Democratic Sentinel, Volume 14, Number 36, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 October 1890 — THE DEVIL'S DANCE. [ARTICLE]

THE DEVIL'S DANCE.

igpxrful Spectacle Which Enlivens life in Africa. A fantastic orgie was witnessed at the town of Loongi, the oapitai of Bul(urn, west coast of Africa, by a party of officers from the West India rogiment quartered at Sierra Leone. The people of Loongi are Mahommedana. but the dancing devil himself is a relio of a not long departed paganism, and so also probably is the dance Itself. It takes place in the courtyard of the chiefs premises, which Is entered through a circular hut The scene which presents itself to any one coming suddenly out of the darkness into the noise and glare is decidedly uncanny. In the center of a circle whloh fills the courtyard, the devil with an orthoddk tail, a great crocodile's head, and long grass, looking like hair, depending from his body and legs, and r.v&ying as lie moves, leaps, beating thne with his feet to the beat of the drums; while the women, two deep* wall a ohant and strike their palms together in slow, rythmical measure, those in the front row bowing down between each beat The young men in long robes and caps wail with men. Both are under vows, the dance being one of their rites. They look dazed to begin with, but gradually work themselves into a frenzy; and the black faces, the monotonous, wailing cry, the thrumming of the drums, the rattle of the clackers, and the beat of the devil’s feet as he springs up, crouches down, and swings about, make a scene to shock the quiet moon and stars and gladden Gehenna. North of Sierra Leone Africa is Mahommedan, south pagan, and the southern people have this devil. When peaoe is declared between two native tribes, the peaoe devil, who is a fetish, oomes leaping into the town; but if he stumbles or Calls tt is considered a bad omen, and ha is put to death for his pains. BSs dsess is soared, but bis person la of no ooitso* HiAnoe.