Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-04-13
fKan.as civ TImes.l


eniovine the cool breeze that blew across
the broad heneauin fields. Our converse
ton turned from the wonders or the couh-
try that lies north OF Mexico TO bis own
native State of Yucatan. and thinking OF
the strange ruined cities that he within
this Mexican State Iasked HIM Tor some IN
formation regarding them. Hardly had
the question left nv tongue when ne calied
10 his wife. who was sitting INSIDE the
bouse aud ordered some coffee. Turning
TO me he said: You ask Of rune cities
and ancient civilization. Wait III you
have heard Pancho's story and then we
Hardly had he ceased speaking when
Pancho appeared. bearinga tray laden win
coffee-cups and steaming pot OF the aro-
matte beverage. A. he placed the tray on
the table and stepped aside with resp I'M
Difference | noted that he was an intcih-
gent-looking MAYA Indian some siXtyyears
Of ace. tall well formed, az are all the
Nnvos. and with an eve that suarkled
and clowed in spite of his advanced years.
The thing that most attracted atten-
ton to his face was y long. nideous scar
which extended clear across bis forehead
and which Seemed to have been MADE win
! a red hot iron. for the flesh appeared searel
and scorched. and the central portion OF
| this irightful wound seemed - nave
| SlO0rntu away anu lNlp wv
kind of a skin 10 protect the SKULL. All OF
This took in in moment. and ere | had
| time TO speak ms host turned 10 the old
man and SAID "rauchO, tell us the story
| of that scar on your forehead Tor the bene-
| fit Of our guest, who wishes 20 hear It."
The eyes of the old mozo glistened as he
| complied with the request and rs We
! sippcd our coffee and sat there ~ the soil
southern twilight | heard this stransss
| story told in liquid, eloquent Spanish ana
| with an earnest manner that maze ueei
| impression on me. Here's the translation
| word for word:
| made by poisoned arrow shot from th'
| bow of a Chau-Santa-Cruz Indian. III
| eighteen months ago, and TO tel you tine
| story of Il must commence by tellln YOU
Of the swamp which hides from the Worll
the Silver City.
| know. lies a vast tract OF marshy ian'
| known as the Black Swamp. Into TINS
| swamp the feet of white man have nevel
| trod. or IL they have the world has neve
! known of il. for the winds that blow iron
this field of death allow no one TO reacl
| the borders Of ii alive.
at cannot be reached from the south OF
! account of the extremely dangerous rock
tLat line the seashore, ard rs / have nove
! heard of any one who has passed through
! the eyDerence am about 10 relate he
lieve that ! am the only Indian OF az
| tinct trlle whose ewes have heheld OK
| sacred city Of the Chan-Santa-Cruz indians
"You are aware. as IS every one. tina
| these Indians have never been conquered
/ by the Mexican troops and that tn
/ bieached bones of many brave 1leXcaI
| soldier lie Whitening along the border O
| tine dismal swamp which is the nome
these Indians.
"Thev have successfully resisted every
| effort at capture, and they are no m
| under control at the present moment thai
they were tifty years ago, and think they
never will be. The troops are always en
| gaged in O struggle with them. but II IL O
no avail. The skirmishes invariably re
suit in heavy loss for the troops, for tn
| p0isoued arrows used by the Indians az
more deadly than the modern ballet, as Il
| a certain extent / ana aware.
1T is well known in Merida that tA
| Chan-Santa-CruZ Indians haye access &
| cold somewhere for AZ any store you cal
buv the yellow dust and strange Coldcl
| ornaments that are brought III hy In'u2n
who are on peaceful terms with these lerc
| warriors. Bat no one has ever been adj
| 70 follow one of these Indians ~ order &
find the location of what must be an lin
! mense gold deposit. They have been 10!
lowed TO the borders of the dismal swamp
| tut there they disappear a. silently a
| the earth had opened and swallowed them
INV curiosity had been aroused by thes
! strange stories and | determined 20 follow
| the first CHAINS nth-Cruz squaW that SHOW
cd her face in Merida. One bright morn
| inc. lust eighteen months ago. was stand
| inc IA the plaza at Merida waiting for 81
| order from my master 10 take load o
! heneguin down 10 the coast 10 De sllpW'
by steamer TO America. when ! notices
an Indian woman pass me, aud tine strange
! startled look in her eyes immodatei
| attracted my attention. She passed an
repassed me and my eyes never ieit hei
She was alert and watching, and NOR
from her movements than IRON her race
| knew that she was a Chan-Santa-Cruz.
| logged her footsteps Ill the day long, an
as night came on and che started ont K
| ward the kantunll road was on her trach
She passed swiftly ont through the soutt
! eru cate OF the city at sharp pace. a
every step turning to see II che was bcin
followed. ! kept well in the reGr. but neye
lost SIGHT ofthe dim figure trudglng ahca
of me. The night being dark was no
discovered, and for hours we gllded alon
the silent country road.
During The early part OF the night "
passed Sotutu and Tohoiop, and at mic
|
She had the endurance OF a hOness, fC
never for moment did she stop even for
slight rest but sped along in manner thu
would have wearied younger man tina
| myself. Toward morning we passed hOnS
and Kampolkoche, and my heart beat wit
excitement when. after passing the las
named place, she started across country
the direction of Chan-Santa-Cruz. the tow
that lies close TO the border of the swami
| II L.. lafs no ai1f,,f hCTrcna .
Kampolkoche behind Us when to my su
prise | found that / was following tw
figures instead of one. The newcomer VIZ
a man, and evidently the husband of IL
woman. Tor they continued on in compan,
and, in order to be more secure, fell
little behind.
Il was now in quandary, for We wei
rapidly approaching the dreaded swami
and | could smell the damp rank breea
that blew from its mysterious depths.
Il had no time 70 lose IN speculation, $
after moments thought determined
to 20 on. Streaks OF dawn began TO al
pear IN the sky just as the two hguri
plunged into the dark depths of IL
swamp, an6 so as not TO lose sight OF thel
increased my pace. In doing so l mu
have lost my caution, for. turning shar
bend formed by the trees, i saw within Il
PAGES of me a stalward Chau-Santa-Cru
Indian.
"His bow was drawn taut and the AFRO
was pointed straight at me. L stopped an
turned, and as did so felt the most ag'
MIXING pains across my eyes, and the Ia
1 remembered before losing conscioune
was feeling that all the fires Of hell We
in my VEINS
How long Law in this condition kno
not. When / regained my senses tou1
my clothing torn and blood-stsined, n
feet were covered with mud and slime, an
my face felt hot and caked with blood an
dirt. | must have wandered around durir
my delirium, for when my mind becan
clear found myself in place that was o.
tirely new to me, a spot that could ne
remember ever having seen before.
MY bead ached terribly and my throt
was parched with thirst. After climbing
tail cocoa palm and drinking the milk
several nnts, the pain IN my throat sui
sided little, and as my brain BEGAN
| ho ;Ias .xs<3da rlv AZ -, "a ,,,>..,. ~