The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1893-12-30
SENOTES In YUCATAN.

NATURAL WELLS WHICH ARE so I'M
PoRrANT TO THE COUNTRY.
Ancona-Ths Hidden ssnote-How IN
Indian Woman Tried to Hide Her Peo-
pies Secret-Under Sacred Tres.
Among the Thousands Of persons who
have visited Florida some have been inter
ested in the subterranean currents and b.
sins of water inhabited by blind fish Of the
genus Silurus They live in darkness, and
the inaction of the visual organ, II 1t ever
existed, has ended in it's suppression. Dame
holding or Withdrawing what Is not strictly
necessary to her subjects.
AZ Florida stretches out. forming ono
jaw of the Mexican gulf. which weventure
to liken to big mouth, 70 the southern or
lower jaw IL formed by another peninsula,
famous for it's ruins. Here, too, we ind
those same subterranean currents and bar
sins, much more numerous: also enormous
natural wells open to the surface Of tho
earth. Such sources of water greatly In.
crease the value Of land, there being no
rivers worth mentioning in any part Of the
country.
In land where hospitality u an unwrit-
ten law, inns are regarded a. unnecessary.
Strangers are rare objects in the interior,
and friends are ever welcome among their
acquaintances The convent doors stand
open to all strangers worthy Of considera-
ton, as these buildings are now the dwell
ing place Of only the priest and his serv-
ants. Mexico's Indian president, Benito
Juarez, enacted laws in 1881 forbidding any
religious body to dwell in community.
It was while enjoying the hospitality Of
the Rev. Father Pablo Ancona that We
learned the story Of = famous senote (the
name given to all subterranean water
sources) on his plantation, for the father
was land owner and did not scorn to Guilt
vate his property. Had he not done some
thing of the sort to replenish his ever open
purse his generous hospitality must soon
have come to an end, most If his parishion-
ers being poor, and he seldom insisting on
his fees. Don Pablo showed us his planta-
ton with its gardens of flowers, fruits and
vegetables, in which he took pride.
He pointed out for our particular admi-
ration some truly enormous cabbages. We
preferred the oranges, which for our benefit
he pulled from the richly laden trees. They
were warmed through with the sun and
the sweetest we have ever tasted. The
greater part Of the ground was monopolized
by hemp plant. About $50 bales were piled
up in one room, representing some $4,000
Don Pablo took us through the engine
house, and then asked If we would like to
know the story Of his senote, which had
been the making of the estate. Weenjoyed
hearing him tell it in his own way:
Near the engine house stood mound
built by the aucients. From it drew a
supply of nicely hewn stones It appeared
to me that there had been rooms connected
with it, and this made me believe there
must be water not far of. I declared my
intention Of having the whole pile Of ma
sonry removed to see what we could find.
One Of my Indians, young man, became
quite excited, imploring me to do nothing
of the sort. because the mound had spirit
keepers-dwarfish creatures that were Of
ten seen. l laughed at him, vowing that II
his dwarfs lived under the mound we
would take good look at them. So had
the mound destroyed. but the fellow who
had tried to dissuade me would not help in
the work. He said could whip him IL !
liked, but as for taking part in the destruc-
ton he would not.
This made me suspect that he knew
something about the spot and that he
must have learned it from his aged grand.
mother, with whom he lived | went to
see her. pretending to know that hidden
senote existed. simply asking her to tell
me its exact whereabouts. She would say
nothing. l insisted. threatening to deny
her absolution when her last hour should
come 30 she could not enter heaven. The
poor old thing cried, begging for pity.
Finally between threats and coaxing
wrung the truth from her.
''She said: MY father was the only ono OF
our family to survive . general massacre.
Twas his only child. All the family 80.
crets were condded to me. This part Of the
land which you call yours and much more
besides really belongs to me and mine. II
| I divulge secrets concerning 1t. forfeit the
| right, and when we come to live here again
(they believe in reincarnation) we shall moi
be able to obtain the land. Because you
are my confessor l tell you. though you
must not repeat it.
"She stopped there, and had to do NOR,
coaxing and talking about the next world
| till at last, being very infirm, she grew
tired and consented to indicate the spot OF
condition that three aged women should b,
presented to the spirit Of the senote. They
were to be the first to enter. assentel
She declared that the water was under
ceiba tree. Clinging to u last hopeof keep
ing her secret, she pretended not to know
Just which one