The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1939-12-08
Negroes Under
Rule of w omen
Dominate Tribes in Brazil,
Columbia University
Professor Finds.

1umgles surrounding the city of
Bahia, Brazil, formerly the greatest
slave market in the western world,
1t Is reported by DR.. Ruth Landes
Of the department of anthropology
Of Columbia university, who has
just returned from more than year
In the Bahia region, where she made
the first detailed investigation into
the lives Of the people ever con-
Quoted.
Approximately 100000 Negroes in
the district worship in cult houses
ruled by priestesses whose influence
is strong enough to be felt by many
of the white people living in the
same region, DR.. Landes said. The
cults are directly connected with the
elaborate, secret religions of the At
rican continent.
$50 powerful are the women in
these communities that the only
way to get position is through one
of the cult houses" DR.. Landes add
ed. "Some of the less important
houses in so far as antiquity and
influence are concerned have men
as priests. Their power, however,
does not compare with that of the
women since all the large houses
are headed by priestesses. Unlike
most of the communities in the
world, the power Of the priests is
resented by the male population
whereas the influence of women is
taken for granted.
Settle All Problems.
1.-THE priestesses, who are sup
posed to serve the gods as mis-
tresses, settle problems of sick
ness, health, love, hate, friendship,
and every other possible phase Of
native life. A man will not marry
woman, or a woman man, until
after the priestess has been consult
ed. In the past the police have
made some efforts at control, but
usually the primitive rites are al
lowed to flourish unmolested.
Stealing and similar crimes
against the state are handled by the
police and neighborhood courts, but
even here the women's influence is
felt. The victim of the thievery
goes to the priestess to have sor-
Gerry worked against the thief, while,
where it is possible, the thief applies
to the priestess for the protection
of the gods.
ssThe head priestess in each cult
house is supposed to have omnipo-
tent religious powers. Each cult
house Is distinctly separate, and oc-
casiona1 differences in beliefs and
in manner of worship are found.
There are approximately 80 cult
houses in the region, one for each
neighborhood. Most of the Negroes
who live in these communities work
during the day in the city itself.
Economic problems are at mini
mum. Unemployment is rare and
where it exists it is taken care of
by the family. Each Negro hut has
a garden which furnishes the family
with much Of its food.
''Most Of the days and nights dur
ing the seven months Of the year
in which the gods are supposed to
descend close to the earth are spent
in very elaborate and complicated
dancing ceremonies. The priestesses
offer up sacrifices Of food to the
gods, wash their fetishes, and dur
ing the ceremonies become pos
sessed by them. The gods are be-
lieved to descend into the bodies Of
the priestesses, Transforming them
into instruments Of divine power.
Like Negroes Of U. s.
'sWhen the priestesses are pos
sessed,' the dancing begins. The
dancing and singing at these cere-
monies is in way the primitive
counterpart Of the religious revivals
attended by Negroes in the United
States. The lay people in the COM
munity gather at the rituals at
night, but the priestesses continue
the ceremonies throughout the
whole day.
''In the more important cult
houses priesthood is hereditary. Al
though the priestesses never marry
they do have children. It is only
during the seasons Of the ceremonies
that they have to observe vow Of
celibacy.
''The Negroes in this section feel
none Of the social pressures that
they are normally subjected to in
other parts Of the New world. They
do suffer from some determinations
but these are based on color pref
erences rather than racial precon-
ceptions. That is, no legal statute
nor popular prejudices define racial
boundaries, and all doors are open
to all groups and races, but the
final choices are usually for those
Of lighter skin color. However, in
the last analysis ability is utilized
regardless even Of skin color"