and sometimes dance
Until they fall from exhaustion. They
'ften use liquor. to produce 3 rap
.ure. though ] saw no evidences uf
lrinking at this place.
The band consisted Of seven pieces,
most Of them being purely rhythm
al. These people seem 10 have very
ew tunes ane the one they played
II day long is the first / heard on
ny arrival in the country. IL isyery
'laintive, strain Of five measures
hat ends on the fifth VI the key,
nd Of all the sounds and sights. Il
lone seemed 70 belong 70 an unseen
World. In it's ceaBeless repetition,
nth never q note. 10 bring II " .
lose, 1t seems like some wandering
pirit seeking IN vain for q resting
lace. The rhythm Is ~ peculiar .
be melody. The Time IL "a, 400
be accents come IN this way: orr !
nd TWO ano THREE and FODR Z
nd; or. Oh one. the AEDB " ri,s
I'D and Bird beats, and on 4
After each dancer has sDunS
round On the cloth Until sbs sdzzy
L =