AS OLD AS THE MOON 
 
 CCS 
 
 FLORENCE J 
 
 1 > 
 
 STODDARD 
 
FROM THE INCOME OF THE 
 
 FISKE ENDOWMENT FUND 
 
 THE BEQUEST OF 
 
 lyibrarian of the University 1868-1883 
 ^ai^r-rtSP |<ib(/3. 
 
Cornell University Library 
 
 GR 121.C8S86 
 
 As old as the moon; Cuban legends: folklo 
 
 3 1924 020 759 233 
 
The original of tliis book is in 
 tine Cornell University Library. 
 
 There are no known copyright restrictions in 
 the United States on the use of the text. 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924020759233 
 
AS OLD AS THE MOON 
 
THE MOON MAIDEN VENTURING FORTH FROM THE GUOTTO 
 
As Old as the Moon 
 
 Cuban Legends: 
 Folklore of the Antillas 
 
 By 
 
 FLORENCE JACKSON STODDARD 
 
 Author of 
 
 'Pascuala," "At the Shoe of Venus,'' etc. Translator of 
 
 " Myths of the Quichuas," " Legends of the Guaranis " 
 
 New York 
 
 Doubleday, Page & Company 
 
 1909 
 
ALL BISHTS KSSXBTXD, IXCLimiirO THAT Of TBANSLATIOH 
 IKTO VOBSIGX I.ANGirAaEa, IKCLITDINO THE SCANDlNATLAZf 
 
 COFTBIOHT, 1909, BT DOCBLEDAT, PAOX ft COXFANY 
 FUBUBBED, SEFTEUBEB, 1909 
 
TO THE MEMOBT 
 
 OP THOSE BEINGS AND FORCES 
 
 THAT FIRST LED MT MIND 
 
 FROM THE SAVAGERY OP INFANCY TOWARD 
 
 THE CIVILIZATION OP EDUCATION AND 
 
 THE DELIGHTS OF SYMPATHY, 
 
 THESE TALES OP PRIMITIVE 
 
 PEOPLE ARE REVERENTLY 
 
 DEDICATED 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 PAGB 
 
 Foreword ix 
 
 Preface , ■ . . . . . . xiii 
 
 Introduction to Students . . . xxi 
 
 / — Myths of Savage Period, Prior to 
 Conquest. ( Probably from 
 Tenth Century .) 
 
 When the Earth Was a Child ... 3 
 
 The Coming of Men .... 12 
 
 The Mirabolanos . . . . . 17 
 
 Where the Sun and Moon Came From . 22 
 
 As Old as the Moon .... 29 
 
 Why the Woman Fears the Rat ... 35 
 
 The Reason Bohechio's Friend Was Dumb . 42 
 
 The Ruiseuor ...... 48 
 
 The Fox and the Vejete ( translation ) . 51 
 
 Juloco, the Rainbow God .... 64 
 
 Toa, Toa, the Mamma Boys ... 60 
 
vm 
 
 As Old as the Moon 
 
 II — Indian Legends of the Conquest 
 Period. {Fifteenth to Six- 
 teenth Century.) 
 
 The Fast of the Siboneyes 
 Sons of the Sun 
 Cayaguayo, the Merchant 
 Hatuey, the Hero 
 
 III — Negro Slave Myths of the 
 Spanish Period ; Tales of Lost 
 Treasure. {Sixteenth to Nine- 
 teenth Century.) 
 
 Why the Crocodile Has No Tongue 
 
 What the Galleons Brought 
 
 The Treasure of a Hundred Fires 
 
 The Ghostly Arquebus 
 
 Glossary-Index 
 
 Vocabulary .... 
 
 67 
 
 80 
 
 96 
 
 110 
 
 125 
 131 
 140 
 149 
 159 
 171 
 
ILLUSTRATIONS 
 
 The Moon Maiden venturing forth 
 
 from the grotto . . Frontispiece 
 
 FACING PAGE 
 
 'Oh, look,' cried one of the boys, 
 'the sun is stretching his bow to 
 shoot the clouds for covering him 
 up'" 56 
 
 ' One of the boys stopped, laid his bas- 
 ket carefully upon the ground and 
 made a deep reverence " . .80 
 
FOREWORD 
 
 This book is offered without apologies. 
 What is sometimes said of the presump- 
 tion of adding to the number of published 
 works and of inviting a public, already 
 surfeited with every sort of literature, to 
 read something more, does not seem to be 
 reasonable in view of the fact that there 
 is a constant demand for something new 
 to read, something newly published, if 
 not new in thought. Therefore, in offering 
 something to read each author, however 
 humble his work, can claim to be serving 
 the public, if what is offered is at all new. 
 
 In the stories that make up this volume, 
 I have the honour to present something 
 new in that they have never before been 
 set forth in collected form. The myths 
 of the Antillas and Lucayas are to be 
 found only in fragmentary hints or casual 
 
X As Old as the Moon 
 
 allusions running through overlying nar- 
 ratives of the conquerors' adventurers. 
 Only when search for them is made 
 persistently does a sentence here, a phrase 
 there, the baldest statement somewhere — 
 the only "brief mention" in the otherwise 
 wordy accounts given by the early Spanish 
 writers — reveal even the germ of a legend. 
 These fragments I have had to piece 
 together bit by bit, feeling for what was 
 unsaid to complete what was given for a 
 consistent whole. 
 
 Since these myths have not before been 
 separated from historic chronicles or sup- 
 plied with a key to their probable origin 
 and order, they have had no attention 
 and no individual place. It is in giving 
 them such place now that this book may 
 claim to be new. The stories are as 
 nuggets that still have much ore clinging 
 to them, but should be placed in settings 
 for safeguarding. The settings, and what- 
 ever burnishing they may have acquired 
 
Foreword xi 
 
 in handling, have been made to suit as 
 nearly with the eras to which the tales 
 belong as is consistent with offering them 
 to present-day tastes. Those stories that 
 are of provable historic foundation, have 
 been made to follow known conditions. 
 The whole collection will, I hope, be con- 
 sidered with something of that sympathy 
 for the subject that has gone to its prepara- 
 tion. 
 
 Florence Jackson Stoddard. 
 
 New York, May 2, 1909. 
 
PREFACE 
 
 It is because the most important island 
 of the Antillas has become one of the 
 countries to reckon with individually, that 
 attention to Cuba should include not only 
 knowledge of her commercial significance, 
 but of her origin and mental growth. The 
 early legends of a people are admitted to 
 be a keynote to a comprehension of their 
 development, consequently of their char- 
 acter. No one disputes the fact that trade 
 is the means, as it is the necessity, of bringing 
 people together, or that the exchange of 
 business relations naturally compels inter- 
 course between different nations, but per- 
 haps few realize that commercial motives 
 for intercourse between governments can 
 be aided by understanding the national 
 characteristics of the associates, or that 
 the simple tales of the beginnings of a 
 
xiv As Old as the Moon 
 
 people's literature will assist that under- 
 standing materially. 
 
 The fast changing conditions in the 
 islands of the West Indies causes the ethnol- 
 ogist and historian, and should cause the 
 financial investor also, to feel that no time 
 is to be lost in gathering and preserving 
 everything that will forward an under- 
 standing of the people of those islands and 
 their developments up to the era when 
 statistical report may take the place, 
 authoritatively, of less definite but perhaps 
 quite as real information. For, as the 
 near future places these regions among 
 the more advanced lands, the spirit of 
 commercial competition will dim the 
 traces of the earlier life and the world 
 will lose the link that could unite, con- 
 sistently, the unprovable statements re- 
 garding the ancient existence with the 
 more definite history of their modern con- 
 dition, unless that link can be secured 
 before it is too late. If not, the people 
 
Preface xv 
 
 will be more incomprehensible than they 
 might have been; dealing with them will 
 be more difficult than it need have been, 
 and literature will not gain as it would 
 have gained, that which is truly American 
 in primitive thought. 
 
 I am convinced that one of the greatest 
 causes for disagreement between the Latin- 
 Americans and the Anglo-Saxon -Americans 
 is the lack of desire both races have shown 
 in finding any fundamental reason for a 
 union of interests. The present century 
 begins to show a possible reason through 
 improved commercial relations. But an 
 intellectual rapjyrochement would promote 
 more cordial trade connections in direct 
 proportion as it would enrich the literature 
 of both races. Ignorance on our part of 
 the beginnings of literature in the Spanish 
 colonies has brought about much of the 
 misunderstanding of sectional influences, 
 and the islanders themselves have not given 
 this point the attention it should receive. 
 
rvi As Old as the Moon 
 
 The legends and tales here presented 
 aim to show the mental condition found 
 in the Antillas, by the conquerors, and the 
 growth of thought and fancy since then 
 as evidenced in the folk-lore. The later 
 tales are historic or have foundation in 
 real events. Those that show the Indian 
 beliefs at the time of the discovery, were 
 gathered as the Foreword has explained. 
 These myths differ from most other legends 
 or fables in that they have no background 
 against which to be placed; they have no 
 aid from preserved historic association, 
 no ancestry, no established romance mo- 
 tive. In the island of Cuba the Indians 
 whom the Spaniards found there could 
 not, Herrera thought, have been occupants 
 of the land for more than three centuries. 
 They were in a state which showed the 
 combined influence of barbarous, savage, 
 and uncivilized life. Their legends and 
 superstitions concerned only material things 
 or forces directed to objects that might 
 
Preface xvii 
 
 be sensed. No abstract qualities received 
 their attention, a proof that they had not 
 reached a really reflecting state — or else 
 were misinterpreted. 
 
 It is noteworthy that what we know of 
 these races, gathered as it is from the 
 writings of the conquerors' scribes, rarely 
 touches the mental attitude of the Indian 
 concerning things spiritual. No psychic 
 or moral motives such as North American 
 Indians showed appear. I believe that 
 the reason for this can be traced in the 
 temper of the Spaniards toward the sav- 
 ages. They were bent wholly upon plunder, 
 and felt no interest in the red men beyond 
 their possessions that could become booty. 
 But the colonists who peopled the northern 
 country, going as they did to seek "free- 
 dom to worship God," regarded the 
 savages as beings whose thoughts, aims, 
 ideals and beliefs it was worth while to 
 learn. The tribes of the Lucayas and 
 Antillas had, doubtless, as fine fancies as 
 
xviii As Old as the Moon 
 
 their northern relatives, or as the Peru- 
 vians and Aztecs. They were of finer 
 race than the Caribs of Boriquen (now 
 Porto Rico) and were allied to the Aruacos 
 of South America. They were gentle and 
 pacific, their dispositions undoubtedly being 
 one of the chief causes of their speedy 
 extermination by the conquerors. Within 
 fifty years after the discovery there were 
 practically no Indians in the Greater An- 
 tillas. Their legends, therefore, are the 
 least tinged with European influence of 
 any found in America, and belong to the 
 most remote epoch from which the Western 
 Hemisphere can give its own contribution 
 to literary thought. 
 
