New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-07-09
SACRED TREES.
4 VERY ANCIENT FESTIVAL OF YUCATAN.
SACRIFICES AND CEREMONIES FOR INVOKING
THE RAIN GODS.
take shape

SACRIFICES AND CEREMONIES FOR INVOKING
THE RAIN GODS
Among nearly all the people of the earth trees. here
one kind. there another. have been held sacred. The
A>syranS, see by sculptures which their artists
have hcqucathcd to us. wOrshpped a tree. and the
devotccs thus represented have in their hands what
appears 10 be- the cone Of Il pine tree. The object
might also be- taken for pineapple, but this fruit
has no connection with any tree, hence one is more
inclined 10 regard the thing a pine cone.
The ancient Druds assembled for worship among the
sturdy oaks, which they looked upon with much rover
cncc. The Yc-dTasll ash profoundly vcncIatcd
by ocandinavlans. At Delphi the laurel WIS the holy
tree. In Ccylon the lofty palm WAS dear 10 its wor
shippers while throughout India several trees were
held sacred, the two fIvori"s heinz the DO or pral
0icus rcgiosal. ana The banyan tpcis lndlcal. The
cypress had special merit for some North American
Indians, who at certain season, hung upon II many
votlve oHcring, Ancient picture writings of Mexico
show that people in that beautiful country rendered
homage to the papaw tree genus Anona or cn,larI
apple The Mayas. the master, Of Ill Central
America greatly esteemed the wide spreading ever
green cciba tree. even believing that 1t would be-
Of the beautiful objects IN III" paradise OF their future
life.
When Columbus was busy hunting after this big
continent The ccba was very dear " tie Mayas,
1t had been for many centuries. At the approach OF
the rainy season the chac, weather gnn masters
great hunt kins many creatures OF the forests and
making burnt Offering Of their hearts. Then several
Jars, filed with water, We're suspended and broken
The fluid gushing out was symboical oi Tie bursting
Of storm clouds. The name Of That quaint ceremony
was Tup kak meaning to cAunWish fire, and very
appropriately. since the first showers refresh the
Iarchcd soil and ,corching atmosphere. It hes not
vet fallen into di,Isc though it has uniorcon"
changes. II The hacienda Of tXmal tpronounc"1
O0,Amal where, In an open square, a superb cclbd
spreads cool shady branches. II was highly enter
tanning one afternoon 10 observe the modern form Of
the 1up kak. BY the trunk OF the great tire" Sluait'd
a man playing a ,loaIan, drum that /, exactly like
the tamtam of tho Africans Not for on" instant ud
he pause from the time when the people began 10
gath on the spo; until all had dispersed. He
pounded away a. II The entire nation de~nd,d on his
present cxcrOns for it, agricultural prosperity or as
If the evil g"n OF drOuth might creep III ana RUN
the whole affair should he venture to relax his efforts
In the least degree Men, women and Children con
gregatcd beneath the tree. whore a number oi red
cIrhcrn iars, andiully painted and all corhed,
were placed in a line directed by master OF ccre-
monies. over a low branch rope WAS thrown. 10
one end Of this Il Jar secured ami jcihcI up ana
down by a NAN having hold Of the other end. boy
armed with stick, stood in line ana, one b. ohe p1--rd
beneath the Jumping jar. aiming bio" at H. Their
business being 10 break the saline.
some # the Indian lads wieIcd their slick 50 elect
face the delight Of the others, VINO, without look
Ing threw themselves the ground TO scramble for
the good thing SUPPOSED to ." IN tlie 1nI, >"ne
iIn oi emptiness. This eXaspcrac1 The cnrrprsins
Youths, because their compinons midr fun 81 them.
Two jars contained rubbish mat cdulr t,mOIns upon
The bare heads and created some m"rllmcni. 1--we
pigeons lca oGt Of oue and away. Two Jars hnd been
MED With stones, winch Happily dia h"' htit am on,
while in two others all manner Oi insects Aad been
closed up; the scorpion, among hem N, created 'tnc
excitement. Generous matrons mad hilcd thfc, Jars
with wholesome food. The next two contained new
handkcrchicis that instantly found owners. Two
lOathsomr looking lgnana7 cr"pt our oi on" Jar anu
were speedily executed, because tIcir skin feches
good price among shocmahcr., Nho convert IT into
see dozens Of brilliant buterfc, swarmns out Of a
jar. Inc dcll,a creatures seCmed dnh'i for mo
ment, but quichly flew out Of reacn. SOM with i,cr
gauzy wings little bit rumplrd. This display Of HE
in one of 1t, most eAqnai'g forms was followed by
dead bird Then came shower 81 1rWl kicr was
the Offering and corn puddings wrapped IN pieces
Of banana leaf. LlstA th"rc was "A Jar inl ol i'm.
ported crackers upon the BREEDING Of which there
ensucd a desperate struggle that rdncci more than
bali Of ne coveted mcrsgls 10 me powdcr Alto
geiher thirty three lars were shattered in NINETY min
ut"s, ana Of old the breaking Of Jars filled with
water was Nymbolical OF bursting clouds so The con
sul,ine from the rcvvifying rain The peculiar roll,
The man who had arranged the Jars before their
destruction knew the contents of each. lie the
Itnen or wise man OF the place. and II IS probable
that those same contents had meaning for him. such
as the following, which suggested Itself while cOnsd
ering the order In which the jnrs were broken.
First came emptiness-Alas, What can hope for,
how thrive. without the bencfccnt rain
Rubbish-Dr0uth leaves but refuse for the winds
to scatter.
PgeOns-Whcn the sweet grain l. ripe the birds
will come to feast, but away they in times OF
need
Stoncs-Walls must build 10 protect our crops
from intrlidcrs. (A fences In lucatan Of stonc.)
Insccts~Du let US beware Of poisonous insect, while
wording I'm our fields.
Food-Blcsscd by the rain, our toll will produce
abundance.
Kerchieis-Then can We have new raiment
IgIanas-Als0 fine sandals.
Buteriies-For few brief days we can nutter In
the sunshine OF PROSPERITY.
Dead brd-But forget not that cruel dealt. will
Fruit grain. ctc.-Lct Us then enj0v the good things
OF the earth, revealing In its life giving sunshine and
showers ALICE d. LIE PLONGEON.