New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-02-07
DWARFS IN CENTRAL AMERICA.
RUINED CITIES THAT TESTIFY OF THEIR
FORMER EXISTENCE.


Stories about dminutive people arc found in
many countries. not as of real beings. but shadows
that come and go. and called by various names,
such as fairy. fay, elf pixie, etc. Nowhere are
such little people more talked about than III some
parts Of Central America, notably ID British HON
duras and Yucatan, whore people little more IMAM
four feet high arc very numerous even at the pres
ent time Whenever tie natives are questioned
about the ancient temples found in their country
they say "The pygmies built theIc and although
no importance is generally attached to that answer
it is a strange fact that on the East Coast OF
Yucatan. as well as on adjacent islands. there
whole cities in Iuiuous condition. OF houses That
could not possibly have served for people than
three feet high. have measured many OF those
houses, which arc strongly constructed OF hown
stone and found the doorways DOT moro than three
feet hgh and eighteen inches wide, while my head
nearly touched the ceilings OF the largest rooms
No one can dissuade the natives from the idea that
the ghosts of those dmnntive people roam about
at night. They say, /" But VIC do see them; they
are not bigger than child four years old. and they
wear big hats. They throw stones at us, shake our
hau,mocks and hammer on tho bench where we
grind corn"
II is affirmed that very dimnutive people still
dwoll among the hills in Honduras and Guatemala
but no one seems able TO put hrs fingers upon
them. which WOuIU lcAu W tuc ooh'i NAV "a sho'o
are any still living as many assert they must be
very few, and successful in hiding Nevertheless
it is crcdibly related that day in the year 1928,
some woodcutters wandering along tire banks OF
the Moho River in British Honduras in search Of
mahogany trees were startled upon reaching
nIaco called Meditation Fall by 4 strange little
bong that suddenly emerged from tho bush, stared
wildly at them, then turned to fee. Tho mon
pursucd. overlook and brought the odd creature to
their camp. II was dark-skinned GIRL not quito
three feet tall aud with NO other covering Than her
hair which fell in thick black masses To her fcot
COMPLETELY covering her. She was very Wild, but
not stup id and finding that no harm wasdonc to
hcr .ho In lked to the wood-cuttcrs in tho Maya
tonpuo that they also spoke, that beng the Ian
puags of tho Indians III those parts As the Weather
Woa cool ono of the men gave her n rcd hannei
shirt which clothed her from head to foot. FOR
av r two sLe refused to cat but aftcrwHrd scored
co1tcnted Sho said Ler people were all the Same
sizo a, herself and that they we're then vihg near
Weditation tall where they had planted coTnlicd
Lnt that they generally dwclt thrco or ioIJ miles
away IN a deep wiley. After she had been IN inc
camp about ten days, some oil tno men pIoposco W
20 and sec her people. She maniiested delight ana
oGereI TO guido ticm to the spot Reaching tho
pluco where they first met hor. she led them INTO
the forest, tEen made sign iof .he =" S'op "u
talking reached their ears. and the gri whispered
10 them that she would 90 ana announce tbcir
coming as otherwise her pGop" wou,u .S Se ,rsn}
and soon no. n sonnh was heard. Ire men waited
patientlv but their dminCtve guide sdid not TO
Turn. Convinced that she had very cnnnngly
eudcd tbom they wont forward. ana III two
minutes found themselves IN corhhcIu. 'n1ao
wero embers in two or three iplaccs, and small Pica
OF corn. as il prepared for TRANSPORTATION; Inc
ground was much trOtden, but no living creature
c. in sirht They searched III vain, and remained
some tine in tho field hoping that the owners
would retnrn for the corn, but they never saw tue
cirl again nor any Of her people Ohe OF th9se
yerv ,ynoi,ncn cave mo this account. and similar
stories haze been told by others; but all such
stories might be dynhIcd were il not for tho cities
of diminutive houses, which any Traveller may
examine for himself ALICE ID. LIE PLoNGEoN
THE BENT BAYoNET OF OLD ENGLAND. -:A i.srI
the batte-Privnte Thomas Atkins: Coihseie I;F
tain r. Here's my bayonet VIII 10 juss - W."