Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-10-05
HShange CuHDeaL
ing mBlack Magic,
Brought to the
american Colonies
byEarly SIa 0es,
ShUExists Despite
Efforts ofPollce to
Stamp 1t Ont.

OIUWp IL OHI.
BY HILDA PHELPS HAMMOND.
~ FYOU should wake up tomorrow MORN
ing and find a cross Of salt upon your
front porch, what would you do?
~ If YOU lived in Iowa or Michigan or
even in Pennsylvania you would prob
ably sweep 1t away and call it neighoors
prank. But II you lived in Louisiana you might
act quite differently-for a cross OF salt, IN the
language of voodooism means trouble!
mat is why Mr. and Mrs Joseph Gautier OF
New Orleans thought twice before sweeping
away the cross of salt that they found on their
porch few months ago, and that is why the
neighbors hocked to the Gautier home TO ex-
anime it and the newspapers carried headiines
about it. For voodooism is not dead In New
Orleans. 1t has been tramped upon by the
police it has been scoffed at by the intelligent
element Of the city it has dwindled, w1thereo'
lost many Of its followers-but it still lives.
Three feet by two the cross spread itself, and
the caked mass indicated that some one had
placed the salt there in thoroughly dampeneo
condition There were neighbors who insisted
that they had heard strange noises in the early
morning hours; there were others who spoke
Of seeing a dark form glide past the house;
there were some who had heard nothing but
the baying of hunting dogs. But on one tnng
all agreed: q cross of salt does not mean death
"A
pencil dipped in vinegar would mean that, or
an acorn stuffed with hair and bearing four
holes in its Sides but a cross Of salt means only
trouble.
T<HE neighbors stood and gossiped. Some
recommended throwing finely chopped basil
leaves over the cross to destroy the "gris-gris";
some staked their all on a frizzly chicken, most
potent Of spell-breakers; but gradually they
tegan to speak of other things and to recall
the tales told by their grandmothers and great
grandmothers Of the days when voodooism was
at its zenith in Louisiana.
Tales Of the swamps, where the voodoo wor-
shippers gather on st. Johns eve to dance IN
wild ecstasy: tales of Dr. John, whose house
on Bayou road was sought by those who wished
to gain fortune or love or domination over the
mind Of hard master: tales Of Marie Laveau,
the greatest queen that the cult ever bowed to,
and Of her successor, Malvina Latour, calm,
deliberate and POWERFUL Names almost for
gotten, but names that once struck terror into
the hearts Of thousands. Names whose owners
have gone forever, but which still remind one
from time to time of that short, strange chap
ter in Louisiana history.
What Is voodoOism?
Voodooism was evidently introduced into
Louisiana by the slaves shipped over from the
African coast. Great, rough creatures they
were, uncivilized and untamed who well de-
served the name "bruts' that was given to them
because Of theiF brute force. Captured in bat
tie the African coast by cannibal chiefs,
these unfortunates were sold to the owners Of
slave ships and brought to the United States.
Some of them died on the journey, some Of
them threw themselves overheard in despair,
but hundreds Of them landed in Louisiana and
were put to work on the slave farms in the
swamps. They were soon taught to use the AK,
to clear the ground, to build houses, and be-
fore long New Orleans had its organized slave
labor.
Ignorant and unhappy with only the words
of their tribe upon their lips, these slaves
brought with them from their African homes
the superstitions and beliefs which had been
instilled into their savage minds. The god
Voodoo was their idol-antagonist Of the
African god Zombi-and to him they still went
in alteration. Terrible in his wrath was this
Voodoo, able to wreak vengeance upon those
who defied him and to aid those who appeased
him. His earthly form was believed TO be that
Of living, wTithing snake.
INTENSELY emotional. the Negroes gave
themselves to the worship Of VoOdoo and
met in remote spots in the marshes to entreat
this spirit to give them power over their enemies.
Secret, indeed, were these meetings and those
who participated IN them swore an oath never
10 reveal what went on at these conclaves-
an oath sealed by smearing the lips at one part
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