 In Cuba the folklore ceases to be Indian 
 after the introduction of African slaves. 
 It then takes a trend similar to the Negro 
 literature of our own section of the conti- 
 nent. The Hampa-Afro-Cubana are mere 
 superstitions of a low order held by Negroes 
 of no education and of slight mental 
 
Preface xix 
 
 development. They should not be taken 
 as illustrative of fancies held by the aborig- 
 ines of the island nor as ideas of European 
 settlers who now make up the Cuban 
 people. Almost pure African beliefs main- 
 tain among certain of the Negro popula- 
 tion and in this respect entirely separate the 
 holders of such from the whites. But many 
 of the tales of the early slave times are well 
 worth preserving and in their order, as 
 showing the direction fancy took, are 
 valuable. Following these come the real 
 Cuban legends connected with religious 
 faiths and historic events mixed with fan- 
 ciful and superstitious ideas that have 
 significance as political entity grows. The 
 most stirring of these relate to the times 
 of the buccaneers and to the periods of 
 heroic struggle for national independence. 
 The independence is won at last — the 
 greatest of the Greater Antillas is free. In 
 taking a place among nations, Cuba's 
 contribution to literature is one of the 
 
XX As Old as the Moon 
 
 most precious things she oflPers to the world, 
 and may these tales of the primitive 
 thought and growth of fancy in the island 
 be to her, and for her, further help to 
 understanding herself and being understood 
 by others. 
 
INTRODUCTION TO STUDENTS 
 
 Legends, myths, folk-stories show us 
 how human beings began to think. In 
 every country the first inhabitants have 
 been savages. People are savage or bar- 
 barous until they have begun to think and 
 reason and to act from both reason and 
 thought. The acts of brutes are guided by 
 what is called instinct, which is so like to 
 certain forms of reasoning that animal 
 lovers sometimes claim that brutes think, 
 even if they do not do so in the way man 
 reflects. But brutes have never advanced 
 beyond the ability to act by instinct; they 
 have never learned really to think. Man 
 has advanced because he has thought. 
 
 While man was still no more able to think 
 than other animals did, he guided his acts 
 by instinct as brutes guide theirs. But 
 when he had learned to put reason and 
 
xxii As Old as the Moon 
 
 thought together, he became a human being, 
 he stood upright on his two feet. In the 
 beginning man had walked on all fours as 
 most brutes do still ; but like some creatures 
 such as the raccoon and monkey, he used his 
 forefeet in a way different from that in 
 which he used his hind feet. Gradually he 
 trusted his weight to his hind feet and kept 
 his forefeet, now become his hands, for 
 other purposes. Still, all this time, he 
 undoubtedly acted from instinct and had 
 not thought. 
 
 But when he had been walking and sitting 
 upright long enough for his brain to perform 
 its proper work, his reasoning and thinking 
 powers grew. Then it was that man began 
 to speak, to talk, not as brutes do in growls, 
 or chatterings — that much he had done, 
 also, while he went on all fours; now he 
 used words. He commenced as a baby 
 does, with just a few words and no verbs, so 
 that he could not make sentences. But, 
 by and by his reasoning powers growing 
 
Introduction to Students xxiii 
 
 all the time and guiding him in finding a 
 better way to tell his thoughts, he put in 
 verbs. From that time on he learned to 
 talk better and better, for he was always 
 thinking more and more deeply. 
 
 Before he could reason well, man won- 
 dered very much about everything he saw, 
 and he was exceedingly afraid of unknown 
 things. The savage man is more fearful 
 than the brute for, in gaining his reason, he 
 has lost the animal instinct that knows, 
 without reasoning, what is harmful and 
 what is not. It was this fear that caused 
 man to become superstitious, full of fancies 
 that he was not yet wise enough to reason 
 out entirely. Man was in this state when 
 he began to tell his fancies which have 
 become the stories we call myths or legends. 
 Such stories are not true, probably — that is, 
 the thing told of may not have happened; 
 yet the stories are true in another sense, for 
 they are really the tales and the beliefs that 
 were held by the men who first had these 
 
xxiv .'As Old as. the Moon 
 
 fancies. In every land savages began. to 
 make their own records in this way, by 
 telling wonder-stories which were sometimes 
 combinations, of fancy and fact and some- 
 times wholly imaginary ideas. These were 
 repeated over and over, handed down from 
 father to son, . from rdother to daughter, 
 until they were known to the whole tribe. 
 In nearly every land the wonder-stories are 
 similar; they grew out of the same causes and 
 they make jiedple akinthe world over. 
 
 When, we understand that all people of 
 every race, white,' black, red,, and yellow, 
 sprang from savages who were, before they 
 advanced even to that state, only unthinking 
 animals, we see how weak and silly it is to 
 be boaistful or proud of being bom in civil- 
 ized times and countries, as though it were 
 our e£fort that brought' this about. It is 
 only our good fortune that we were " born 
 after our race had ceased to be savages. 
 
 Columbus, when he discovered America, 
 found, as is known, red men, in a savage 
 
Introduction to Students xxv 
 
 state still, inhabitatirig the country. They 
 had reached, however, the story-telling 
 stage; they had legends and myths. Many 
 of the myths of the North American Indians 
 are told by the poet Longfellow in the story 
 of Hiawatha. The legends in this book are 
 those that were told by the Indians who 
 lived in the first lands visited by Columbus, 
 the Islands of the Caribbean Sea and Gulf 
 of Mexico. The Discoverer commanded 
 Brother Ramon, a friar who was in his 
 company of explorers, to write down all the 
 tales he could understand from the Indian's 
 telling after the language of the savages had 
 been learned, somewhat, by the Spaniards. 
 These stories were mentioned by the son 
 of Columbus, Fernando, in the memoirs 
 he wrote of the life of his father and so 
 preserved. A copy of Femando's book 
 is in the Astor Library, New York, where 
 students may go and see it if they please. 
 It is one of the most valuable and rare 
 books known. But alJ the stories in this 
 
xxvi As Old as the Moon 
 
 little volume will not be found in Fernando 
 Colon's work, for neither Brother Ramon 
 nor he collected all the myths of the islands. 
 A long search would have to be made in 
 many books to find the germs of every 
 story as here told. 
 
 The island savages believed, as other 
 Indian tribes did, and Asiatic and African 
 races have, that the sun was the god of all 
 things, and they worshipped him, calling 
 themselves children of the sun. The 
 savage found that his comfort and happi- 
 ness depended upon the sun ; it ripened his 
 harvests; it gave him light and warmth, 
 so he adored it. But he believed in lesser 
 gods and also in evil spirits by which he 
 fancied those things were sent that made 
 him uncomfortable and unhappy. As his 
 ability to talk grew, he made stories of all 
 these imaginary beings and passed them on 
 to his descendants as other savage people 
 have done. So through the Conqueror 
 they come to us, 
 
Introduction to Students xxvii 
 
 And besides these, this book gives some 
 of the stories of the Conquerors themselves, 
 in the islands that are called the Antillas 
 and the Lucayas. They lie between North 
 and South America and are included in what 
 is commonly known as the West Indies. 
 As these islands are becoming more and 
 more important, we need to know all we 
 can about them. 
 
MYTHS OF SAVAGE PERIOD, 
 PRIOR TO CONQUEST 
 
 (PROBABLY FROM TENTH CENTURY) 
 
WHEN THE EARTH WAS A CHILD 
 
 T ONG ago, before there were any 
 white people in the great country 
 that we call America, little Indian children 
 used to ask the older people the same 
 questions that our little boys and girls 
 put to their elders to-day. They would 
 watch the arrow makers string their bows 
 and say, "Why do you do that?" though 
 they knew quite well that the bows were to 
 carry the arrows that would kill birds and 
 animals for food, or defend the tribe from 
 enemies. They would ask other questions, 
 though, whose answers they did not know. 
 "What is the earth?" they would say, and 
 when the old people answered, "It is this 
 land you live upon," they would question 
 again, saying, "Where did it come from?" 
 When they were told that the good Genie 
 sent it from the clouds, which was what 
 
 3 
 
4 As Old as the Moon 
 
 the Indians believed, they would ask all 
 about the good Genie, where he lived, what 
 was his name, what he could do, if he was 
 kind or stern. And in that Long Ago, 
 just as in this pleasant Now-a-Days, the 
 wise elder people would gather the children 
 about them and teach them what they 
 should know about the earth, the great 
 spirit, where all the men of the tribes 
 came from, what the priests, whom they 
 called Behiques, commanded and many 
 things besides. And what they told the 
 children was so curious and interesting 
 that, although it is only fable and legend 
 to us, it is worth knowing. This is what 
 those ancient Indian teachers used to tell 
 of the Tainos. 
 
 Once upon a time the Earth was not old 
 as she is now. But, although she was young, 
 she was not so beautiful as she is to-day for 
 she was like a very little child that wrinkles 
 up its face until it seems to have neither 
 eyes, nor nose, but only an enormous 
 
Folklore of the Antillas 5 
 
 mouth. By and by the Earth learned to 
 open her eyes and to use her mouth to 
 smile and to speak, as well as to eat with; 
 then she became more lovely. 
 
 This Earth had come, in a great cloud, 
 from another world in the far-off sky. 
 Everything upon the Earth was made in 
 that other world in the clouds which was 
 the country of the good Genie. At first 
 the Earth had no mountains, no flowers, 
 no birds — nothing; but the Genie sent 
 these tnings presently. No one was able 
 to see the Genie for he was very proud, and 
 would not show himself. He was old, so 
 old, for he had lived forever; there was no 
 time when he had not been living, yonder 
 in the World beyond the clouds, and his 
 mother, too; but he had no father. The 
 Dead all returned to the cloud-world and 
 to the presence of the Genie ; but sometimes 
 they could come back to Earth, and they 
 always liked to walk at close of day in the 
 paths men took when they went out alone. 
 
6 As Old as the Moon 
 
 For this reason, lest the spirits of the 
 Dead should visit them too often, the Tainos 
 did not go out alone at night if they could 
 help doing so. 
 
 The great Genie was called Yocauna- 
 gua-Maonocon and his mother had five 
 diflferent names: they were: Atabuia, Ma- 
 mona, Gua-cara-pita, LuUa, Guimasoa. 
 Strange names, indeed, and truly they 
 were great to bear, but too many for the 
 Earth, being so young, to remember. There- 
 fore it was that all the tribes of the Tainos 
 gave allegiance to their Behiques who, 
 being priests, were able to remember and 
 to speak these mighty names for the 
 people. 
 
 Strong men were the priests, and wise. 
 They consulted the Cemies to learn what 
 the people should do, and thus the infant 
 Earth was taught well. The Cemies told 
 the Behiques and the Behiques told the 
 people at what time they should plough, 
 sow, reap, gather fruits, and make the 
 
Folklore of the Antillas 7 
 
 good drinks; also what kind of harvest 
 they would have. There was a wonderful 
 plant that the Behiques burned and 
 breathed of when they needed to consult 
 the Cemies — whose little images in stone 
 and wood the Caciques had in their 
 houses. The plant had long, silky leaves, 
 and was a most beautiful green while 
 growing, but when it was dried, as it had 
 to be before it could be burned, it was 
 brown. The Behiques called it cojiba, 
 and they mad6 incense of it, burning it 
 before the Cemies' images and breathing 
 it through a long, two-pronged tube that 
 they called a tobacco. From the smoke 
 that made rings and wreaths about their 
 heads, the priests heard the Cemies speak 
 to them telling the will of Maonocon and 
 the happenings of the future. 
 
