The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1907-07-20
THE RED RIVER.


row."
THE RED RIVER.
The delightful little gardens and patches of veg
etable land stolen from the mountain present doz-
en- contrasts of color in the evergreen foliage of the
tropical trees and vegetable plants. TehT red river
of the Urique, after emerging from the great can
yon, flows gently and placdly through the peaceful
village. The river is not truly deep, clay red
not the red of shae and earth mixed-but the red
of peroxide of iron and copper, the sang-du-boeuf
of Oriental ceramics. Rushing over irregular beds
of gravel and boulders and by rock-ribbed walls.
it cuts and carries with it through hundreds of
miles red sands of shale granite and porphyry red
rustings of iron and grits of garnet and carneiur
agate.
The evening of the next day after entering the
quaint and picturesque town | stood on a ledge
overlooking the narrow valley and again saw the
long, snake-like shades of the Suaharos CREEPING
slowly up the side of the opposite mountain The
air was preternaturally still and filled with
the reflected glory of the departing The sky
to the east was like lake of blood and under il
the ancient mountains were colored in deep pur
pie and violet. The an enormous ball Of
fire floating in the descending heavens and above it
were banks of clouds through which flashes of
bloody light came and at times hung to their
fringes. Just before the sun plunged behind It's
own horizon its light penetrated the motionlesss
clouds in spires and when the sun dipped and was
lost, the spires of glory quivered in the heavens
and waves of red and amber light rolled over the
atmospheric sea. Sharply outlined to my right was
the mountain rising above the Urique like a crouch
ing lion and holding in its outstretched and oper
paw the unknown and attractive little village.
THE VILLAGE SLEEPS.
1t is only nine of the night, but all lights are
out and the village sleeps. Ny window is open, ]
can hear the flow of the Urique and as l listen to
its gurgling waters cock crows across the river
The crow of the cock changes my thoughts which
carry me back three years, and bear me to a room
of the Seaside cottage" in the negro town of Ply
mouth, Monserrat West India Islands. Unable to
sleep [ am seated at my open window looking out
upon the tragic waters of the Caribbean sea. The
moon swings three-quarters full in cloudless sky
the air [ breathe brings to me a suspicion of sui
phur escaping from the open vents OF La Soufriere
the volcanic mount rising to the west and danger
ously near the negro village. / can hear the wash
of the combing the beech and see the Jumbo
lights" in the windows of the negro cabins to re-
mind the ghosts of the dead and the demons of the
night that friends sleeping there 1t is o'clock
in the morning, sepulchral quiet possesses the
uncanny place, when-the cock crows. Then from
out large hut down the shore street, there comes
negro we'll on in years, followed by young negress,
two women and three men. They do not speak, nor
shake hands, they exchange civilities, they sep
arate and disappear Who were they? Snake wor
Slippers Great Britain owns the island and Brit
ish law prohibits under penalty, the alteration Of
the serpent. Stronger than the law of Great Brit
ain is the law of African superstition and the fear
of the demon that dwells in the white snake, so
reverently guarded and fed by the family who live
in the hut. Again the cock crows. Where am 2
Oh, in Unique. There is no noticeable difference
in the crow of the cock the world over This friend
ly bird from over the Urique river warns me it Is
getting late. l must to bed, so Good night to
Marmion."