Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1888-12-21
A WAKE IN HoNpuaAs.
npie-Ainded Psepls Who Hsvs Not Il
Least Fear Of Death.

"SNG nv f5oNOOHAS.
biinpie.Mlnded People who Hays Not TIA
Least Fear Of Death.
It was in British Honduras that
nrst attended Uclorfo, or the ceremonv
OF watching with acorpse. The family
home consisted Of single long or mar.
row apartment, rounded at each end.
with earthen floor, and roof thatched
with guano leaves. From the cross.
poles hung few hammocks, and in the
middle OF the room, upon q rude bier
made OF two boards upheld by casks,
lay the dead woman, with wee infant
ciasped in her arms. The face OF the
mother, who could not have been more
Than fourteen years old, was calm and
peaceful, but that Of the baby was
strangely distorted, as il terrified with
It's brief look ON life. Fresh flowers
were scattered upon the scarlet blanket
That partially covered the still figures;
lighted candles stood at the head and
loot, and near by sat the sisters and
parents OF the dead woman, silent and
sad. Inquiring why the husband and
father was not among the mourners, |
was carelessly informed, as though il
were nothing to cause remark, that Ia
probracrsa (the poor, dear girl) had
mover been welded; and as tor the
father-quien sabep
A great crowd occupied the house Of
mourning. laughing and jesting as
though the occasion were one OF re-
joicing, rather than sorrow. Many
were playing cards, outside under a
pomegranate tree refreshments were
spread and music and uproar re-
sounded in startling incongruity with
the dread mystery Of death.
The ceremony Of Il velorio Is always
observed where there is death In the
family and Is intended to keep up the
spirits OF the relatives and prevent
their thoughts from dwelling on the
sad side Of the occasion. We are told
that considerable difference is made
between the uelorio of grown person
and that child, because the latter be-
ing without sin is sure to 90 straight
to eternal happiness, and therefore its
demise is properly subject OF rejoice
ing. With adults it is not 80 certain
where ne soul may have been sent tc
do penance for the deeds Of the body
and so at this yegorio there is less mer-
riment and more card-playing, the OBJ.
iect being merely to amuse the
mournsrs, since the dead are iDdiffer
ant to smiles or tears.
With these supplemented folk death
Is looked upon without fear or terror
as one OF the common accidents of life
With laugh upon his lips the Indian
lies down to die, remarking cheerfully
uoy a descansas, II am going to rest =
Their superstitions are singularl,
| materialistic. They believe that thei
sinful soul reaches hell (lMictlan) aftel
a long and painful journey. A deep
dark river intervenes, and to cross i
the aid of yellow dog is necessary
with string tied around his neck
which is held by the corpse. Any doi
but yellow dog would not dc at all;
black one would say, Il have beel
stained" white one, 81 have bee
washed" and neither could find tn
only fordable place in the river. There
fore, yellow dogs are reared for tina
especial purpose-which may accoun
for the host of ours in and around SAINT
Toribiro.
In crossing this Styx the poor corps
loses all his clothes, after which tn
dog leads him, naked, between tw
lofty mountains that are constant
clashing together; then over another
which is covered with stones sharp a
needles: then over eight hills, upo
which sleet cuts the flesh like knive:
and on through eight deserts, wher
the sands are hot as burning COAL
After all this he is led through a pat
where poisoned arrows are continual
dying aud, worst of all, fierce tiger
come and eat out his heart, and he fall
into foaming lagoon filed with III
ards. How he gets out of 1t is not e,
planned; but at length he appears b.
fore the King of Mictlan. when h
Journey is ended and his identity lo
forever
Another superstition ia that OF tn
heavenly milk tree. for dead infant:
which grows in y mansion called IN
huacuahio. From its twlgs milk is cor
stantly oozing' aud it is believed thu
babies thus nourished' will return
earth after thousands of yea-s, to pop
late the world anew when the presei
races shall have passed away.-Phitd
delDhia Record.