The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1885-07-17
, nE pwARE.s HOUSE.
An Interesting Description of YucataI
NIystery.

An Interesting Description of Yucatan
Mystery.
From afar is seen the Dwarf's House, |
on the summit of an artificial mound
one hundred feet high. The ascent is
on the east side, by hundred narrow
stone steps, 50 perpendicular that some
of those who 90 up, when they have to
descend wonder how they could have
been so rash, and repent having made
the attempt, as Father Cogolludo did,
according to his ownewritings. The
ascent is more tiresome than dangerous;
when visitors think they must surely
be near the top, they look up to find that
they were only halfway.
Except where recently cut down,
brush covers the sides of the mound.
The building on the top consists of three
rooms, very interesting, for they contain
symbols pertaining to Masonic rites.
To the west of these rooms some steps
once existed that led down to a sanctu-
airy of two very small but lofty rooms.
The outer part of the sanctuary is mag
niticently crnamented with carved
stones, and inscriptions that have puz-
.zled the head of more than one wise
man, but now have fair chance of be-
ing deciphered, thanks to the persever-
'ance of DIR. LIE Plongeon.
The portal of the sanctuary is the
largest among all the ruins. The orna-
ment above it is an immense mastodon
head. Between this and the Intel of
the doorway is cornice that extends
all round the sanctuary. On it are
Masonic symbols, and on the under
part of it rings are cut in the stone. A
curtain was formerly suspended from
them to inclose the house completely,
and veil from public gaze the mysteries
and ceremonies therein performed.
The tradition of the Dwarf's House is
as follows:
During the reign of certain Maya
King there lived a woman who was both
feared and respected, for she was a
wonderful sorceress. A son was born
to her, and he became a great favOrite,
| for he was good and clever, though very
small-in fact, a dwarf. Finally he be-
| came so pOpular-probably the people
| fawned on him, to please the formidable
witch-that the King grew Jealous, and
! sought his destruction by giving him
difficult tasks, so that, failing, he might
| be accused of disobedience. But, thanks
| to his mother, the boy always succeed
| ed. One day the King, out of patience,
! ordered the dwarf to build in one night
/ a high mound and house on the top.
| The youth was at his wits end, but went
| as usual to seek maternal aid. 30.
| mother, mother, / shall surely die, for
! the King has ordered me to do more
than I can possibly accomplish" and
he told her his trouble. ''Never mind,
my child; don't be alarmed. In the
| morning the house will be there
| 1t was, and from that day to this has
been called the Dwarf's House The
| King was enraged. He sent for the
| dwarf. Il am greatly pleased with the
| house. Now / want to break six COCO
| ;yoles" (small and Uery hard cocOa-nuts,
| about the size of a walnut) ION your
| head, and then [ will give you my
| daughter in marriage"
The dwarf declined to accept the
! honor upon those conditions. The mon
| arch insisted. 81 want you to marry
my daughter and you must accept my
conditions. ,"
Again the poor dwarf sought his
mother in despair. ''There is no hope
for me now"
90, yes, there is, - replied the clever
witch ''You 90 back to his Majesty and
tell him that you accede to his request
provided he afterward allows you tC
| break SIX cOcOyoleS on his own head"
And to this the King publicly agreed
| because he was determined to kill the
dwarf with the first cocoyol.
Then the sorceress rubbed her sons
head with something that made it sc
hard nothing could possibly hurt it.
The King arrived, and the dwarf, il
presence of all the people, laid his head
on a stone. With another the King
broke the cocoyol on the head of his in
tended victim-broke all six of them
but the dwarf arose unhurt.
Then it was the turn of the monarch
to lay his proud head down, and as hi
scalp was not prepared, the dwarf broke
his skull, and thus got rid of his enemy
The agreement had been faithfully car
ried out, so the public had nothing t.
say The dwarf then married thu
princess, and became King.-AIice d
Ie PJongeopa, IN Harper's Magazine.