 But the Behiques told the people also that 
 there was an evil spirit, Mabuya, who must 
 be appeased. The smoke of the burning 
 cojiba that was breathed through the 
 
8 As Old as the Moon 
 
 tobacco tube, enabled the priests to see the 
 designs of Mabuya. He was the mis- 
 chievous spirit of evil, and very wicked 
 sometimes. He would pretend to speak 
 in the voice of the good Genie, and to tell 
 the people to drink much of the juice of 
 the maize which would make them fancy 
 absurd things and dream strange dreams 
 and perform ridiculous or bad deeds. Then 
 Mabuya would follow and laugh with glee 
 when his ill-natured counsel had brought 
 people to sorrow. Some of the Behiques 
 would not burn the cojiba to him, but 
 rolled up the leaves into long, hard little 
 sticks, and putting one of these into the 
 mouth they would set it to burning that 
 the incense might pass through their nos- 
 trils and inspire them to speak the will 
 of the good Genie; whereupon Mabuya 
 would have to run away. 
 
 When the Earth had grown old enough 
 to understand that the sunshine was beau- 
 tiful and that it made all things on the 
 
Folklore oj the Antillas 9 
 
 earth to grow and to give men pleasure, 
 she perceived that, besides the good 
 Genie who Uved in the clouds, there was 
 another mighty spirit to adore, and her 
 people all became worshippers of the 
 Sun, who had for his bride the goddess of 
 the waves. Vagoniona was their son and 
 the only being who could, without per- 
 mission, wander in the sunlight or upon 
 the Earth. He came to be the father of all 
 mankind. 
 
 The Earth was still very young when she 
 began to play with the Waters. Now the 
 Waters were much older than she, and 
 though they smiled often and were 
 willing to indulge the Earth in many ways, 
 they did not think it fitting that she should 
 become so bold. They grew sullen, there- 
 fore, when she lifted her head too high 
 and shook her green crown far above them, 
 and when she began to nourish the human 
 beings that Vagoniona allowed to come 
 into the light — when she set up a boast 
 
10 As Old as the Moon 
 
 of being the Mother of Nature, though 
 she was such a young and beautiful mother, 
 it might seem strange anyone could do 
 aught but love her — the jealous Waters 
 began to lash themselves into fury. 
 
 Still the Earth was so happy and inno- 
 cent of intending wrong that she only 
 laughed at the angry Waters, and her 
 rocks tossed them back and tumbled them 
 about as if they had been babies in swad- 
 dling clothes. Then it was that the Waters 
 appealed to Mabuya to allow them to 
 punish the Earth. 
 
 Mabuya being the spirit of evil granted 
 this request. Thus began the terrible 
 rains, the floods that rose from the sea 
 and fell from the sky. , The smile of the 
 young Earth was quenched; her beautiful 
 head was laid low; she was buffeted and 
 stripped of all her possessions, and the 
 children she had nourished were destroyed, 
 for over all the face of the land washed 
 the terrible flood. 
 
Folklore of the Antillas 11 
 
 Only one of all those men who had 
 lived upon the bosom of the Earth was 
 saved from this great vengeance of the 
 Waters. He being wise, the Cemies had 
 warned and ordered to build a canoe into 
 which to put those of his household and 
 their flocks so that when the Waters had 
 grown tired of being angry and again 
 allowed the Earth to show herself above 
 them, the people and the creatures of the 
 great canoe were all that were in the land. 
 
 By and by the Earth forgot she had been 
 punished and, being still young, she dared 
 to lift her head proudly once more. And 
 she was very fair; not until her children 
 began to say they were old and to go bowed 
 before affliction, and to have white hair 
 and wrinkled faces — not until then did 
 the Earth grow aged; she was, in those 
 happy times, only the child of the clouds 
 and the air, while the people were the 
 children of Vagoniona. 
 
THE COMING OF MEN 
 
 rpHE father of mankind, who was that 
 Son of the Sun, the great Vagoniona, 
 had the souls of people shut into great 
 caves where they could not see the Earth 
 nor the Sun. There they were obliged 
 to live waiting until they should be called 
 to earth. When they were summoned, 
 Vagoniona would go into the cave and 
 breathe upon those he wanted to send out 
 into the world. The liberty of all the 
 other beings depended upon the will of 
 Vagoniona who was, therefore, a mighty 
 spirit. Even when he was not in the caves 
 none of the souls there would leave their 
 places for the terrible Machokael guarded 
 the entrance, never quitting it day or 
 night, and not only preventing anyone 
 from leaving, but holding all prisoners who 
 came in. 
 
 IS 
 
Folklore of the Antillas 13 
 
 Now, upon the Earth the people began 
 to find that there were not enough inhabi- 
 tants and the Behiques were implored to 
 beg for more. It seemed that, in vain 
 did the priests ask of Maonocon, the good 
 Genie; he did not answer. Then the Sun 
 was fervently prayed to. Yet, in spite 
 of all the petitions that were made to 
 Maonocon and to the Sun and to Vago- 
 niona, there were still too few men in the 
 land to till it and to defend it, and the 
 people did not know what to do to bring 
 more inhabitants to their country. Some 
 of them made a pilgrimage to the caves 
 and tried to call to the men within to come 
 out. But the men could not hear for they 
 were weeping aloud over the loss of their 
 women and children; Vagoniona had taken 
 them away! Not to send them upon the 
 earth, though. He had been angry at 
 something that happened in the caves, 
 and for punishment had taken out the 
 women and children. In vain the people 
 
14 As Old as the Moon 
 
 waited outside the caves and called to the 
 men to come and help them to perform 
 their tasks on the earth. Grim old Macho- 
 kael still stood guard. 
 
 But it happened that as the people 
 turned away in despair, one of them broke 
 some of the branches of the trees, and 
 some of the vines that hung over the 
 entrance to the caves, and a ray of sunlight 
 entered. At that, Machokael, astonished, 
 wished to know what this beautiful thing 
 was, and where it came from; he had never 
 before seen light. He tried to pick up the 
 sunbeam from the ground; but, behold, he 
 could not grasp it, although it rested on 
 his hand, and he could feel it warm, yet 
 without weight. Little by little the sun- 
 ray crept away, and when it was gone, 
 Machokael still watched the glow it made 
 upon the trees, and the wonder of it filled 
 his heart with a longing he had never felt 
 before. When the day closed in and the 
 sky, he could now see through the broken 
 
Folklore of the Antillas 15 
 
 vines grew dark, he ventured forth from 
 the cave. Darkness he was used to, so 
 he dared to go toward the dark without. 
 But he lifted his eyes and saw the countless 
 stars in the deep blue sky; he did not 
 know what the stars were; he thought their 
 light was many sunbeams that had moved 
 far away. All night he stood watching. 
 When the dawn began to come his wonder 
 increased. Then, suddenly, from the rosy 
 East shot up the Sun and sent into the eyes 
 of Machokael a glorious beam — the whole 
 universe was illumined. But Machokael 
 stood outside the entrance of the cave 
 transfixed by the glory of day; turned, by 
 the force of his amazement, into a great 
 white stone, he stood a pillar of rock, 
 silent and motionless, but reflecting the 
 wonderful light and gathering and holding 
 the living warmth of those ardent rays. 
 
 And the men within the cave had crept 
 out to look also. When they found their 
 guardian gone they ran joyously from the 
 
16 As Old as the Moon 
 
 darkness into the sunshine; they distrib- 
 uted themselves over the land ; they started 
 in search of the women and children who 
 had been taken away from them; they 
 peopled the waste places and entered into 
 the labour of cultivating the ground, of 
 hunting and fishing and building homes. 
 
 And because the first men of the earth 
 were wise and lived on the flesh of yoiing 
 fish and on the fresh fruits of the wilds, they 
 lived long. All time that the Earth 
 remained young, they were good and the 
 spirit of evil could not tarry among them. 
 The great Genie watched over them and 
 the tribes multiplied and throve, living in 
 peace except for the fierce Caribs who 
 belonged in a land far away. 
 
THE MIBABOLANOS 
 
 TTITHEN the ancient Mirabolanos trees 
 begin to mourn it is because the 
 West Wind has started out to visit the North 
 Wind and, having met his brother half-way, 
 they have both turned and begun to run 
 toward the Earth. This makes a great breeze, 
 a pleasant breeze and the trees like it, for 
 then, once more, they can talk to each other. 
 Nearly always the trees can not say 
 anything; they are like Guaniquinaje, the 
 dog — they are dumb. This makes them 
 unhappy, for they were not always dumb. 
 Once they were able to move about and to 
 speak, not merely murmur and moan with 
 their branches as they do now, but really 
 talk. Once they were not trees at all but 
 were men, although they could not, even 
 then, wander around the world as other 
 men may, for they lived inside the earth. 
 
 17 
 
18 As Old as the Moon 
 
 In the caves Caji and Bajagua they were 
 shut up and there they had to wait until 
 Vagoniona should come to breathe upon 
 them and let them become human beings 
 and dwell upon the earth. Vagoniona 
 had tarried in coming and they had grown 
 weary waiting. One day they were so tired 
 that they cried out bitterly. 
 
 "It is so dark," they said to one another; 
 "if only we might see something bright and 
 beautiful, we should not mind waiting so 
 long." 
 
 Into the caves there blew that day 
 some stray leaves. The wind had whirled 
 them far into the grotto. These leaves 
 told wonderful tales; they spoke in soft 
 whispers as they danced gaily over the 
 ground and their stories were of the world 
 of sunshine. 
 
 "Oh, we must see the sunshine," cried 
 those who were to be Mirabolanos; "let us 
 go out and look but once upon it, then we 
 shall be content to return to the cave." 
 
Folklore of the Antillas 19 
 
 "But Machokael will not let us go," said 
 one. 
 
 "Where is Machokael?" the rest asked, 
 "we have not seen him to-day; perhaps for 
 once he is asleep." So they went to look for 
 the guardian of the cave who was fierce 
 and stern and would never let them out 
 because Vagoniona had forbidden them to 
 go. He was not to be found anywhere. 
 Then the bravest of them went out into the 
 world; nothing stopped them for at the 
 cave's entrance no Machokael was on guard; 
 there was only a big white stone that glittered 
 in the sunshine. 
 
 But Vagoniona saw them go and as he 
 had not given them permission he was 
 displeased. Then he spoke to the Sun and 
 he called to the North Wind, upon which the 
 North Wind blew hard and the cave people 
 stopped for they saw no more sunshine. 
 Still they would not go back to the cave; 
 therefore Vagoniona sent different messages 
 to the Sun and to the North Wind. The 
 
20 As Old as the Moon 
 
 clouds became darker and darker; pres- 
 ently rain began to fall, much rain, until 
 the ground was soaked and all things that 
 walked upon it or stood upon it sank deep 
 into the mud. All at once the rain clouds 
 lifted, the rain ceased, the North Wind 
 departed and the Sun showed his face in a 
 blaze of radiance. 
 
