The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1920-03-02
SACRIFICE GIRL TO
DEVIL GOD" TREE
MIKADOS SENTENCE A YOUNG
WOMAN TO SNAKE-LIKE COILS
OF CRUSHING DEATH PLANT.

In the southeastern part of NADIA
gascar there is inland region bare
ly known, whose white visitors can
be numbered on the fingers of one
hand. In this region there lives a
race of natives who call themselves
Mikados. They are among the small
est races in the world, the tallest, 3
and a half feet, writes Maubert St.
Georges, a French traveller.
The religion of these natives con-
sists simply in the worship of sa-
cred tree. This tree is most remark
able in appearance. 1t has strange
barrel-shaped trunk rising to some
eight or nine feet in height, covered
with a quaint mosaic-like bark. At
the top it is about nine feet in cir
conference, and is capped with a
strange saucer-like structure.
derneath the edge of this saucer
there stretch out stiffiy and horizon
tally series of green branches seven
to eight feet long. Beneath these
hang eight leaves of great thickness,
tapering to a sharp point, the outer
surface being plentifully strewn with
what appear to be large yenomous
looking thorns. Lastly above the
green branches there grow pointing
upwards half a dozen frail-looking
pslpi, l think the name is, that shiv-
er as if constantly agitated by some
strong wind.
Naturally, gods have to have some
sacrifices, and | was lucky or I'M
lucky enough to witness one of these
celebrations, as this tree was no eX-
ception to. the rule.
One night the natives gathered
about one of these trees and built
great fires. Then they gorged them
selves, also drinking some kind of a
native liquor. Soon they were all
more or less intoxicated. A specially
chosen band then began to dance
around the tree, shrieking, jumping,
their uguly, distorted faces hellish
in the freight. For a white they
continued this, singing or rather
yelling propitiatory promises, asking
whether the devil god would be salts
fed with the present of d beautiful
| girl.
As far as | could understand it, the
ceremony was as follows. The sau-
Ger at the top of the tree was filled
with some sweet juice, the product OF
the tree, the drinking of which pro
dues intoxication and then coma. A
woman was forced to climb into the
tree and drink. If the devil was II
good humor she would be allowed tC
Jump down, but if he was suffering
from fit of temper then it wa
goodbye" Exactly how the ire
would stop her from jumping dow
could not see at the time, but wa
soon to learn.
Having finished their awfu
screeching, the dancers suddenly
turned and surrounded a woman
ordering her to climb the tree. A:
she refused and struggled they usec
their spears, and stabbing at he1
face forced her to go in the direc'
ton of the god. For moment she
resisted, then seeing that it was use
less gathered herself for the effort
and sprang toward the tree. Like a
monkey she scrambled up, and kneel'
ing drank of the holy liquid Then
she sprang up, seeming mad with
fear. and | thought all was over, ex-
pecting her to spring off the tree
Suddenly I stood transfixed with hor-
ror. The tree SO dead and motionless
a moment before had come to life at
the contact of the woman. The palpi,
so weak looking, suddenly ceased
their quivering. For moment they
were still; then they coiled them
selves about her head and shoulders.
The green branches, so still a
moment ago, began to writhe and
wrap themselves round and round her
like evil snakes. Lastly the great
leaves began to writhe, and then clos
ed about the victim, crushing her
with those terrible thorns. As these
pressed more and more tightly to-
gether there trickled down the trunk
pinkish mixture, the intoxicating
fluid from the tree and blood of the
human sacrifice.
Then the feasting began again
amidst much rejoicing. The devil was
appeased.