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Show Spiritualism on the Amazon I THE original exponents of spiritualism were found ajnong the tribes in the, region around the head waters of Amazon hy early Spanish explorers, and ravage seances are still held there with exact ex-act I) the same rites as those witnessed by the Europeans so long ago. The mediums do not employ rapplngs. table tipping or the dark cabinet to call up the dead I ut their ceremonies are weird and spectacular In the extreme When a member of Mie tribe desires to talk with a deceased relative or friend he visits tho medium and states hii wish, at the same Umi making advance payment In the form of feathers, fruit and various Jungle delicacies deli-cacies Tho medium -eruests him to return a 1 a certain hour the next night with as many guests as he cures to Invito In honor of the departed spirit Aa soon as the man goes away tho medium builds Are of scented woods, over which he steeps a decoction of green herbs. Many of these herbs are deadly poison, but ara so skilfully mixed in measured quantities thft1. ono acts as an antidote to the other. At the appointed time the spiritualist and hi invited guests appear and seat themselves them-selves In a circle around the fire, but at a respectful distance from it Absolute silence reigns save for the tegular tap of n drum sounded at intervals by a man stationed in the deep shadows beyond the Are. The meolum appear., bearing aloft a cocoa- nut shell filled with Hie brew of herbs. He B scatters the clnwmg fire to form a ring and rCf steps Into the middle of it first laying fragrant fra-grant green sMcks on the live coals ?oon lr 'b uds of thick smoke rise nnd envelop him the men around the fire break into a wild C Incantation, the drum is furiously beaten, I I and In the midst of the uproar the medium Hk drinks the poison and casts the empty cocoa-nut cocoa-nut shell among the spectators. Immediately Immediate-ly tho chant cease, the drum is silent, and ggfl every eye lr fixed on tho medium, dimly visible Through the smoke. The drugs take effect at once, his eyes ro'l. ggggj his mouth 'witches, his body writhes, ami Kfl unintelligible cries Issue from his lips. Theso cries sp believed to be the voice of the departed. de-parted. The man who has thus caused th dead to be -iinmcned proceeds to ask questions ques-tions of tho spirit. The spirts aro consulted about everything that happens in the village tribal or family quarrels,, contemplated Journeys, Jour-neys, stolen properly, even the planting of crops, and the frenzied and guttu-a' utter ancea of the sufrerinp medium groveinng on tho ground In the throes of pain are inter- prated bv the eager listeners as repl.es W ben the medium flnall) BUCCUmba to exhaustion ex-haustion and lie motionless in the embers ltd Of the sacred fire ttu. wtmaMs Tnese mediums are regarded with great fear and respect and wield more Influence In the tribe than the chief himself but the time always com.-, when there . too much of one herb or too little of another In the iS poison brew, and then th, medium never re? -J rives from his stupor. |