 The cave people had tried to move out 
 of the mud, but it held them fast ; then when 
 the Sim came out they forgot to try, so 
 charmed were they with the splendour of 
 the light; they stood gazing in joy and 
 amaze. But even as they looked, they, 
 themselves, changed; their arms were held 
 to their sides by some force they could not 
 see while strong bark began to enclose their 
 bodies. Their hair lifted and spread out 
 into branches that took on whispering 
 leaves. In a short time instead of men, 
 there stood in the sunshine near the caves, 
 some trees that had not been in that spot 
 before and of a kind that no one knew. 
 
Folklore of the Antillas 21 
 
 The Sun withdrew his light and from the 
 clouds that still hovered near, fell more rain ; 
 it sprinkled the new trees. When the sun 
 shone out once again the trees were firmly 
 planted. They took root and grew and 
 throve, always able to spread out their leaves 
 under the gracious rays of the Sun, always 
 eager to look up into his bright face. But 
 because these cave dwellers had ventured, 
 without permission, beyond the grottoes, 
 they were now trees who might have been 
 men. And in that land they are called 
 Mirabolanos. 
 
WHERE THE SUN AND MOON 
 CAME FROM 
 
 A FTER the great flood, all the Indians 
 ■^ of the Islands feared to build huts/ 
 so they dwelt in caves. There were not 
 many people because all excepting the wise 
 Cacique and his wives and sons had been 
 drowned in the flood. The wise Cacique 
 was not drowned for he had built a great 
 canoe and put into it his whole family and 
 many creatures besides. He had done so 
 because the Behique had warned him that 
 a great rain was coming and had told him 
 to build the strong canoe. 
 
 As there were not many people when the 
 waters had returned to the sea and left the 
 land dry, there were grottoes enough for 
 them all to live in and also for the spirits 
 that dwelt in caves, waiting until they were 
 called out into the light and air. But the 
 
 22 
 
Folklore of the AntUlas 23 
 
 grottoes in which men lived were not deep 
 hidden at the edge of the sea as were the 
 caves inhabited by spirits. In one of the 
 deepest caves lived the Sun and the Moon: 
 it was called the cave Jobaba. From this 
 place none of the bright beams of the 
 Sun nor the soft light of the Moon could 
 reach the earth; only the stars shone in 
 the sky. 
 
 At last the Sun and Moon became tired 
 of the cave. There was, indeed, scarcely 
 room for both of them in that grotto and 
 the light they made was so great it blinded 
 even themselves. It was the Sun who first 
 grew impatient; his glory hurt him because 
 he was so close to it and he did not think of 
 anything but how he could be more com- 
 fortable. Said he to the Moon : 
 
 "It is not fitting that I who am the father 
 of all life and who may command all the 
 spirits that are in the caves, should be shut 
 up this way with another luminary, even one 
 so small and weak as you are. You ought 
 
24 As Old as the Moon 
 
 to go away and leave this cave to me; I 
 can easily fill it all." 
 
 "But where shall I go?" asked the Moon 
 anxiously; "there is no other cave for me." 
 
 " Well, there is the biggest cave of all not 
 yet full," answered the Sun, "there is the 
 huge blue cave of the sky. The stars don't 
 need so much space, there is plenty of room 
 for you. Why don't you go out and light 
 it up? Try!" 
 
 Reluctantly the Moon consented to try. 
 She was so grieved that the Sun found her 
 in his way that she drooped the points of 
 her silver crescent down, down till the 
 hollow would n't have held a drop of water. 
 Timidly she ventured forth from the cave 
 and she was so delicate and small that she 
 looked quite unable to do anything for her- 
 self. Thereupon the Air took pity on her 
 and offered to lift her up so that she could 
 reach a place in the sky. The sky-cave was 
 so big that the little Moon was terribly 
 frightened and tried to hide her face in the 
 
Folklore of the Antillas 25 
 
 skirts of the clouds and when, at last, she 
 had poised herself it was only a slender, 
 silver rim that any one could see of her. 
 By and by, though, she grew less afraid, 
 and then, little by little, she showed her 
 whole face, and everyone who saw it, 
 loved it. 
 
 Meantime, the Sun had found himself 
 just as cramped in the cave as ever. It is 
 true that when the Moon went away he 
 had wanted, at the last, to go, too, but he 
 had thought a whole, great cave to himself 
 was too fine a thing to leave. Yet, when 
 he saw his little companion in that beauti- 
 ful blue dome that arched far above the 
 entrance to his own dwelling, he became 
 angry that so small a thing as the Moon 
 should have a finer place than he had, and, 
 in a sudden temper, he rushed out and 
 sprang into the sky after her. 
 
 On seeing him coming, the Moon took 
 fright and began to run away, always 
 looking back, however, though she turned 
 
26 As Old as the Moon 
 
 only a part of her face toward the Sun; 
 so, running and turning, she was lost to 
 view. 
 
 It was the Sun now who had the sky- 
 cave to live in, and even the stars left it 
 to him alone. Oh, how glorious it was to 
 be there! At last he could stretch himself 
 to his utmost; he could send his wonderful 
 light in all directions, and he could behold 
 the Earth and all things that adored him. 
 These were many, for he warmed the Earth 
 that had been cold; he made green plants 
 and bright flowers to start out of the dark 
 soil; he made children laugh and men and 
 women glad so that they knelt down and 
 worshipped him, and called themselves 
 "Children of the Sun." 
 
 Nevertheless, the Sun became very lonely, 
 for no one came very near to him; no one 
 was really neighbourly; no one was his very 
 own friend. He began to want his little 
 companion the sweet, tender Moon, and 
 at last he determined to go and find her. 
 
Folklore of the Antillas 27 
 
 But where to look for her? He thought 
 long and hard one evening as he descended 
 the sky-cave; by the time he had reached 
 its lowest edge, he felt sure that he should 
 find her in the cave Jobaba where they 
 had been happy together before he drove 
 her out. 
 
 Toward Jobaba, therefore, he went 
 eagerly, but before he could reach it, he 
 s^w, emerging from it, the pale, almost 
 averted face of the fair Moon. 
 
 "Oh, Moon!" he cried, "where are you 
 going? Why do you fly when I am 
 coming? Dear Moon, do not go away 
 again!" 
 
 But the Moon would not listen and would 
 not linger. As the Sun plunged into the 
 cave thinking that if he were within she 
 might return, she mounted high in the 
 clear sky. 
 
 Since that time the Sun has never been 
 able to overtake the Moon, or to persuade 
 her to remain very near him. Sometimes 
 
28 As Old as the Moon 
 
 she turns her cold, sweet profile toward 
 him for a little, and once in a great while 
 she dares to turn her back upon him and 
 pass silently before his face, but she never 
 lingers; she will not dwell with him. Both 
 of them return to the grotto to sleep, and 
 from there they start on their daily journey 
 through the sky-cave; but only one of them 
 at a time makes the journey or inhabits 
 Jobaba. The Moon sleeps through the 
 day and when the Sun comes at evening to 
 take his slumber, she has already started 
 on her nightly rounds. Nevertheless, she 
 often looks sad under her silver veil, for 
 never can she forget that she was driven 
 from her home, though because of the 
 memory of it she always shines with 
 alluring brightness on sweethearts. But 
 the Indians say that the gods made her 
 sad that her sighs might refresh the night 
 breezes. 
 
AS OLD AS THE MOON 
 
 /^LD, very old, was the wise man 
 Lucuey, and yet his mother was 
 older. He could still show the youths 
 what a man may be, but Maya, his mother, 
 could only sit in the shadow of the great 
 ceiba tree and say, "As old as the Moon, 
 as old as the Moon." 
 
 One day Higueya, the maiden, came 
 running to Nanota, her mother, asking, 
 "Why does Maya say the Moon is old? 
 I know it is not old, for I see Cuanao's 
 face in it, smiling at me." 
 
 Now, Cuanao was a young chief who 
 lived on the other side of the mountains 
 where, as everyone knew, the Moon could 
 not shine, for would not the mountains 
 hide it.P Therefore, when the mother of 
 Higueya heard the maiden say that she 
 saw Cuanao's face in the Moon, she knew 
 
 29 
 
30 As Old as the Moon 
 
 that the youth must have left his own 
 country and come to the hither side of the 
 mountains, and Nanota was displeased. 
 
 "You must not see Cuanao's face!" 
 she cried to the girl. "He is of a race 
 no one knows. Go and learn of old 
 Lucuey what he can tell you of how our 
 tribe came and what age we are and why 
 we need not look upon any of another 
 race. Go, my daughter!" 
 
 And Higueya went running to Lucuey. 
 
 She only said, "Tell me," but the old 
 man knew what she wanted to know. 
 They all came to ask him in turn. He, 
 alone, knew for, to the tribe, he was 
 Knowledge. To each one he told the 
 same, but all did not understand alike. 
 To the maiden Higueya he spoke thus: 
 
 "On the very day that the Sun sent 
 the Moon from the cave of Jobaba, the 
 Tainos left their cave to people the earth. 
 No tribe had before ventured out of the 
 caves for dark were the valleys and the 
 
Folklore of the Antillas 31 
 
 mountains because there had been no 
 light to show the way oyer the land or sea. 
 Timorous were those who issued from ; 
 I the protecting caves and, behold, across 
 their path, stretching along the coast of 
 their island, they beheld a terrible monster 
 that threatened their first steps, so that 
 they could not reach the shore of the land 
 they were commanded to inhabit. 
 
 "A Serpent, it was, that reared a mighty 
 head from the waves and lashed the waters 
 with its writhings. The Serpent was like 
 the people of the caves, as old as the 
 Moon; forever had they all lived, though 
 not until they were summoned could any 
 come forth. But while the Moon sprang 
 into the sky, the Serpent having grown, 
 in an instant, to its terrible size, dis- 
 puted with men for the dominion of the 
 earth. 
 
 "Then was the beginning of battle. All 
 the people were made to fight to possess 
 the land, and soon they found that if they 
 
32 As Old as the Moon 
 
 would possess they must subject the enemy 
 that was before them. Now, the good 
 Genie called to them to fight valiantly, 
 and with pride, for they were children of 
 the king of heaven, of the lord of the earth, 
 and all things might be commanded by 
 them. And at this they waged the battle 
 yet more terribly. But their enemy was 
 of unconquerable might, for the strength 
 of the Serpent was as the strength of all 
 beasts and of all men united, and though 
 the people fought desperately they gained 
 not at all. In vain did they call on 
 Vagoniona; no help came to them. In 
 transports of despair again and again they 
 renewed the attack, but were driven back 
 by. the monster. 
 
 "At last they sent a cry to heaven. 
 There, in the serene sky, floated the Moon 
 that, with themselves and the Horror they 
 were fighting, had been sent into the world 
 at the same instant. Far away as she 
 seemed, the beautiful Light of Night heard 
 
Folklore of the Antillas 33 
 
 the cry of the people, and came to their 
 aid. Her beams were dazzling; she sent 
 them darting full into the eyes of the Ser- 
 pent as it raised its head in menace of the 
 people. The Moon's rays bewitched the 
 monster, so that it could not see the people, 
 and they ran swiftly and so reached the 
 shore safely at last. 
 
