The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1899-10-27

nimity his portion as a slave, but his
oppressor as we'll might aim a blow
at the life of his chattel as at his super
stitions, for the influence OF the latter
over the average Cuban esro is SUI
preme. Brute force has never yet been
productive of mental reform, much less
moral enlightenment. Hence the de-
struction, from time to time. by Span
Ssh officials, of the tangible evidences
Of paganism in Cuba, and the physical
c%astigation of its votaries. far from
rectifying the condition. resulted in a
moral %corruptness infinitely worse than
the original evil.
In a wild spot among the mountains
of Pinar del Rio, which divide the
bearing lands along the north coast OF
the province from the great tobacco
district in the south, are the ruins OF
an ancient fetish temple. Years have
passed since the structure was utilized
as a central place of worship by the
slaves from the distant plantations;
and vet to this day it's fast-crumbling
walls are jealousy guarded by an aged
Obi man, or native sorcerer. This old
negro Yields a strange influence over
his countrymen for miles around, and
his few wants are never left unattend-
ed. On the contrary, should he see MT
to demand it, their utmost penny would
be promptly brought and placed at his
disposal-not from motives of venera-
ton, but Of abject fear. For to this
crafty old individual Is attributed tue
ability to bring about all manner OF
tribulation upon all who are so I'M
fortunate as to incur his animoslty.
However, while by no means averse to
extortion should occasion demand 1t,
he is generally disposed to content
himself with the barest necessities of
life. Strangers rarely venture to the
remote haunts of this ancient recluse,
but the occasional traveller who
chances that way must assuredly
gather a strange impression from the
desolated temple and its solitary. mys-
FERROUS guardian. And to such a way
farer as happens to speak the language
of the island, and who has the fore
thought to deposit a few centavos in
the withered hand Of the magician, the
latter will invariably unfold this wierd-
est Of stories concerning the place:
In years long past, the great valleys
OH either side the mountain range were
owned by two brothers, one Of whom
lived in the midst of his vast cane
fields, and the latter among his rich
tobacco lands on the other. And,
strange though it may seem, the broth
er in the north was at enmity with him
who dwelt in the south, for, notwith-
standing the formers great wealth, he
continually envied the other his pros
perity and possessions. At that time
the temple on the intervening mount
ain was a marvellous structure. Its
tall, massive walls were covered out
side with bright green plaster, while at
each OF the corners arose a square
tower, likewise green without. At the
top Of each Of the four towers sat q
gifted with the power of a special
plague. The one to the south repre-
scented a land crab controlling the
plague Of drought; that to the west a
frog holding the fever plague; on the
north, an eagle bearing the plague OF
war, and on the east a serpent fraught
with the plague of sudden death. The
inner walls Of this grewsome temple
were the color of blood, aside from
which there were no embellishments,
neither altar nor shrine. The high
priest of the sect who w%orshiped here
was a skilled Obi man. who alone con-
trolled the four images on the four
towers. When he spoke to the crab
the land was straightway rayaged by