The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1888-04-26
BELFAST, MAINE, THURSDAY, APRIL 26 1888.

years olu, ana poor lastofla HSlfes as number
| three among his wives. She is as white as an
| Anglo-SaXon, with more Castilian than MeNi-
| can blood in her veins, and the tiny feet and
! beautiful eyes of her race. A eountryman of
hers saw her at Bacaar about two wears ago
and managed to have Il few words with her
| She told him that she would gladly abandon
her children could she only escape. but that
was impossible for she was watched as a hawk
| eyes his prey. She had walked, with her h,Is-
band, all the way to that place. GO miles.-hc
great muscular fellow, unhurlcned, and she
| carrying twenty-five pounds of salt on her
delicate shoulders, the load being suspended by
strap passed across her forehead. She was
shod with coarse sandals and dressed in nm
bleached cotton cloth. Her lord is fond of her
oh yes. fond enough 70 murder her in tit f
jealousy, but would not hesitate to exercise the
Indians privilege of whipping his wife if She
diSpleaSed him.
But it must be remembered that these people
Of Chan Santa Cruz do not live like >ayageS.
They have stone houses, utensils. and many
other things much like civilized people Their
musicians are supplied with instruments from
British Honduras. their mechanics with tools
from the same place, and there they also pro-
cure many small luNurcs. such as potted
meats. perfumes. (Which they delight in to an
| absurd extent, wines. ETC. Agriculture is their
chief employment. and they generally have
enough corn stored to last them two or three
years ahead. They are strictly Just among
themselves. ard any short-comng is promptly
and severely punished. a murderer being exc
cuted in the same manner rs he inflicted death
upon his victim. As rule they are strict
monogamists, generally moderate in all things
except drinking, for they have dsterie> of
their own and consume enormous quantities OF
rum.
From time to time efforts have been made to
conquer these Chan Santa Cruz Inlians.-b
all in vain. just ten years ago. Gen. Teodo>io
Canto. who had made himself famous as lead
er nf revolutionary parties. Went to British
Honduras of his own account. under the as
sumed name of Pinto. pretending to he trader.
HIS object was to approach the chiefs of Chan
Santa Cruz, without betraying his identity. and
find out how they felt about recognizing MeXi-
can authority, his idea being to offer himself rs
mediator at last between them and the GOV
crnment The Indians OWNED his plans. and
he failed; but in consequence of a foolish threat
he made-of returning to Bacaar at the head
of an army-the Chan Santa Crtlzaus took re-
Nense in advance by making raid among the
whites. killing large number and taking about
fifty prisoners.
Four years ago. Gen. Cunto. being their ! ice
GoVernor of ucatan. again went to British
Honduras, with the same object. but expert
cnee had taught him more wisdom. lie sue
ceeded IN having Il meeting with some Of the
Chan santa Cruz chiefs. in the government
house in Belize. in the presence Of Hon. Henry
Fowler, Governor pro temporc. \ preliminary
agreement was drawn up, providing for the
recognition of the Mexican government hy the
Chan Santa Cruz people for the mutual sur
render of criminals. for the appointment Of Of
ficial> Of the Mexican government. subject to
the approval of the Indians. Creceneio Puot to
remain chief till his death. gen. Canto then
went to the City of Mexico and laid his pro-
po>als before the President: but they Were
jecte'l. and he returned. disappointed. to Iuca-
tan.
Among the various prisoners at the Indian
city was the beautiful wife of Don Francisco
Avlla. In 1880 Ara who is Il precious rascal.
went to British Honduras and Induced the In
dans to allow him to 70 with them to Chan
Santa Cruz and see his Wife. His real object in
visiting her was not affection. a> he pretended
but to induce her to give him some document
which would enable him to enjoy certain prop
ertv belonging to her in their old home.
W hen they reached the city the Indians re-
fused to let him return. treating it a a great
Joke, that he had voluntarily walked into cap
tivity. but giving him house in which he
might live with his wife. After some time
Ava, who saw that he could make money
among the Indians, told them that he wanted
to 20 home and settle up his affairs. and come
back again with ali he possessed. lie Went
and returned, and was 50 well treated that
when the third chief in command died .\,iia
succeeded to his position. But all this time the
Spaniard was a miserable spy and hyporrite,
and was trying to get the Indians back under
Mexican control. To this end other Nnratan>
OF Corozal We're also serving. pretending mcan-
While TO be sincere friends to the Indians.
1t now remains to tell how history has re-
peated itself. Avi!a and others had succeeded
IN forming peace party. and among them
the second chief. Juan Chute. Witha very small
following among the Indians. The other chiefs
said nothing. but made unusual preparations
for the great annual fiesta ut the time of the
equinox. TO this feast they invited also the In
dlans of Tulum, a place 80 miles north of han
Santa Cruz. and other ncghhorin" tribes.
When the feast which continues several days
was at its height. signal was given. and a
those who had listened favorahly to proposals
induce them to submit to Mexican authority.
had their throat> cut with MechdieS-t NartlN
as their ancestor, Cocoon. had served the en-
ba>sadorS i'll 154l. Juan Chute escaped. hut
every member of his family was put to death.
FANNIE i. " ,Ei,.