 "Since then, though," old Lucuey re- 
 minded Higueya, "every one has had to 
 be careful not to allow the light of the 
 Moon to shine upon anyone who is sleeping 
 or upon uncovered heads, for having known 
 that the wise Serpent was bewitched, it is 
 to be feared that the power of the moon- 
 light might make fools even of people 
 who are as old as the moon." 
 
 "And is only one tribe so old?" asked 
 Higueya piteously. 
 
 "Only one, which is ours," answered 
 old Lucuey proudly. 
 
 "But where did the others come from?" 
 questioned Higueya, 
 
34 As Old as the Moon 
 
 "Ah, who knows?" said the wise man, 
 carelessly. 
 
 "How do you know all this, Lucuey?" 
 demanded the maiden, for she was not 
 content to learn that Cuanao's tribe could 
 I not be, also, of the chosen people. 
 
 "Maya, my mother, told me when I 
 was a child; she tells me still," answered 
 Lucuey, "hear her!" 
 
 And listening they heard old Maya 
 murmuring over and over, "As old as the 
 Moon! As old as the Moon!" 
 
 No one could contradict her, for she 
 was older, even, than her son, who .was 
 the Knowledge of the people. Higueya 
 looked up at the moon, but now no face 
 smiled at her; the clouds hid all but a rim 
 of the bright disk. 
 
WHY THE WOMAN FEARS THE RAT 
 
 ■f^^HEN the Capromys' turn had come 
 to go into the great canoe that 
 the Wise Chief had built, all the women 
 surrounded the Cacique and prayed him 
 not to take those ugly little animals on the 
 voyage. 
 
 "They are the creatures that have de- 
 stroyed the world," they cried; "always 
 are they gnawing, gnawing at the founda- 
 tions of things, whether it is at our feet or 
 our houses. They make holes in every- 
 thing. Is it not plain that they have made 
 holes in the bottom of the earth so that 
 the water comes through and will drown 
 us unless your great canoe can save us, 
 and are not all the people who have no 
 canoe bound to drown? If you take the 
 Capromys upon the boat, they will surely 
 gnaw holes in that also, so we shall, even 
 
 35 
 
36 Ajs Old as the Moon 
 
 yet, fall into the great Water and be 
 drowned. Oh, do not take the Capromys, 
 we pray you!" 
 
 But the Cacique thought that Maonocon 
 would be displeased if he slighted the 
 Capromys, so he took them into the canoe 
 with all the other animals. 
 
 No sooner was the canoe launched upon 
 the Great Water than the Capromys began 
 as the women had said they would, to 
 gnaw. Over the roar of the sea and the 
 pelting of rain and the strain and creak 
 of the vessel and the scraping of the oars 
 that the chief and his sons wielded, could 
 be heard the little gnaw-aw-aw-ing, of the 
 Capromys. Their strong teeth were tearing 
 and boring at the walls of the canoe. The 
 women, who knew how often the walls of 
 their bohios had been destroyed by these 
 creatures, were in despair. 
 
 "How shall we save ourselves, our 
 stores or even the canoe?" they asked 
 one another. "If these creatures endan- 
 
Folklore of the Antillas 37 
 
 gered the foundations of our homes and 
 made us to hate them for that reason, 
 what shall we feel when, because of 
 their mischief, the sea threatens our 
 lives?" 
 
 At last they discovered that if they 
 watched constantly and tapped the walls 
 of the canoe whenever the Capromys be- 
 gan to gnaw, they could stop the nibbling, 
 and so prevent the making of holes that 
 would let in the water. But the women 
 got very tired of this, for it was necessary 
 to keep watch, not only every moment of 
 the day, but also every instant through 
 the night; there was, therefore, no cessa- 
 tion of their labour, and no one of them 
 could relieve another because each had 
 her own corner to watch. 
 
 Then it was that the women grew angry 
 at the Capromys who annoyed them, and 
 at the chief who had brought the creatures 
 into the boat, and at their sons who laughed 
 at their fears. "For," said these watchers. 
 
38 As Old as the Moon 
 
 " it is their fault that we have to go through 
 this labour that might have been avoided 
 and it is their abode that is threatened 
 as well as ours," so they began to scold. 
 
 "Your voices are like the gnawing of 
 Capromys," cried the chief, angrily. 
 
 To which the women answered, "That 
 is all the little beasts are good for — to 
 show us how to punish you when you 
 displease us," and they went on scolding. 
 
 But presently the men got used to the 
 noise of their voices as they had got used 
 to the gnawing of the Capromys, and paid 
 no more attention to either. 
 
 The women continued to watch and to 
 beat oflf the rats, and then the rats got 
 angry at the women for interfering with 
 their gnawing, so the animals took counser 
 as to how they could have revenge. It 
 was a long meeting, but at last it broke 
 up, and with so much excitement, it was 
 plain that some satisfactory mode of action 
 had been found. The Capromys rushed 
 
Folklore qj the Antillas 39 
 
 about the walls of the canoe until it seemed 
 as if they would break the boat entirely 
 to pieces. By and by, however, they 
 became quiet. Then, when the women, 
 who were watching to prevent their gnawing, 
 had fallen asleep, because of the quiet, the 
 Capromys began slowly to creep out 
 through the holes they had made. An 
 order had been issued by their commander: 
 they were to slyly reach the women's feet, 
 scramble up their ankles and over their 
 bodies to bite off their ears that had 
 offended by hearing too much. 
 
 Now, Xulos, one of the dogs that the 
 chief had taken into the canoe, was an 
 enemy of the Capromys, and having, 
 moreover, become the friend of human 
 beings, he warned the women of the 
 Capromys' intention. Whereat the women 
 jumped up the moment they saw the 
 whisk of a rat's tail, and, springing into 
 their hammocks, hid their feet while they 
 screamed lustily. 
 
40 As Old as the Moon 
 
 The chief and his sons came running. 
 They* were very angry that the Capromys, 
 to whom they had given shelter from the 
 flood, should have frightened the women, 
 and they beat off the rats with their ma- 
 canas made of acana wood. They were 
 also very angry with the women for being 
 afraid, and especially for screaming, so be- 
 tween the crying of the women, who fell 
 to tears after they had ceased to scream, 
 and the scolding of the men, who, it seemed, 
 had also learned of the Capromys, the 
 troublesome animals got away. 
 
 After that, the Capromys sent their 
 little relative, the mouse, to worry the 
 people, and now neither mice nor rats 
 ever lose the opportunity of frightening 
 the women, who never fail to scream upon 
 seeing those creatures while the men, who 
 still call the women the scolds, never lose 
 the chance of rating them for being 
 afraid of such insignificant things as 
 rodents. 
 
Folklore of the Antillas 41 
 
 But the women still watch, for they 
 say— 
 
 "We must guard the foundations of our 
 homes from anything that might under- 
 mine them." 
 
THE REASON BOHECHIO'S FRIEND 
 WAS DUMB 
 
 "l^TBEN the great Boheehio was but 
 a child, he made a wonderful 
 discovery. He had, for his best friend, a 
 dog. The brute, like all of his kind in 
 the lands of the Lucayas, was dumb. 
 The Indians did not think this strange 
 because they did not know that any dog 
 had a voice heard in its bark that tells 
 of joy, or anger, or fear, according as 
 the animal feels. So Boheehio thought 
 nothing of his dog being always silent. 
 
 One day the boy went hunting capromys 
 among the majagua groves. He wanted 
 strong, fine gut-strings for his new bow, 
 and only the capromy could furnish any 
 fine enough. Although these little animals 
 could be very bold when they were obliged 
 to fight, they were, by nature, timid, and 
 
Folklore of the Antillas 43 
 
 had to watch constantly for enemies. But 
 they could get out of the way quickly, for 
 their ears were sharp in catching the least 
 sound warning them of the coming of any 
 strange thing. Even the light tread of 
 Bohechio's little brown feet was enough 
 to send them scurrying. So the boy could 
 only hope to catch one of these rats if he 
 kept very still for a long time. He could 
 do that, for he had learned the Indian 
 child's first lesson which is to remain 
 motionless as long as is necessary, no 
 matter how tired he may become. Bo- 
 hechio could trust Guaniquinaje to keep 
 still also, for the little beast, though quick 
 as a flash of lightning in moving, made no 
 noise and could not bark. 
 
 At last, by patient waiting, Bohechio 
 surprised, and Guaniquinaje caught, a 
 fine, large capromy. The dog shook 
 the rat fiercely by the neck until it had 
 ceased to squeal, and was quite dead; 
 then the boy sat down in the shade of a 
 
44 As Old as the Moon 
 
 majagua tree to skin and draw it, throw- 
 ing the carcass to the dog, who, having 
 devoured it, sat on his haunches in- 
 tently watching his Uttle master. Bo- 
 hechio could not help glancing at his 
 friend now and then, for the dog's eyes 
 regarded him beseechingly, so that at last 
 Bohechio exclaimed: 
 
 "Well, what wouldst thou? Hast not 
 had enough to eat? But there is still a 
 portion of the meat left. Speak and tell 
 me; I am sure thou couldst talk if thou 
 wouldst but try." 
 
 Immediately Guaniquinaje began to 
 talk; he said: 
 
 "No one has ever before invited me to 
 speak, and / could not begin first; that 
 would have been bad manners since I am 
 the smallest of the company. Moreover, 
 I am dumb for another reason, my master." 
 
 Bohechio was so amazed at hearing the 
 dog speak that he stopped the stretching 
 of his new bow-string to stare at him, and 
 
Folklore of the Antillas 45 
 
 could hardly find voice to ask, "What is 
 the reason?" 
 
 "My master," answered the brute, "if 
 I were not dumb you would not have me 
 for your constant friend, for could I talk 
 I should be as important as you, which 
 you would not like, and, besides, you 
 might also have to distrust me lest I should 
 speak two ways, as men often do. How- 
 ever I put my words, you might think 
 I wished to complain, though I might 
 have meant to commend; or you would, 
 perhaps, take for consent what I intended 
 for protest. Vagoniona decreed that the 
 Guaniquinaje should be dumb that man 
 might have always a friend who would not 
 betray him or contradict him." 
 
 At that moment the witch Yauna ap- 
 peared, and Guaniquinaje was so fright- 
 ened at being found gossiping that he hid 
 his tail between his legs and ran away. 
 
 Bohechio, who had never before seen 
 Yauna, stood up with his back against 
 
46 As Old as the Moon 
 
 a majagua tree and drew his bow fitted 
 with a tight string. 
 
 "If you should shoot me," cried the 
 witch, "you would never know the im- 
 portant thing I have come to do and to 
 tell." 
 
 At these words Bohechio lowered his 
 bow and gave ear to the witch, who con- 
 tinued thus : 
 
 "I have come to charm the dog so that 
 his ability to talk shall never return; he 
 must not become man's equal, therefore 
 no one shall hear him speak ever again, 
 and man may make him a constant com- 
 panion, for like the sands of the sea, he 
 shall bear no witness of anything. If 
 you would be a great chief, remember 
 to trust only those who are dumb and to 
 remain dumb yourself about your affairs." 
 
