Will W. Nelson

“ Many of his patrons, too, are ignorant negroes of the slums, who pay good fees to have a "conjure" removed, or to have an enemy placed under the magic spell.
To gain access to the voodoo doctor's quarters is no easy matter. Before a stranger is allowed to cross the threshold, the man of supposed magic power must be convinced that the visitor will in no wise cause trouble with the law. ”

“ Before the civil war voodoo meetings were held secretly by the negroes all over the South. But today the negroes are more enlightened, and for this reason but few of these meetings are now conducted. The present-day voodooism of the South is confined more to the practice of the voodoo doctor, or king, and is more in the form of fortune telling. ”

“ Both whites and negroes visited her cabin in great numbers during those days, seeking advice concerning many matters of importance to them, She is still well remembered by many of the older people of New Orleans, and according to many white people her character was none too good, but members of her own race still have a strange veneration of her, per-haps thinking it safer not to cast aspersions upon the dead. ”

“ His nose is prominent, with widely extended nostrils, His large eyes protrude from their sockets, antl in the dimly-lighted room those eyes shine like coals of fire. He resembles some giant member of the ape family rather than a human being. ”

“ In the large southern cities the voodoo doctor still plies his trade, prospering from the ill-gotten fees received from the ignorant and the wicked.
Nowadays voodooism is generally called "conjuring," by the negroes of the South. It is a common occurrence now to hear a negro say: "I'll sho get de conjure man atta dat nigger," when he feels he has been ill treated by one of his own race. ”

“ The king tells you this is a dried human heart, cut from the body of an enemy of voodooism while the person was yet alive. On the walls are suspended one or more human skeletons, while about the room are numerous large dried snakes, lizards, frogs and other reptiles. ”