🧚 Opening, part 13 · page 2

For the capture of animals drinking at the water’s edge, or swimming in lake or river, the tail was employed.52 A stunning blow having thus been delivered, the victim was caught in the open jaws, and thence transported to the dwelling-place of the reptile, where it was guarded until decomposition had fairly supervened.53 It was then eaten at leisure and with apparent relish.54 Sometimes days were allowed to elapse before the slain animal or bird became suitably seasoned for the feast.55

While hogs, dogs, calves, sheep, geese, and ducks were often captured by alligators, they seldom attacked human beings.56 Of mankind they apparently entertained an inborn fear, and would quit the part of the river or lagoon in which men or even boys were swimming.57 Instances are rare in which human life has been sacrificed to the voracity of these monsters.58 The writer remembers several occasions, however, on which men and children were attacked by alligators.59 He will be pardoned for recalling one of them.60

Sawney had a wife who resided upon a neighboring plantation.61 It was his habit to visit his wife every Saturday night, and remain with her until Monday morning.62 On these journeys he would carry a bag containing provisions and such choice morsels as he had been able, during the week, to accumulate for his better half.63 Near the negro quarter, where he resided on the home-plantation, was a small creek, in which the tide ebbed and flowed.64 A large log furnished convenient means for crossing it.65 On the night in question, shortly after dark, Sawney shouldered his well-filled bag and set out for his wife’s house.66 The tide was flowing into the creek.67 Instead of crossing on the log, he saw fit to descend the gentle bank and wade through the water.68 It was not more than half-leg deep, and the creek was only some ten yards wide.69 When he was in the middle of the stream his attention was attracted by a movement in the water.70 Instead of getting out upon the bank, which he could readily have done, he paused, and began to parley with what, in the darkness, he conceived to be a “sperit.”71 “Tan back, Mossa Sperit, an lemme pass.72 Tan back, Mossa Sperit; me do you no harm.”73 In this idiotic and frightened manner he stood idly talking, until what proved to be a large alligator approached and laid violent hold of his right leg.74 He was quickly thrown down by the reptile.75 In the confusion which ensued, and amid the struggles and yells of the negro, the alligator for the moment relaxed its hold, and was attracted by the fallen bag, which it tore in pieces.76 Sawney had so completely lost his wits, was so terrified, and was suffering so much pain, that he neglected to improve the opportunity thus afforded, and betake himself to flight.77 He remained rooted to the spot, howling, praying, and calling for help.78 Having in a little while disposed of the bag, the alligator renewed its attack upon the frightened negro, threw him down, broke his left arm, and frightfully lacerated it and one of his legs.79

The negroes at the quarter hard by, hearing the noise and cries for help, armed with torches, hoes, axes, and billets, rushed to the spot just in time to save the life of the unfortunate man.80 The alligator was beaten to death.81 It measured nearly eleven feet, and was very stout.82 Sawney’s wounds proved well-nigh fatal.83 He was confined to his cabin for quite three months, and, during that time, required and received the careful attention of a competent surgeon.84

The lazy way in which the negro was in the habit of fishing, perched upon a tussock, with feet and rod trailing in the water, somnolent and in utter silence, did sometimes invite and receive a flirt from the tail of the reigning alligator, defending its preserves against all poachers.85

The old memories are fast drifting away into the shadows, and the modern negro and the alligator of the present are but partial types of things that were.86

LX.87

SPERITS.88

Among the negroes of the coast region of Georgia and the Carolinas a belief in the existence of ghosts, “sperits,” and superhuman influences was very general.89 Especially did it obtain among the ordinary field-hands and those least educated.90 Comparatively few there were who could lift themselves entirely above the superstitious fears born in Africa and perpetuated by tradition in their new home.91 Memories of Fetichism, of Totemism, and of Anthropomorphism were strangely mingled with the teachings of Christianity, and in their religious exercises the emotional predominated over the intellectual.92 The potency of charms and philters was freely admitted, and it was necessary to restrain the practice of Fetichism by positive inhibition, or by labored persuasion of its utter absurdity.93 The fabrication of Fetiches, and their sale to those who desired to utilize the powers of the deities which they were supposed to represent, were monopolized by old women, who derived considerable gain from this calling.94 The idea was by such means to conjure the neighbor against whom enmity was cherished, and thus subject him or her to the malign influences of the spirit or demon whose power was supposed to inhere in the evil charm.95

The ordinary Fetich consisted of a bunch of rusty nails, bits of red flannel, and pieces of brier-root tied together with a cotton string.96 A toad’s foot, a snake’s tooth, a rabbit’s tail, or a snail’s shell was sometimes added.97 In price it varied from twenty-five cents to a dollar.98 To insure the efficacy of the desired spell, it was necessary that the charm should be secretly deposited under the pillow of the party to be affected, placed upon the post of a gate through which he would pass, or buried beneath the doorsteps of his cabin.99 Once persuaded of the fact that he had been thus conjured, the patient became possessed of superstitious fears, and often complained of bodily “miseries,” which apparently defied the power of the healing art, and were wholly dissipated only when some atonement was made for the alleged wrong, or payment offered to have the spell broken through the intervention of the conjurer who had devised it.100

In the conduct of plantations, difficulty and annoyance were not infrequently experienced from the interference of these old negro women,--conjurers,--who, in plying their secret trade, gave rise to disturbances and promoted strife and disquietude.101

To the apprehension of the common field-hand there was no gainsaying the fact that the spirits of the departed walked the earth and revisited the scenes of their former occupancy.102 It was not accorded to every one to see and to commune with them.103 Only those “born with a caul” were capable of doing so.104 Such were never terrified by these ghostly visitors.105 By their fellows they were held in special esteem.106 To this favored class did July belong.107 I inquired, on one occasion, whether he believed in ghosts and could see spirits.108 “Yes, Mossa,” was his reply, “me kin shum.109 You know me bin born wid caul.110 People wuh no bin born wid caul kin yeddy sperit, but dem cant shum.111 Sperit kin skade um, too, but dem cant skade me.112 Me kin walk long um der road, talk ter um een de bush, see dem een me bed, and yeddy um een de grabe yad.113 Me an sperit good fren.”114