Evening star., 1937-10-30

forces of evil contending with Heaven
for it. Nothing must be done to hinder
it's passage, for the unfortunate dead
remain about the place where they die.
Men seldom see them. but dogs do
when they howl at night and horses
when they snort and rear.
About the abode of a dying person
congregate the dreaded ocol pixan. the
soul robbers, ready to seize the spirit
as it leaves. Sometimes sick man
sees them, grimacing and beckoning
silently. To assure the souls safe pas
sage it is customary to make round
opening in the thatch above the ham
mock where a dying person lies. In
masonry houses small windows are made
in the roofs for this purpose. 1t is bad
to weep as death approaches, for then
the soul may be stayed. Especially is
this true in the case of child, for the
soul may be sent back to the grieving
parents instead of admitted to Heaven.
you are wetting the road to Gloria" is
frequent reproach over too great grief.
But as child's soul reaches Heaven
quickly 1t is safe to cry after the first
few days.
Strange supernatural beliefs are found
among these same Mayas. DR.. Redfield
found three principle groups of fairies
the balams, or guardians of the village
and the corn; the chaacs. who are the
rulers of rain; and the kullob kaaxob the
imps of the forest. The balams some
times are thought of as little people,
made entirely of air and without form.
To others they appear as small, old men
with white hair, who wear sandals, SOM
brero. and the rest of the local costume.
They are good men, according to the
native belief. Provided the agricul-
turalist makes them the proper offerings
and prayers" reports DR.. Redfield, they
watch over his fields and protect his
maize from marauding spirits. They
guard village from wild beasts and evil
winds They watch over forest paths
and set the lost wayfarer on his road
again. At night you may hear high,
whistling sound. This is caused by the
balams who are driving away evil winds
by shooting at them with fragments of
flint.
But the balams also are much to be
feared. They are ancanny beings of the
night When they cry out in the darkness
it is sign that someone is going to die.
/ They watch over lost children. but they
return only changeling, for the balam
exists only on a succession of children's
souls. The idiot and the feebleminded
are children of the balam. They punish
trespassers in the cornfield with sick
ness and sudden death. Many stories
are told of men who stole from strange
cornfields and were struck dead by the
balam.
1.-THE most important of the balams IS
known as the thup. He is thought OF as
smaller than the others. The thup Is
ready to come down to the aid OF any
other balams when they are struggling
with an animal or with an evil wind.
1.-The most important and pervasive OF
the evil spirits are those thought OF as
identified with the winds. They are
evil and harm personif1ed. There is
scarce an ailment which may not be
caused by them and hardly moment
of crisis at which they are not present.
They are not considered as gods but as
mischief to be averted. But one wind
ont of the many that are distinguished
is not evil. 1t grants help to men and
is addressed in prayers. This is the ka-
kalmozonik, the fiery whirlwlnd, which,
when properly besought, sweeps down