The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

VOODOO

IT IS BELIEVED IN MANY OF THE AFRICAN TRIBES THAT
THE WITCH DOCTOR, AND OFTENTIMES OTHER MEMBERS OF
THE TRIBE, HAVE THE POWER FROM THE EVIL ONE TO
INFLICT PAIN, OR EVEN DEATH, ON THEIR ENEMIES. THIS
IS DONE BY POKING PINS THROUGH A DOLL, WHICH REPRE-
SENTS THE ENEMY. SOON AFTERWARDS, THE ENEMY BEGINS
TO HAVE PAIN, OR IS INJURED, IN THE SAME SPOTS
WHERE THE PINS HAD BEEN DRIVEN THROUGH THE DOLL.
AN ENEMY, WHO DOES NOT HIMSELF BELIEVE IN VOODOO,
HAS A FAR BETTER CHANCE OF ESCAPING DEATH THROUGH
THIS CURSE THAN ONE WHO DOES.

Submitter comment: I DO NOT KNOW FROM WHOM I OBTAINED THIS INFORMATION,
BUT I DO KNOW THAT THIS CULT IS STILL PRACTICED
TODAY, SINCE I HAVE READ ARTICLES ON THE SUBJECT.
WHETHER THE VOODOO POWERS ARE REAL OR NOT, I REALLY
CANNOT SAY; BUT I DO KNOW THAT I HAVE HEARD MANY
ACCOUNTS OF THESE POWERS FROM PEOPLE WHO, IN TURN,
HAVE HEARD THEM FROM OTHER PEOPLE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LATHRUP VILLAGE