 Thus it was that while yet a child 
 Bohechio learned the secret of governing 
 men; it was his great discovery. When 
 he returned to the tribe he said nothing of 
 
Folklore of the Antillas 47 
 
 what had occurred in the forest, and because 
 he knew that secrets are safe only with 
 dumb creatures be became a great chief 
 when he had grown to be a man. He was 
 the friend of many, but he counted Guani- 
 quinaje his only true friend. 
 
THE EUISEROE (NIGHTINGALE) 
 
 TTUACANI was curious. He wanted to 
 go with his friend Vagoniona to visit 
 the Caves of Souls; it was forbidden to visit 
 these and he knew this was so, yet he was 
 determined to enter the mysterious caverns. 
 
 The caves, Cazibaxagua and Amayauna, 
 were under the sea in the rock Cauta. In 
 them were gathered the beings who were to 
 become men and women and people the 
 earth. They were happy and content until 
 some of them had been summoned into the 
 world; then they all wanted to go likewise. 
 
 Huacani was the fisherman who dropped 
 his nets in the sea near the caves so he knew 
 there were wonderful things to see in those 
 grottoes. Moreover he was a friend of the 
 father of souls, the great Vagoniona who, 
 however, would never take the fisherman 
 with him into the caves. But one day he 
 
 48 
 
Folklore of the Antillas 49 
 
 sent him to the seashore to get a particular 
 kind of fish and as Huacani pursued his 
 work he thought more than ever how he 
 might visit the caves. Some of the grottoes 
 were great palaces; they stretched away, 
 away under the mountains, and the gold that 
 was of the hills lined them, and the pearls 
 that were of the sea studded their walls 
 and paved the ground. Huacani had 
 always longed 'to see these splendid places 
 of which his friend had told him. 
 
 So now the daring fisherman determined 
 to enter them. He dove into the sea, he 
 swam under the water, he found the gate- 
 way of the caves, he went in. The water 
 was like a river flowing through high banks. 
 He followed the banks. At last he could 
 climb upon a shore — always within the 
 cave. Then he caught a glimpse of the 
 dazzling walls as a sun-ray pierced through 
 the water. The next instant all was dark 
 again but at the same time he felt himself 
 lifted and tossed high and he shot up out 
 
50 As Old as the Moon 
 
 of the cave through a tiny rift in the rocks, 
 on, out into the air of the upper world. 
 
 But he was no longer Huacani the fisher- 
 man; in form he was a bird with soft plum- 
 age. He sought refuge in a tree that over- 
 hung the cave's invisible roof window. The 
 bird did not utter a note — then, but when 
 the night had fallen and the pale moon 
 was hanging in the sky, he began to sing. 
 So sweet, so wonderful was his voice that 
 the people came from far away to hear the 
 song. Out in the sea the fish ceased to 
 swim and drew near to listen; all the creat- 
 ures of the forest, beast and bird, left lairs 
 and nests to go closer to the sweet sounds. 
 Although Vagoniona had to punish his 
 friend for disobedience he made him the 
 tenderest singer in the world, the Ruisenor, 
 the Nightingale, that tries to tell, in its 
 plaintive notes, of the dwelling place of 
 waiting souls that no one has ever seen. 
 
THE FOX AND THE VEJETE 
 
 A CERTAIN Fox and a Vejete, an old 
 
 buffoon, were very good friends. The 
 
 buflfoon who, as was known, was both a 
 
 merry and a scheming chap but never a 
 
 thief, said one day to the Fox: 
 
 "Friend Fox, here I have a bit of ground 
 and if you Uke we will cultivate it in 
 partnership." 
 
 "Why yes, that would please me," 
 answered the Fox. 
 
 "Well, first it is necessary to plough 
 before bad weather is upon us," said the 
 Vejete. 
 
 "So it is," agreed the Fox, "and you are 
 wiser in these things than I; see to that while 
 I attend to the rest." 
 
 A little later the Vejete came and said, 
 "Now it is necessary to sow." 
 
 "Well, you go on with thaf while I run 
 
 51 
 
52 As Old as the Moon 
 
 out and see to every thing else," answered the 
 Fox. 
 
 Some months passed; then the Vejete 
 said, "Comrade, the grass is devouring the 
 wheat, it is necessary to let in the stock." 
 
 "So it is," assented the Fox, "you see to 
 it while I am doing other things." 
 
 Another little time passed and again the 
 Vejete came to the Fox, saying: 
 
 "Comrade, the wheat is ready to harvest; 
 it is necessary to mow it." 
 
 "This is certainly the time to do it," 
 answered the Fox; "you attend to the matter 
 while I do all the rest." 
 
 The Vejete, good natured as he was, 
 began to lose confidence in his partner and 
 related to a Greyhound, a great friend of 
 his, what had taken place. 
 
 The Greyhound, who was clever, saw that 
 the Fox was about to play one of his tricks 
 on the good old buffoon, so he advised the 
 Vejete thus: 
 
 "Harvest the wheat yourself; put it 
 
Folklore of the Antillas 53 
 
 upon the threshing-floor and hide me in 
 one of the sheaves covering me entirely with 
 the exception of one eye by which I can see 
 what is happening in the place." 
 
 The Vejete did as he was told and, soon 
 after all was arranged, the Fox arrived. 
 When the cunning fellow saw the threshing- 
 floor and the fine wheat already spread out, 
 he was delighted and began to dance with 
 glee, singing: 
 
 "Fine harvest, fine. 
 And the wheat and the straw 
 Are mine, mine!" 
 
 Dancing he drew near to the sheaf where 
 the Greyhound was concealed. All, at once 
 he spied, among the straw, the one eye that 
 was watching him. Then his tone changed 
 to one of alarm as he cried: 
 
 "Do I see ?— Oh, law, law!" 
 "Yes, a thing that's not straw," 
 
 shouted the Greyhound as he sprang out of 
 the sheaf, and falling upon the Fox, he 
 speedily finished him. 
 
JULOCO THE RAINBOW GOD 
 AND THE MOON CHILDREN 
 
 T ITTLE Sicomo, who sometimes went 
 from the land of the' fierce Caribs 
 to visit the children of the gentle Siboneyes, 
 could tell great tales. His playfellows would 
 go without their food often to hear his stories. 
 One day the Sun had begun to slide down 
 the sky toward the cave Jobaba when the 
 clouds gathered heavily and people said 
 there would be a great rain. 
 
 "It will put out the Sun," said one of the 
 children fearfully. 
 
 "It can't," declared Sicomo, "for the 
 Sun is the greatest of all the gods, greater 
 than the clouds or the rain." 
 
 While the children disputed, the clouds 
 spread and covered the face of the Sun, 
 and rain fell in torrents. But presently the 
 Sun, impatient at the curtain the clouds had 
 
 £4 
 
Folklore of the Antillas 55 
 
 dropped over him, tore away a portion of it 
 and gazed through at the falling rain. 
 
 Immediately a tremendous bow was seen 
 to appear in the sky, and it had a string of 
 colours of ravishing beauty. 
 
 "Oh, look," cried one of the boys, "the 
 Sun is stretching his bow to shoot the clouds" 
 for covering him up." 
 
 "No, no," said SicomO, "it is not the 
 Sun; that is the god Juloco, the spirit of the 
 rainbow who comes to show himself to 
 send away the clouds and the rain." 
 
 "Where does he get the beautiful 
 colburs.''" asked the little Siboneyes, and 
 the Carib boy said: 
 
 "He sends his warriors to hunt humming- 
 birds, and his fishermen to net blue and gold 
 fish, and his women to gather the green 
 leaves and his children to catch young liz- 
 ards, and all these are the food that he eats 
 and that give him his beautiful clothes. 
 
 Meantime, the Sun exclaimed to the Kain: 
 "Why do you fall between me and the green 
 
56 As Old as the Moon 
 
 earth, you gray creature? You are so 
 cold and pale you ought to get out of the 
 way when I come." 
 
 "But I can't do that," answered the Rain. 
 "I am sorry, beautiful Sun, that I am ugly; 
 please forgive me and I will try to be 
 useful." 
 
 At that the Sun, pleased with the Bain's 
 compliment, smiled on her, and behold, each 
 of her drops shone with all the colours that 
 Juloco was showing in his lovely bow and 
 the Bain was astonished to find herself 
 suddenly as beautiful as a god. Over on 
 the sky beyond she saw her reflection, and 
 she was filled with such delight that she for- 
 got to fall while she gazed at herself. But 
 no sooner had she ceased to send the shin- 
 ing drops down than the bright colours on 
 the sky were gone and as the children 
 looked up at Juloco, he, too, disappeared. 
 
 " That is the way they always do," Sicomo 
 told them. "The Bain takes Juloco away 
 when she goes; though he doesn't always 
 
"'oh, look', cried one or the boys, 'the sun is 
 
 STRETCHING HIS BOW TO SHOOT THE CLOUDS FOR COVERING 
 HIM UP ' " 
 
Folklore oj the Antillas 57 
 
 come with her he never comes without her, 
 which is strange for she is a sullen witch 
 that only looks pleasant just before she starts ' 
 home." 
 
 "Where do they go?" asked the Sibon- 
 eyes. 
 
 "To the caves, of course," Sicomo told 
 them. "You have no such caves in Cuba 
 as we have, so you cannot go to search for 
 them." 
 
 "Yes we have wonderful caves," the 
 Siboney children cried all in a breath, "and 
 there is the cave where the Sun will go to 
 when the Moon comes out; she has been 
 sleeping there all day; lie will go to sleep 
 presently. Come, we will show it to you, but 
 first tell us a story." 
 
 "Very well," agreed Sicomo, "I will tell 
 you the story of our Sun and Moon; they 
 are much greater than yours, as you will see. 
 Lucuo, the greatest of the gods, had ten sons 
 who also became gods. The eldest of them 
 was the Moon, Noum, a great hunter and a 
 
58 As Old as the Moon 
 
 traveller who could go round and round 
 the world whenever he liked and make every 
 man afraid, for he could make men fools 
 when he wished. He was more beautiful 
 than you can imagine and proud of it so that 
 he showed himself boastfully to the Earth. 
 But in that instant the Sun looked out a 
 moment and he was much more glorious 
 than the Moon, so that Noum was provoked 
 with him for appearing and filled with 
 shame that the Earth should see a more 
 beautiful creature than himself. Con- 
 sequently he ran away and hid, and for a 
 long time he would not come out but at 
 last he chose the night for his time to reign 
 and now the Earth welcomes him when he 
 comes, as gladly as she does the Sun when 
 he rises for the day." 
 
 "But why are they greater than our Sun 
 and Moon?" asked one of the Siboneyes. 
 
 "I will tell you that when you show me 
 where your Sun and Moon dwell," answered 
 Sicomo. 
 
Folklore of the Antillas 59 
 
 "Let us go at once," said his companions, 
 "and see, Juloco again shows a little; the 
 end of his bow rests near the cave where 
 our Sun sleeps, perhaps the rainbow has 
 stopped to visit Jobaba; if we find him 
 there we will shut him in so that he shall be 
 ours and will drive away the rain when we 
 ask him." 
 
