Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-09-03
A PARADISE FOR SNAKES.
Lake Pa:zcuaro's ViPsr-Guarded Island an
IT. BARRED Treasure.

Lake Patzcuaro's Viper-Guarded Island and
IT. BARRED Treasure.
Lake Patzcua-o is quite large BODY Of water
in the state of Nichoacan in southwestern Mex
leo. wri.c- a special correspondent of the Phila-
delphia Pres. and. owing to its typographical
position and picturesque surroundings. is justly
entitled 20 the sobriIuet Of "the Como of the
new world. The clear blue ky. the dis ant
purple mO1n.ains of this Mexican Svitzer-
land and the near hills covered with semi
tropical verdu-e. dotted here and there with
the white cottages Of the natives, all serve to
encllan, and delight the eye. Especially is this
the case when looking toward the lake. whose
uaraffied Surface resembles a steely mirror.
where the many wooded islets seem TO aoat
like emerald gems Oh q silver sea.
Yet. on one OF the prettiest and most en.icing
of these isle lurk- COLONY of the most deadly
reptiles The visitor l. soon convinced of This
fact BY padding out in a native canoe As the
frail bark approaches the breeze watts puff
after puff of a sickening musky stencil, ard the
waters OF the lake between the island and the
mainland are aSitated though by stiff
breeze. \ closer examination reveals the caIse.
The water Is thick with snakes going 10 and
from the shore. A. the canoe crosses the rep
tiles path. the snakes. not at all disconcerted.
give defiant hiss, dive under the boat and
coming up On the other side, continue on their
way seemingly undisturbed.
Now great wriihlng. Kissing masses of snakes
NAV be seen on the Island. some on the land
Others on the bushes and many in the trees,
whose dark limbs seem to be alive.
The Press correspondents guide and boat
man. a queer. muscular. though good-natured
fellow of pure Indian blood. volunteered. in
broken SPANS h. he story OF the island, which
may be trausla se}. as follows:
When the original settlers came from the
north they remained many thousands OF moons
III the neighbOrhOOd of Patzcuaro as the rich
soil. the abundant DEF osi,s of gold and silver,
IN never-faiiing supply of game and fish. the
exuberact Vegetation and plenty OF pure water
Supplied all their wants. After long time q
quacrel arose regarding the succession To the
throne and some O; the chiefs becoming dis
coutented and ambitious proposed moving far
Their south to form a new kingdom. More than
half the people followed them and subsequently
became the true Aztecs of the valley of Mechitii
ClieXicoi
Those who remained were the Weather ones
and among them counted great treasures of
gold. silver and precious stones. These con-
timed in peaceful possession of their lands and
treasures until the spanish conquest, when the
treasures were in part turned over TO tine mis-
sionaries in the form of votiye offerings and IN
part wrosted from the natives by the naughty
conquerors. The missionaries took great care
of these treasures and never entertained any
fears until lSlO. Shen the war Of independence
broke out Then the chief missionary. aeeing
that the people had taken up arms against
Spain and fearful for the safety of his priceless
treasure. declared that all those who took up
arms against the king wouid come under the
ban Of the church. This having been unavail-
ing. he caused the treasure to be buried under a
chapel which stood on this island and caused il
10 be RACED. He then sent out his faithful
eJnissaries 10 ,seo1r the surrounding country
for snakes. These he placed upon the island
during the night and the next morning, stand
ing upon the mainland, he uttered a curse
upon the unholv war, the people and the island
and a. proof that God had heard his voice he
showed the reptiles to his hearers saving that
the place WIS damned because of a sacrilege
committed there"
OF course one wonld go near after that
and the only human beings who have since set
foot on Snake Island are two adventuresome
Americans who promptly beat a retreat. but not
before having ascertained that ruins did exist
on the spot. With this exception the snakes
have remained unmolested 10 this day. guard
ing the island and the ruined treasure house Of
the ancient Michoacanos