Evening star., 1902-08-01

prehistoric Porto Rico was practically the
same as that OF the Indians OF other parts
of America. The unity OF organization was
the clan. the chief of which was called a
cacique. 1t would appear that certain of
these caciQues had control over others. gov
erning large sections of the island. and that
union or several smaller caciQueS for mu-
tual defense occurred at rare intervals. AS
rule there was no such union, caciques OF
nefghooring valleys were not friendly often
hostile, making raids on each other.
In certain sections of the island a Carib
chief appears to have raised himself to the
position of governor OF this region. The
power of the head clan man was supreme:
ms wives. OF which there were many. were
practically slaves ard descent was appa-
rently In the mile line. Among the insignia
OF rank OF a cacique may be mentioned
bodily decoration. gold plate worn on the
breast, and stone amulet tied to HIS fore
head.
Among the best polished stone images
found in collections from Porto Rico are
small figures. called amulets. representing
frogs, turtles, lizards, birds and other ami
mails. These nicely worked specimens are
commonly concave or slightly curved on
one side, being tied in position by means OF
cord passing through hole drilled from
edge to edge.
Builded on Religious Foundation
''As In all primitive society the social or
ganization of the Antilleans was built on a
religious foundation, the people being gov
erned by priesthoods which controlled all
the public life OF the people Every casique
was priest In virtue OF his standing in
the clan, which was the political unit and
also the religious and ceremonial unit as
we'll The whole social and religious or
ganfzatfon was knit together by form Of
totemism or tutelary clan ancients worship
called zemeism. These priests were called
Boil or sorcerers. and their idols apparent
ty often had the same name as the priest
mood. In their ceremonies the priests rep-
resented ancestors symbolically, and natur-
ally took the names of that which they
represented
The functions OF these priests were
much the same as those of the priesthood
In all primitive society They performed
rites and ceremonies connected with the
worship of ancestral gods, located diseases
and bodily Ills by magical methods and
pracused an elaborate system of divination.
disguised as god or hidden behind or
near a statue OF the same. these priests
gave oracular responses to those consulting
tnem' making use of elaborate mechanism
TO deceive those who consulted the idols as
oracies. One of the most remarkable of
these prophecies has become historic The
1ather of the cacique. Guarionix who ruled
one OF the five great Caciquedoms of Hayti
consulted the Zemi regarding the fate of
MS gods and people, having prepared him
self by fasting and publication as the GUS
TOMS or his country required. He received
this reply: Before many wears there wauld
come TO the island bearded men with bodies
ciothed in mail, who with one stroke of the
sword would sever men in twain, would
prlng flre over the land and drive from the
earth the ancestral gods DESTROYING time
honored rites, and make blood flow like
water. Gomera comments on this prophecy
adding that all these evils have followed in
the wake OF the advent Of the Spaniards"
Worshiped Idols.
III has been found, says Dr. Fewkes that
these prehistoric people recognized and wor-
SHIPPED many supernatural beings which
they represented by idols, to which they
gave the name zemis. The idea Of a future
life was found to be universal amongs the
inhabitants Of the island 1t is also be-
HeVeo that ancestor worship obtained
among them to some extent. The sight OF
human skulls and bones in Carib houses
taken in connection with the stories of can
nlDailsm, which filled the minds of the
carry dlscoVerers, naturally led to the be-
lief that the Caribs were cannibals: but the
preservation of skulls or other parts Of the
body OF the ancestor is simply an aspect of
ancestor worship. While these skulls were
once very numerous, 1t is said that only one
specimen Of human skull and body pre-
served as an object OF worship has found
ITS way into the hands Of the collector
IN thelr religious ceremonies the prehis-
toric Porto Ricans had dances and exer-
clses called areitos. The arctic was a cere-
monlai drama composed OF rites public and
secret. and accompanied by games dances
etc Rhythm played a most important part
IN these exercises. which were accompanied
by rude drum made of a log of wood or
by raspins of a stick over an elongated
gourd incised with parallel lines This lat
ter instrument 1T Is thought may be of
AFRICAN origin. but 1t is still represented in
Porto Ricau folk music and sold to visitors
as characteristic of the island. In the songs
OF the natives of today may be recognized
weird strains Of melody which have sur
Vired from aboriginal times
A dara
termine the nature Of prehistoric Porto
Rico Is imperfect, yet DR.. Fewkes says that
vast amount of new material awaits the
advent of the archeologist and ethnolosfst
In these islands, and in time much useful
Information will be gained in regard to the
early inhabitants of our new possession.