The times., 1901-06-10
CHAN SANTA CRUZ'S FALL
Final Victory Of Mexieans Over the
Nucatan Indians.
Close OF u FIfty-Year War !.iGs. IN
TIE Maya StrunEhoId-A BcnutH's =
Fafc-Trfck of Ventriloquist-
Gentle Manners, Great Slaughter.

Manners.
A traveller has just returned from the
interior Of Yucatan. bringing the latest
news concerning the final triumph of
Mexican arms over the native Mayas. The
peninsula. famous throughout the world
for its grand old ruins no longer has any
settlement of independent Indians whose
very name has inspired terror FOR many d
year past among the white inhabitants.
General Eravo, after a campaign of sew
eraI months. has vanQuished the people
Of Chan Santa Cruz and that place has
fallen. Its locality is. according 10 the
map lchart 99D Of the photographic Of
flee, in this city l9 degrees 30 minutes
latitude north. and IS degrees l5 minutes
longitude west of Greenwich. forty-eiGht
miles west-southwest from Punta Pajaro,
at the south point of Ascension Bay.
Gradually but surely the Mayas were
driven TO a last stand within their own
stronghold and now once again the rem
nant of a great nation has been brought
under the white mans rule after state
of independence dating from the heroic
and successful uprising in 1S41. Since the
beginning of that rebellion, which was en-
tireIy due to unjust taxation and cruel
oppression, thousands of lives have been
sacrificed on both Sides and for this rea-
son President Diaz was determir I'd
to force the Indians to recognize
the Mexican Government. This his troops
have done, but not without meeting con-
siderable resistance, although none of
those Who started the rebellion half a
century ago lived to witness this final
struggle.
General Bravo led his soldiers to the In
dian territory nearly a year ago, fought
the natives whenever and wherever they
appeared, and at last surrounded their
stronghold, taking it without great loss Of
life. And now, while Yucatan is triumph
anuy rejoicing over the termination of
her fifty-year war. much curiosity is
manifested regarding the fallen city.
founded in November. 1850. and the every
day life of those who led thither hum
drsds OF captives. by forced marches,
through dense forests; for none return.
ed to tell the story Of their life in captiy-
ity in that community. which represents
peculiar blending or old Maya laws
and ethics. together with social and re
ngious ideas ingrafted 10y the Spaniards
during 500 years
While in British Honduras a correspond
ent was invited by chiefs of Chan Santa
Cruz to visit that place, and these chiefs,
as well as several persons who had visited
the territory to trade with the Indians,
talked freely about the settlement and its
1nla bltantS- II IS doubtful II one could
ind another place on the earth presenting
such vivid contrasts OF rigid justice and
gentle courtesy, Of primitive conditions
and refined manners, Of tender sentiments
and Spartan methods.
In appearance the settlement is big,
Stra ggling town. Many Of the dwellings,
are mere huts, but the greater number
consist OF a continuous wall Of masonry
forming an CblOng with rounded corners
and floor OF concrete, the roof being
thatched with palmettos and very pointed.
The interior IS usually divided into two
or three apartments by means OF canvas
partitions, eight or ten feet high. The
furniture consists OF a few hammockS !
that serve as seats and beds, two or three
low chairs. and a small wooden table The
food is cooked in q separate hut. q few /
steps back of the house, and when the /
meal is ready the various members OF the I
family squat on the floor, the cooking pot
in their midst and fish out the contents
with pieces Of tOrtilla (cOrn griddle-caGcS) (
used as a ladle. Everyone washes his !
hands before and after eating, and anyone
approaching the door is cordially invited
to partake- Most Of these people are Sut- !
fciently well of TO crafty their simple /
desires, and 1t Is no uncommon occurrence
for them to procure from Belize pOtted !
meats, cheese, and butter, wines, perfum- /
cry, and other luNurieS appreciated by I
them Their only Taiment is white cot
ton and linen, but they like this Of fine |
quality, and their personal ornaments are /
of pure gold. Like their foTefatherS OF 4
long ago, the chiefs wear earrings in the (
right or left, or both ears, according to /
their rank.
When the cry Of revolt was raised in /.
1S47 certain young man named Jose Gre
cencio Poot, an Indian with an admiXture 1
of African blood, and prOtege Of a priest, (
In whose service he was, began by slay- /
ing his master. IN the course Of time this /
same POOt was elected general in chief of /
Chan Santa Cruz, in which Office he had /
no cry time OF II. Tor his people declared |
When the troops order the chief must (
obey and he was always obliged 70 yield |
10 what was agreed upon by the Council /
FFn-~as sr~Hr. -
nection With this council, Maya etiquette |
demanded perfect self-control- When /
member INDUCED in disrespectful Ian |
guaEe TO one of his peers during a s-s- !
sion the offender had publicly to humili- !
ate himself by kneeling TO kiss the hand |
Of the aggTieVed party. Poot spent most |
OF his time in agricultural pursuits, aided !
by his many sons, for he was much !
married man. Poot had been twice a /
widower when he took To wife pretty Pas |
tora Leal, a white captive. whose pa
thetic fate has proved an attractive theme /
for more than one aspiring author.
Pastora was the beautiful and idOlized /!
daughter Of A prominent citizen Of Tun- /
kas. and when this place was successfully /
invaded By the Indians, the unfortunate |
girl endured the horror OF seeing her nat
Urai defenders hacked to death by the |
terrible machete, being afterward led cap |
tive with many others 10 the Indian !
stronghold. Now, instead Of being waited 1
upon as heretofore by docile Indian (pa- /
cihc) maids, the many servants who had |
u
who ran to obey her every word and look, |
Il was her turn to dance attendance upon /
the Indian matron in whose service she
was placed. She, now, must grind corn /
between two stones. spoil her fair hands |
among the cooking pots. wash soiled linen /
and know that the lash was ready TO de-
scend upon her defeuceless shoulders
Ihen General PoOt took notion 10 marry
her and the captive had to submit, al |
though her heart was sore for some
body she remembered Matrinony made
little difference IN her fot for although |
Poot behaved gently toward her, accord
ing 20 ms own views, and gave her plenty /
or gold, she nevertheless had TO submit 1
10 the same conditions as all the women |
In that community. and pass her daVs
from early dawn till nightfaI, grinding /
COOKING, sewing, washing, carrying bur |
oens, II Poot bade her follow him on a
Journey.
The foundation of Chan Santa Cruz was
largely due 10 the trick OF a VentriIoouist
y hen rev thousand triumphant natives
round themselves free, in 1850 one Bar |
rera discovered a water course AT the
mouth of a cavern, beneath secular frees |
On one Of these he secretly carved a small
cross-a sacred symbol among the Mayas
long before the coming OF the SDal1iardc |
afterWard calling attention 10 II and at
trtbUting TO IL divine origin. He then |
made three solid crosses and circulated a |
story OF a heavenly being having descend
ed 10 encourage them TO continue the wa r
Among his followers he found a ventrilo-
quist, named Manuel Nahuat whom he |
Induced to throw his voice into one cross |
and order the building OF a town ncar the !
water. Hence the place was named Little |
Holy Cross, and the yentriloquist made |
the speaking cross" power whose !
secret was known only to him and |
BaFrera- The cross caused frequent raid !
ngs OF white settlements, and as a result |
~han santa Cruz was attacked by Yucca |
tan troops. Great slaughter ensued and |
The VentTil0quist was among the slain