The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-06-24
PEAC0CKS OE SANTIAGO

PEAC0CKS OF SANTIAGO
In Santiago de Cuba there Is little to
attrac; and less to love. but the pride and
alteration ot alcalde, lieutenant, captain
and captain general of that beseiged city
are the stru.ting peacocks behind the
garden !attices Of white. Not all the game
hunting to be found in the wild cats and
dogs .nfesting the Sierra Maestro range
can take the eyes and interest of the
Spanish soldiery from theproudest and
most useless bird of modern history. The
peacock OF Santiago bird by no means
as brilliant in hue as those Of Java or the
Ceylon country, IS an object of almost
popular idolization. His shrill cry is a
warning Of evil; the spreading of mis- tail.
to the sweet sunlight of the southern
coast is an omen OF good fortune.
Perhaps il is not a faulty index to Span
ish character that the peacock should be
a constant object of wonderment and wor-
ship to not only the grizzIed veterans Of
Santiago, but 10 the cOnscripts and the
latest importations from Madrid. Little
in the literature OF Cuba is 10 be found eX-
p!anatory of the presence of the birds in
Santiago, or why they should be invested
with almost a celestial character. The ex-
PLANTATION must be found in the native
Spanish love for glittering colors the shell
of beauty rather than the substance. If
history Is to be believed, the son of Chris
TOPPER Columbus brought the first peacock
TO Santiago early in the sixteenth cen
fury. Presumably the bird came as an
offering TO some native chief who might
be persuaded through its beauty and de-
sire OF possession to give up of land and
gold all that might be asked. Legend says
that the junior Columbus brought three
female and one male bird of this species,
and that their first home in the new land
was on the river Tarquno, not far from
Santiago. Subsequently, through perhaps
neglect of the natives who were a cieanly,
quiet, domestic people, not given to earth
ly vanities, the birds were freed. They
propogated until their numbers increased
ten-fold. From the Pico de Tarquino to
the mouth Of the mines of FL Cobre they
made their homes. going to the Highlands
during the rainy season, returning to the
coast when the dry season was on The
vegetation was luxuriant and food plen-
tiful. In time, as settlements sprang I'D
about the base line of Pico de Taruuno.
small gardens and plantations. Their
work was exceedingly destructive. Hunt
ing of them as if they were birds of prey
became a fashion.
An alcalde of the seventeenth century.
who came from Havana to the Santiago
coast told of the immense number of pea-
cocks to be found there. One of his sue
cessors, a century later, was chasing them
on horseback, using a small Iasso in the
sport, and finding much enjoyment from
It, Fat fathers Of the church ATTEMPTED
revival of the costum of having the birds
served at the table as a delicacy lust as
the Greeks once did. But the flesh. all
though white, was tough and sinewy.
Even when stewed in wine it did not grow
tender and the epicures sighed
santiago grew From fishing port and
a harbor of shelter for storm-tossed YES
sells II developed into a naval station for
Spain, retreat for crown officials anx-
ious to be out of sight of the government
Tor time at least; resort for soft-voiced
women of Spain following the fortunes If
husoand-soldier or the court of a captafn
general. This population attempted an
oriental way of living in Santiago. Houses
IN that mild climate are but mere shells.
out they breed all the material comforts
that wealth could purchase.
The peacocks ceased to be objects Of the
chase. They were captured and brought
to the gardens, where the rose and the
deWoell were no more beautiful than me
faces Of the women who bent over them
Little silver bells that tinkled with every
step were bound about their feet golden
chains laid about their necks. Cav rib
bons were often intertwined with their
feathers to heighten, if possible. the ef-
feet Of the natural i1ues The garden
confines were marked with lattices painted
white Behind these the birds strutted
the male displaying all the gorgeousness
OF color TO hishumble mate.
In less than twenty-five years from this
time there was ont wild peacock about
santiago. But the gardens were filed with
them, and at the lattices the cringiu,
poor or the idle soldIery might stand ana
watch their unfolding beauty Naturally
1t followed that in a land where native
birds are few and not Of brilliant colo
the popular m.nd centered its interes.
in bard life on the confined peacocl,s
Then, too, there was something in the
= - ; ---~'s-f@S " tLA<1- DlA4 NlldL ENEke OF
the Spain that a Spaniard always dreams
OF, speaks Of. writes Of but never creates.
Simple folk began 20 weave tales among
themselves about the bird In time they
consulted it as they would an oracle.
Should a simple fisherman be 50 fo-tu-
nate in passing the gardenway OF gran
dee as 20 catch q glimpse % q pied or
white peacock MS catch az the next throw
OF the net would certainly be thrice what
Il had ever been before. II i was not the
rare white peacock was not 70 blame.
but some evil spirit OF the sea Was a
father or sweetheart toiliag life away in
the cursed copper hole OF e Cobre. uo
there by the Maestro range, the gauatiug
OF such and such a peacock's tail on such
and such and such a saints day meant
his freedom n a twe,ve-mon-h
Did q male bird with deep lastrous blue
upper wings and golden green a5ozt zee
neck savagely attack his graylsa waite
mate on me bright dawn q a molly Gzy.
tRen evil be;ide him xho did uot IN
me&iately pray. Il prayer were offered
az once then harm could not come e re 4
vixen spiteWork Of the proud male b.-a
A thousand and one ta.nEs were IN
vented as me years passed - give tas
bird a higher standing n ,he minds = TIE +
people. Idle les, did part q Il design o7
the part % those VITO cazsrol by sapers-l- 4
t.oa aided Father passed the tales - chn6 .
and cal5 % his caLd. as5 50 OF down 4
through zee generations E1l sz1le 4
seemed to become fact TIE qeacocks & +
Santiago became porteneioas powers ca
psble q oysrtarow.1g al tAs sIs-s o. rsaa 4
needed Enea giving warning TIE dis