OBEISM.
(Vol. iii., p. 59.)
In reply to F. H., I beg leave to state that Obeism is not in itself a religion, except in the sense in which Burke says that "superstition is the religion of feeble minds." It is a belief, real or pretended, in the efficacy of certain spells and incantations, and is to the uneducated negro what sorcery was to our unenlightened forefathers. This superstition is known in St. Lucia by the name of Kembois. It is still extensively practised in the West Indies, but there is no reason to suppose that it is rapidly gaining ground. F. H. will find ample information on the subject in Père Labat's Nouveau Voyage aux Isles françaises de l'Amérique, tome ii. p. 59., and tome iv. pp. 447. 499. and 506., edition of 1742; in Bryan Edwards' History of the West Indies, vol. ii. ch. iii., 5th edition (London, 1819); and in Dr. R. R. Madden's Residence in the West Indies, vol. ii. letter 27. Perhaps the following particulars from Bryan Edwards (who says he is indebted for them to a Mr. Long) on the etymology of obeah, may be acceptable to some of your readers:—
"The term obeah, obiah, or obia, (for it is variously written,) we conceive to be the adjective, and obe or obi, the noun substantive; and that by the word obia—men or women—is meant those who practise obi. The origin of the term we should consider as of no importance, in our answer to the question proposed, if, in search of it, we were not led to disquisitions that are highly gratifying to curiosity. From the learned Mr. Bryant's commentary upon the word oph, we obtain a very probable etymology of the term. 'A serpent, in the Egyptian language, was called ob or aub.' 'Obion is still the Egyptian name for a serpent.' 'Moses, in the name of God, forbids the Israelites ever to inquire of the demon Ob, which is translated in our Bible, charmer or wizard, divinator aut sorcilegus.' 'The woman at Endor is called oub or ob, translated Pythonissa; and oubaois (he cites from Horus Apollo) was the name of the Basilisk or Royal Serpent, emblem of the sun, and an ancient oracular deity of Africa.'"
One of your correspondents has formed a substantive from obe by the addition of ism, and another from obeah by the same process; but it will be seen by the above quotation that there is no necessity for that obtrusive termination, the superstitious practice in question being already sufficiently described by the word obe or obi.
Henry H. Breen.
St. Lucia, March, 1851.