 The boys set out to run to the cave and 
 imprison the lovely rainbow; they ran and 
 ran; they knew quite well where the cave 
 was but with all their running they could not 
 reach it. The Sun set and the Moon came 
 up and still they were running and people 
 say they are running still for, across the face 
 of the Moon, their shadows show them to 
 be forever chasing another shadow, which 
 must be that of the rainbow itself. 
 
TOA, TOA, THE MAMMA BOYS 
 
 V^JHEN the Father of Men was grieving 
 at losing his friend Huaeani, who 
 had been changed into the nightingale 
 because he had tried to discover the unborn 
 souls of human beings, he vented his dis- 
 pleasure, as unreasonable people have often 
 done since then, on innocent folk, and he 
 punished the men who lived in the caves 
 that Huaeani had tried to enter. The way 
 in which he punished them was by taking 
 out of the caves all the women and children. 
 Now the women and children went out 
 with him very willingly, when they were 
 invited, for they were always eager for pleas- 
 ure and change, and at first they enjoyed 
 themselves. But presently the Father of 
 Men took the women, the babies, and the 
 girls up on a high mountain and left them 
 there, where they couldn't get down alone. 
 
 60 
 
Folklore of the Antiltas 61 
 
 The boys lie kept with him, making them 
 run about wherever he went. He took 
 them everywhere, telling them they must 
 do as he did if they would become great men. 
 This was unfortunate for the boys; some of 
 them were still very httle fellows and their 
 short legs could not get over the ground as 
 fast as their leader was able to do with his 
 great strides. Moreover, to do just as he 
 did in all ways was not possible. Then, too, 
 the great being whose business it was to 
 populate the earth by ordering the men out 
 of the caves at his pleasure, could not trouble 
 to think of all that little boys needed, so it 
 fell out that the children he dragged about 
 after him were often very sad, and very tired 
 and very hungry for many things. 
 
 At last they began to cry. Still striving 
 to run after their great commander, they 
 could not but grieve for their mothers' arms 
 and their mothers' care, nor could they help 
 sobbing or even calling out plaintively, 
 "Toa, toa!" In the Indian language of 
 
62 As Old as the Moon 
 
 that land "toa" meant mother. The mis- 
 erable little boys were weeping and calling 
 for their mothers. 
 
 This made the Father of Men angry. 
 He gave the boys a terrible look, but they 
 did not see it; they were so unhappy, their 
 eyes were so full of tears, their poor throats 
 were so dry and achy, and they were so tired 
 roaming all over the world that they could 
 think of nothing but their misery, and 
 heart-brokenly cried, "Toa, toa, toa!" 
 
 Just at that moment they came to a river 
 bank, and, on seeing the water, the Father 
 of Men suddenly thought of a way to rid 
 himself of the troublesome, crying children. 
 "In with you," he cried, "all you croakers! 
 into the mud puddles, your proper place, 
 and become frogs that shall be forever 
 grunting and croaking, 'Toa, toa.'" 
 
 And into the water tumbled the little 
 boys who, tired with all their leader had 
 expected of them were glad enough to be 
 left to themselves, especially in a place 
 
Folklore of the Antillas 63 
 
 where they might drink their fill. They 
 paddled about in the stream to their hearts' 
 content and never tried to go very far from 
 it. Crouching down always beneath some 
 water- washed stone, their legs gradually 
 doubled up so they could only stretch them 
 out when they took a long leap, and after a 
 time they walked no more but went in great 
 leaps or a hop, skip and jump. By and by 
 they forgot all their life in the cave or in 
 roaming about with the Father of Men. 
 They never learned to talk but they still 
 know, and repeat constantly, the first baby 
 call for their mother and they say, over and 
 over in the same tone and in the soft, long 
 forgotten Indian syllable, "Toa! Toa-a! 
 Toa-a-a-d!" 
 
II 
 
 INDIAN LEGENDS OF THE 
 CONQUEST PERIOD 
 
 (FIFTEENTH TO SIXTEENTH CENTURY) 
 
THE FAST OF THE SIBONEYES 
 
 A LL the people of the valley of Tamamo 
 knew that Umatao was fasting. 
 For two months he had eaten nothing. 
 It was the law that he should fast if he would 
 know the will of the Cemies which the Behique 
 would reveal to him when he should have 
 become purified of all things and when his 
 ears were closed to the sounds of the land 
 so that he might the better hear the com- 
 mand of the Great Spirit. 
 
 "I am sorry for Umatao, the Good," 
 said Biautex, who loved good eating and 
 was watching Itau prepare a meal of the 
 huge white fish that had been that morning 
 brought from the waters of Nipe bay. 
 Yonder, under the trees, hung the big, 
 sweet papayas that, also, were to swell the 
 feast. " I should not like to fast," remarked 
 the boy. 
 
 67 
 
68 As Old as the Moon 
 
 "Give me that elaxi," demanded Itau, 
 pausing from stuflBng the fish with maize 
 bread, and, as Biautex carried her some of 
 the green peppers that hung on a string 
 from a tree-branch, "You!" she exclaimed 
 scornfully, "what does it matter whether 
 or not you fast?' You would not be one 
 who could take the message of the Behique 
 if you did leave your stomach vacant a 
 little." 
 
 "Oh, then I can be all the happier eating 
 what I want and there must be some one to 
 swallow all the food that is so ill cooked none 
 of the Caciques will taste it," returned the 
 boy saucily. 
 
 "Ptt!" sniffed the girl, and flung a gourd- 
 ful of water at the lad. He only laughed, 
 at which she picked up a red earthen 
 jar and made to empty its contents over 
 him. 
 
 "Not the grease," he cried, and quickly 
 got out of the way; but he soon came back. 
 "It is a pity that Umatao can't have some 
 
Folklore of the Antillas 69 
 
 of it, Itau; you have done that fish 
 beautifully." 
 
 "Umatao is better off as he is," the girl 
 said, but her voice showed that Biautex's 
 flattery had been noticed. He took advan- 
 tage of this. "Do tell me," he said coax- 
 ingly, "does Umatao really take no food at 
 all ? To fast thirty, fifty days ! How then 
 can he still live?" 
 
 " Because he is a son of the Sun and mighty 
 to endure," answered the girl. 
 
 The boy looked cunningly from her to an 
 earthen vessel set over a low fire. "What 
 is in that pot.P" he questioned. 
 
 "Oh, that! it's the juice of the hobo; 
 it must be strong to rub on the limbs of old 
 Acatao. I have that to do besides all my 
 other work. 
 
 "Why, give it to me," cried the boy, 
 springing up, "I'll rub his legs." 
 
 "You!" scornfully again, "why, you'll 
 spill half of it; I couldn't trust you." 
 
 "At least, then, give me a little to rub the 
 
70 As Old as the Moon 
 
 legs of my dog." He looked very shrewdly 
 at Itau and bent down to take the lid off 
 the simmering pot. 
 
 It was a strange lid, a thin disk, roughly 
 beaten out and much crinkled and stained; 
 yet it shone, sparkling in the sunlight. 
 Well it might, for it was gold. The Indian 
 boy and girl, who stood over it, wore no 
 clothes at all but they had bracelets and 
 collars of gold hammered into thin strips, 
 and the girl's black hair was held back from 
 her face with a gold ornament. 
 
 Itau sprang at Biautex fiercely as he 
 attempted to look into the pot. "Let that 
 alone," she cried; "for your dog indeed! 
 What does a voiceless brute want of that 
 precious ointment?" Then she suddenly 
 changed her tone. "Do go away now, 
 like a good fellow, and let me get the dinner 
 properly. See, you shall have a big cup of 
 ector when all is ready." She looked at 
 him so coaxingly that he could not help 
 smiling. 
 
Folklore of the Antillas 71 
 
 "You don't deceive me though," he said; 
 "the Behiques may not see your scheme but 
 I do. I am sure that you take Umatao 
 something every night or he could not last 
 so long without food." 
 
 "No, no," cried Itau. "Would I prevent 
 the spirit of the Cemies from visiting the 
 soul of Umatao.'' And how could that be 
 if Umatao were defiled with food? You 
 are wrong; I go to see him every night it is 
 true, but I take him nothing. Come with 
 me yourself and see." 
 
 "May I ? " he asked eagerly. " Gladly will 
 I go; so now, till then I will take from your 
 sight the presence of my shadow." 
 
 When he had gone off to the cane fields 
 where the industrious Indians were busily 
 at work, the girl took the pot from the low 
 fire, strained its contents through a thick 
 leaf and set it away to cool. By and by 
 she tested it, found it right, and emptied it 
 into a long carved gourd that had a hole in its 
 slender neck. This done, she went into a 
 
1/2 As Old as the Moon 
 
 little palm-leaf-covered hut near by and 
 came out tying around her waist a pretty 
 leaf apron. With the gourd in her hand 
 she went away over a hill, on up a rough 
 path, to a frowning height. There, under 
 the shadow of an overhanging rock, she 
 stopped beside an old man who lay upon 
 the ground. He looked as if he were dead, 
 but his eyes opened as she laid a hand on his 
 head. 
 
 "Again thou art come, daughter," he 
 murmured, "but of what use? I am 
 unworthy to hear the words of the gods for 
 my strength will not keep me till the Behique 
 speaks. Thy ministrations are vain, my 
 Itau." 
 
 "Let me try yet once more," pleaded the 
 girl, and she began to pour upon his shriv- 
 elled flesh the juice from the gourd; she 
 rubbed it gently into the pores of the skin. 
 As she did this he fell asleep and presently 
 she stole away, taking another path down 
 the mountain. 
 
Folklore of the Antillas 73 
 
 This brought her to a tiny hut under the 
 hill. Within swung a hammock and in it 
 lay a little old man with very bright eyes. 
 
 "Who never forgets is a child of Vago- 
 niona," he said as the girl began to anoint 
 his limbs in the same way she had ministered 
 to the old man of the mountain. "For the 
 care thou givest the old, there is a reward," 
 said the aged Acatao, "and because, in 
 spite of the hobo ointment and the juice of 
 the maize thou bringest me to swallow, I 
 grow weaker daily, I shall tell thee now, 
 before the power to speak is gone." 
 
 The girl crouched down by the hammock; 
 her eyes looked terrified. "1 am but a 
 girl," she whispered. "I shall be only a 
 woman; it is too much honour that thou 
 speak thus to me. Let me call Biautex; 
 he is young and foolish, but he will be a 
 man and to him thou mayest fittingly 
 speak." 
 
 "Not so," cried Acatao; "thou hast in 
 thee the wisdom of many mothers that shall 
 
74 As Old as the Moon 
 
 be. Listen: Vagoniona has been to visit 
 me. 
 
 "Oh, mighty one!" exclaimed the girl. 
 
 "He bade me find the best woman of the 
 Siboneyes and tell her to make ready against 
 a great day. A new ruler of the land of 
 Cuba draws near; he will come over the 
 sea; a wind will bring him from the land of 
 other gods who will be jealous of our gods, 
 and their chiefs will destroy our chiefs but 
 the woman shall preserve the name of the 
 tribes, her sons shall possess the land in 
 later days." 
 
