WHAT HONDURAS PEOPLE BELIEVE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2071, 23 February 1889, Page 3

WHAT HONDURAS PEOPLE BELIEVE

Their superstitions are singularly materialistic, writes Fanny D. Ward, speaking of the natives of British Hon duras. They believe that their sinful soul reaohes hell (Mlotlan) after a long and painful journey. A deep, dark river Intervenes, aod to orosi it the aid of a yellow dog is necessary, with a string tied round his neok which is held by the corpse. Any dog but a yellow one would not do at ail % a black one would lay " I have been stained," a white one '■ I have been washed," and neither oonld find the only fordable plaoe la the river. Therefore yellow dogs are reared for that special purpose— which may account for the host of curs m and around Santo Toribiro. In crossing this Styx the poor corpse loses ail his olothes, after, which the dog leads him, naked, between two lofty mountains that are constantly dashing together ; then over another, which is covered with stones sharp as needles, then over eight bills, upon whiob sleet cuts the flish like knives, snd on through eight deserts, wbare the sands are hot aa burning ooala. After this he Is led throuyh a path where poisoned arrowa are continually flying, and, worst of all, fierce tigers come and eat out his heart, and he falls Into a foaming lagoon filled with Hzirds. How he gets out of It Is not explained ; but at length he appeals before the King of Mlotlan, when his j mrney is ended and his Identity is lost forever. No wonder that people are inclined to be good m a land where such beliefs prevail Another soperstiticn is that of the Heavenly Milk Tree for deed Infants, whloh grows m a mansion oalled Ohlhuaouahlo From its twigs milk Is constantly ocz'n?, and it is believed that j babies thus nourished will return to earth I after thousands of years, to populate the I world anew when the present races shall have passed away.