The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1901-08-10

uimlty bis portion as a save but his
oppressor Al wcll might aim q blow
az the life Of his chatiei 81 at bis SUPER
stltlons. Tor the Influence of the latter
over The average Cuban negro "a su-
preme Brute force has never SCI been
productive of mental reform. much less
moral enlightenment Hence the de-
struction. from time 20 time. By Span
ish officials oi the tangible evidences
OF paranism IN Cuba. and the physical
castFation Of iis voiarlcs, far from
rectfying the condition. resulted IN a
moral corrupinoss Infinitely worse than
the original evil
lna wild spot among the mountains
oi Pinar dsl RIO. which divide the cane
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. lcars have
passed since the structure was utilized
as a central place Of worship ly the
slaves from the distant plantations.
and yet 70 ikis day iis fasi-crumbling
walls ere iealousiy guarded by an aged
Obi man. or native sorcerer This old
negro Wielis a strange influence over
bis countrymen Tor miles around, and
hi. few wants are never ieft unatiend'
3D. on the contrary. should ne see nt
% demand u. their utmost penuy would
be promptly brought and placed at hts
disposal not from motives Of venera-
tlon. but Of affect fear For 10 this
crafty oid individual Is attributed the
ability io bring about an manner of
irlbulation upon an who are s0 mn
fortunate as % incur bis anlmosity. I
However. while by no means ayeree 10 T
exiariion should oceas.on demand it. /
Be is generally disposed TO content /
himself with the hafest necessities of I
lie. Strangers rarely venture % che I
remote hauuts 81 this ancient fecluse. 4
but the occasional traveller aho
chances that way must assuredly
gather a strange impression from the
desoiated temple and ils solitary. mys-
ferious guardian. And 10 such a say
farer a. happens 10 speak the language
0f The island aud who has the fore
thought to deposit q few Centaf0s Ia
me eifhcred hand Of the magician. The
latter viii invariably unfold This wield-
est of stories concerning the place
10 years long past. ihe great valleys
on either side she mountain range were
owned by tWo hfoihers one q whom
lived In TIE midst 30 his vast cane
fields and the latter among his rich
iobacco lands on the other And
strange though lt may seem. the BROTH
er in the north was at enmlty With him
who dVelt IN the south Tor. notvith-
standing lhe formers great wealth. he
continually onfied the other his pros
pcrity and possessions AZ that dme
ne temple on the Intervening mount
ala was q marvellous structure lts
lall. massive walls were covered out
side with bright green plaster. whiie az
zach % lhe corners arose a square
lower likewise green without At the
'op Of each of TIE four towers sat
srcat ueen Image. each of which vas
Ilfied win the power of a special
|iague The one fo the south repre-
lntci land crab controlling fho
lafue cf drought that TO the u6st
rog holding the fcyer plague. on the
forth, an eagle Bearing the plague Of
var. and on the east serpent fraueht
Fith the plague Of sudden death The
nrer walls ~ this ereusomo temple
we're TIE color 81 blood aside ffom
Which there wcrc no embellishments,
Ielihcr altar nor 1hrine The high
'riesi 81 the sect who uorshiped here
vas a skilled Obi man. uho alone con-
rouei the four images on the -Four y
overs When ne spoke io The crab Z
he land vas slraighiuay ravagcd hy g
Ircnfhf. il be- Invoked the frog the
.e0ple were &c once Stricken with the 2
ever; when BE- commanded Ike eagle. .
here speedily followed war. while the ]
iers mention of name 20 the serpent
esuIiea in instant death % the bearer 9
hereof And the black people from s
be- two great valleys alone knew fhc Z
'hereabcuis 81 this temple and the /
ounce of the fire afIlcfions which G
rom time i0 dine Emofs the island q
nd & vas The went 81 these people g 6
ssemhif en- certain nizhts q each
'eek in ihe midst Of the temple 10 rer- Z
lrm the rites q lfelr seei and &c 9
lrclase exemption ana larors from