Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-10-20
SUGGESTIONS IN WEST INDIES.
Some Interesting Observations Of an
Army Officsr in Cuba.

"A native Of the West indies avoids wa
ter or at least the external application OF
it." said an army officer who had spent
some time In Cuba. why II Is no one
knows beyond the superstition that q
wetting brings on fever. cuban VIII
avOiG a shower and is even afraid OF a
warned by the people against a plunge
in a creek or river and told that 1t will
bring on an immediate attack OF the
climatic. In the towns. even during n
drOuth, the people refuse to go into the
rain to catch n bucket Of water. nave
never seen any bad effects from bath
in one of these clear mountain streams
and as the women stand in the water all
day long when doing their washing. I do
not see that the position taken is ver:'
consistent. Still that is the general be-
lief.
"Another superstition IS that the horse
is thought to he the patron saint of the
tetanus germ. This belief is sustained
by American scientists. who find that the
stable is the home of these germs. Ii
there is bruise or wound OF any kind
one must not. according to the BELIEF,
ride horseback or lockjaw will result. II
seems odd that this superstition is so well
most common and deadly disease of the
West Indies because the germs especial
ly thrive in that climate.
Another superstition in this connection
is that, II there is wound on the hand
or foot the member must not be put IN
the water for nine days or tetanus will
follow. This seems to be in part sus-
tanned by science, for lock jaw Is usually
without proper antiseptics.' Mumps are
greatly dreaded, tor. as the people say,
they go to the heart on the least provoca-
ton. 1t is hard to find any reason for
this belief. Yet the man with a swollen
jaw must not do hundred things ne does
daily and 1t keeps his friends busy advis-
in him what he must not do.
zone of the most uncomfortable SUPER
stitions is that the ghosts OF the departed
are able to carry out threats made during
life. No one there has ever seen 4 ghost
the belief is firmly instilled in the minds
Of the people. Very often the services OF
Il physician are required TO quiet the
nerves of a sufferer who has been led to
no known way to head Off ghost bent on
trouble of this kind and the man goes
through life i'm constant fear that this de-
parted enemy will carry out his threats.
Ghost stories are of course numerous
and as mysterious as ingenuity can make
them. At the foot of one of the noun
tainS is stream where ghosts have APP
rarently established a hanging-up place.
1t is the headquarters for deceased male
factors. According to the people for
miles around. ghosts are seen there al
most every night suspended from the
various trees by ropes around their necks.
or the place where the neck ought to be.
"A few miles from one of the cities is
4 large caimeto tree in the center of the
highway. L NueT tUlS tree mlunlSut
appears large white bird which seems
to possess very peculiar qualities. No
native will pass the tree after that hour.
and the highway is used little. The peo-
pie are sure the bird is there. The way 10
kill il, they tell you in all seriousness. is
to fire n gun In the opposite direction
over year shoulder. 1t would probably
not be a good idea to be in any place
near on the highway while a native was
thus engaged.
I'm the event of a robbery the victim
must make a nine-day pilgrimage to some
shrine and remorSe or sickness will cause
the conscience Of the thief to perform its
proper functions, and the stolen goods
will be returned. If they should happen
to be found or returned the correctness of
this method is proven. Ii they are never
discovered the thief either died In mis-
sickness. committed suicide in his re-
morse or squandered the goods so that he
could not return them.
Little happens in daily life not noted
for everything. These given are but IL
Illustrations of the beliefs which prevail
and which have a great influence on the
conduct of the people. Rulers and lead
ers in all ages have taken advantage of
a knowledge of superstitious beliefs to
accomplish their purposes. In the wars
of Cuba they have played an important
part. and as long as ignorance prevails
will continue to do So
THE class of people who believe in
them are harmless. honest. hospitable as
far as is within their power, and, left TO
themselves. would never go to war. III rs
the leaders who get control Of them. who
lead them astray, and even then they
make very poor soldiers. Cuba is more in
who find In war means of plumber and to
whom peace means pDyerty.'