Page:Journal of American Folklore vol. 12.djvu/300

 288 Journal of American Folk- Lore.

a seditious man and an enemy of the mighty Emperor Tiberius Caesar. And I determine that his death be on the cross, fixed there with nails, in the manner customary with criminals. For, gathering round him many men, both rich and poor, he has not ceased to provoke tumults throughout the whole of Judea, proclaiming himself the Son of God and King of Israel, and prophesying the downfall of Jerusalem and the destruction of the Temple of Solomon. I ordain that the first centurion, Quintus Cor- nelius, shall lead him through the streets of Jerusalem to be a scoff and a byword. After having been scourged he shall be dressed in mock state, so as to be known by all, and the cross to which he is to be nailed he shall bear on his shoulders. And he shall walk through the most frequented streets, between two thieves who have been condemned to death for rob- bery and murder. And I, furthermore, ordain that, as an example to malefactors, he shall issue from the Antonine gate, preceded by a public crier who shall proclaim all his misdeeds, and on arriving at the hill of Calvary, where evil-doers and other miscreants receive their meed, he shall be nailed to the cross, and over his head shall be placed an inscription in the languages most widely spoken, viz., Latin, Greek, and Hebrew, saying, "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews." '

" After Manual Rivas had vociferated this sentence, he handed it to the priest in the pulpit, who, as in Madam Calderon's day, ' received it with a look of horror, tried to read it, and threw it on the ground with an air of indignation.

" Next came the final procession to the hill of Calvary, an artificial mound in the centre of the churchyard. The two thieves were crucified, one on either side of the Saviour, the penitent on his right, who, to the appeal, ' Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom,' received the answer, ' To-day shalt thou be with me in Paradise.'

" When the cross with the figure of Christ had been erected, the other scenes mentioned in the sacred narrative were enacted, — the casting of lots for the seamless garment, the offering of the sponge soaked with vinegar and gall, the opening of the side with a spear. After this, Padre Avila preached another sermon, and then the whole crowd knelt bare- headed in prayer at the foot of Calvary. During the scene of crucifixion the drums were beaten and the chirimia kept up its pathetic wail. With the descent from the cross and the burial, the representation terminated."

Cures by Conjure Doctors. — The "Southern Workman and Hamp- ton School Record," August, 1899, gives some interesting information, obtained from a teacher attending a course at Hampton, in regard to the methods and effects of treatment by " conjure doctors : " —

" When I was about eight years old a little girl threw a brick at my head, which cut it very badly, and when I showed the wound to my mother she became very angry, and took the broom, ran out to the girl, and gave her several raps over the head. In about three months I began to have chills, and they lasted me eight years. The strange part of my story is how they were cured.

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