 Acatao's voice ceased; Itau knelt and 
 trembled. Who was the best woman of the 
 tribe ? she dared not ask. Presently Acatao 
 said "Go, daughter of the Siboneyes, make 
 ready for thy destiny." And she returned 
 to her cabin marvelling and afraid. 
 
 When Biautex came at nightfall to go 
 with Itau to visit the fasting Umatao, the 
 girl said nothing of Acatao's revelation. 
 
 Umatao lay as she had left him; he was 
 
Folklore of the Antillas 75 
 
 too weak to move, he was surely ready to 
 receive the will of the gods. As the boy 
 and girl drew near a loud, strong voice sud- 
 denly spoke out of the rocks that hung above 
 Umatao. The chief answered in weak 
 tones. 
 
 "Speak, O great one — I listen." 
 From behind the rocks came out a slow- 
 moving figure; it was wrapped in a garment 
 of feathers and had, upon its head, a crown 
 of beautiful quills held in a band of gold. 
 It was the Behique. Bending over Umatao 
 he waved a wand that he held in one hand; 
 with the other he described, in the air, 
 strange figures, the while muttering, now 
 low, now loud, indistinguishable words. 
 Then he stooped and blew a great blast of 
 breath into the face of Umatao and, starting 
 back, smote the old man sharply upon the 
 soles of his extended feet at the same time 
 calling, "Arise." 
 
 And, although he had been too weak to 
 move just now, Umatao obeyed and arose 
 
76 As Old as the Moon 
 
 and stood before the Behique. Then 
 spake the priest, seeing not the youth and 
 the girl who stood near. 
 
 "To thee who art now worthy, O Umatao, 
 the Cemies send word that harvests will be 
 favourable; there will be much sweetness 
 gathered from the fields and the cojiba will 
 afford many tobaccos of peace. There will 
 be born sons to the tribes ever powerful and 
 the Caciques shall rule. These things thou 
 mayest make known to the people. The 
 Behique has spoken." Before their eyes 
 he seemed to melt away and Umatao fell, 
 like a broken stick upon the ground. Itau 
 and Biautex crept away under cover of the 
 shadows. 
 
 "Is it not plain that Vagoniona sends his 
 messages to the good ?" asked the girl, and 
 the boy made answer, "The future will 
 tell." 
 
 Later, while all the tribe slept, Itau once 
 more climbed the mountain. Under a cloak 
 of fine skins she carried something. When 
 
Folklore of the Antillas 77 
 
 she had again reached Umatao's side, she 
 drew out a little gourd and set it to the old 
 man's lips. "Drink now of the juice of the 
 cocoa for thy fast is done, O Umatao, but 
 sip slowly that thy veins be not too swiftly 
 filled." 
 
 When he could speak Umatao questioned, 
 "How knewest thou?" 
 
 "The night warned me," Itau answered. 
 
 "Did it also tell thee Vagoniona's com- 
 mands ?" 
 
 "Not so, they are not for me who am to 
 be a woman," she said. 
 
 "Thou art wrong," spoke Umatao, "to 
 me spake the Great Spirit himself; the 
 Behique brought one message, Vagoniona 
 another and the vision was the third. 
 Therein I saw thee alone, the tribes gone, 
 thou only left to bear the Siboneyes to the 
 end." 
 
 Itau trembled as she ministered to 
 Umatao. What meant these words ? In 
 one day the dying Acatao and the wise 
 
78 As Old as the Moon 
 
 Umatao taught by the Great Spirit himself 
 had told her of a wonderful destiny. She 
 was frightened when she returned to her 
 hut. 
 
 At the door a tall form rose up. Itau 
 bowed before it, though she trembled. 
 
 "Whence dost thou come, daughter?" 
 asked the stranger. 
 
 "From the venerable Umatao, my father." 
 
 "He cannot tell thee what I can tell," 
 said the Indian. "Behold I have returned 
 from the isles beyond the world; I come 
 from the waters of the great fish. Terrible 
 things have appeared upon the sea; strange 
 men who wear hair upon their faces as well 
 as upon their heads and put upon their 
 bodies wonderful garments. At Guanahani 
 they appeared but they pursue the waves 
 to the uttermost limit; here will they come 
 also presently and the day of our people 
 will end. Go, put on thy collar of cibas 
 and make ready to sit as becomes a chief's 
 daughter; then may we show these strange 
 
Folklore of the Antillas 79 
 
 beings that we have power to serve them so 
 they shall not destroy us." 
 
 Itau went to do her father's bidding. 
 Soon all the tribe was warned; every Indian 
 put on the most beautiful collars and 
 bracelets, pearls and gold that he possessed. 
 For days all made ready to receive the 
 strangers but when they did not come the 
 Indians slowly ceased to watch; they no 
 longer feared, and by and by they went as 
 usual about their tasks and forgot that a 
 warning of danger had been given. 
 
SONS OF THE SUN 
 
 "One little, two little, three little 
 
 Indian boys. 
 Four little, five little, six little 
 
 Indian boys. 
 The first was killed, the second was drowned. 
 The others were lost and never were found. 
 One little, two little, three little 
 
 Indian boys. 
 Four little, five little, six little 
 
 Indian boys." 
 
 nPHEY were playing along the shore of a 
 beautiful bay where blue, blue water 
 gleamed far as the eyes could see and, near 
 the rocks lapping waves, that curled into 
 white foam on their edges, broke into 
 sparkling green rivulets that looked like 
 melted jewels washing up from the sea. 
 The six little naked Indian boys ran about 
 among the coral rocks picking up something 
 very busily. Each boy carried in his left 
 hand a little basket; it was long in shape, 
 
 80 
 
Kr-.;-,!.. 
 
 " ONE OF THE BOYS STOPPED, LAID HIS BASKET CAREFULLY 
 UPON THE GROUND, AND MADE A DEEP REVERENCE " 
 
Folklore of the Antillas 81 
 
 like a pear and of such beautiful soft fibre 
 that while it was empty it hung limp as if 
 made of silk. 
 
 Not long were the baskets empty; the boys 
 were very industrious, even the smallest of 
 them, and there seemed to be quantities of 
 things to pick up for they scarcely straight- 
 ened their backs as they searched, grasped 
 and dropped into their baskets what they 
 had found. At last the eldest boy, or at 
 least the biggest one, stood up and gave a 
 sharp high whistle; he did it by putting two 
 fingers across his lips. The sound caused 
 all the boys to look up; some of them were 
 far down the coast. The boy who had 
 whistled made a waving motion with one 
 hand, whereat all the boys began to run 
 toward him. He led the way up from the 
 rocks, where the water was now higher than 
 when the boys began their search, to a bank 
 where some thick shrubs made shade. 
 The sun had been scarcely above the line 
 of the blue sea, but now it was high enough 
 
82 As Old as the Moon 
 
 to cast long shadows in front of the boys as 
 they walked from it. One of the boys 
 stopped, laid his basket carefully upon the 
 ground and made a deep reverence; he 
 bowed to his own shadow. 
 
 "Don't do that in my presence," 
 exclaimed the biggest boy. "The Behiques 
 say that to worship anything but the Sun 
 and the Zemes is wicked; the Sun gives 
 us everything, he is great and powerful and 
 beautiful; we should worship him with all 
 our hearts because without him we should 
 have nothing." 
 
 "Guayo knows that also," said Biautex. 
 "He sits reverently at the teachings of the 
 Behiques." 
 
 One of the smaller boys drew near to 
 Guayo who, rising from making another 
 deep reverence to his shadow, took up his 
 basket and proceeded. 
 
 "Why do you do that?" asked the little 
 boy. 
 
 "Let Hacha tell you," answered the other 
 
Folklore of the Antillas 83 
 
 proudly, "he knows more than any of us; 
 he knows how was created the earth and the 
 heavens, the beasts and the creatures that 
 we sprang from; he knows all about the 
 great flood that destroyed our ancestors, all 
 but one whom the Behiques warned so that 
 he made a mighty canoe and took into it all 
 his sons and their mothers and their beasts 
 and birds, especially the aura which, when 
 he sent it forth, went at once to feed on the 
 dead bodies that the sea had first drowned 
 and then cast up. Hacha knows that we are 
 descended from that one of the three sons 
 who had no clothing with- which to cover 
 their father when his brothers, in shame 
 that the Cacique had fallen into foolish sleep, 
 brought skins to hide him. We may go, 
 therefore, unclothed. Hacha knows, and 
 he can tell you how we know this from afar; 
 how there came three wise men, one from 
 the East and one from the West and one 
 from the South — all from diflEerent ways 
 and at different times, all men of years and 
 
84 As Old as the Moon 
 
 wisdom which made known to our forefathers 
 that which they already knew was truth. 
 Tell it, Hacha, and also the rest." 
 
 " Oh, we know all that," cried the boys. 
 
 "Silence," cried Hacha in a stern voice; 
 "do you forget to be respectful to your 
 elders and" — he gave a haughty glance 
 at Guayo — "to strangers ? " 
 
 At that Guayo turned fiercely. "Do you 
 call me stranger who am born on this island 
 and my father and father's father and his 
 father? Do you forget that the deluge 
 swept away your ancestors while it preserved 
 mme? 
 
 The two boys stopped and looked search- 
 ingly and savagely at one another. The 
 younger boys drew back; it was as if they 
 were prepared to see a contest and feared to 
 show which side they favoured. At that 
 instant a faint, distant cry arose, a call like 
 "Cooee, cooee!" 
 
 Guayo's face relaxed. "For the sake 
 of my mother whose people were mighty 
 
Folklore oj the Antillas 85 
 
 enough to know that man's shadow is wor- 
 shipful because it is the outline of Vagoni- 
 ona, the Father of mankind, and contains 
 not wickedness that man allows to enter 
 his soul — I scorn your scorn. My mother 
 calls; you may have the shells I have 
 gathered — I go." He threw upon the 
 ground the basket he had carried and ran 
 to meet the woman whose call, "Cooee," 
 was sounding louder as she approached. 
 
 "He should not be the son of a woman of 
 a strange nation if he would be of our 
 people," said Hacha as if to excuse himself. 
 He sat down under the rushes and emptied 
 his basket's contents on the ground. The 
 other boys followed his example. Then the 
 lad who had declared that Guayo was 
 reverent under teaching said stoutly: 
 
 "The Cacique Guacanajari said to my 
 father that the mother of Guayo was of the 
 most ancient race of Aruacos who live far, 
 far to the south in a very rich land." 
 
 "Ptt!" answered Hacha, "who knows 
 
86 As Old as the Moon 
 
 where they come from when the warriors 
 bring them back, returning from their raids. 
 When I am old enough to go on raids I will 
 tell you whether or not there are any such 
 people as the Aruacos. We Siboneyes are 
 certainly of a finer race; see how strong and 
 tall are my mother and sisters, and yours 
 too, Macho, and yours, Bori, all of our 
 women indeed. The mother of Guayo is 
 little and useless, she cannot string the bow 
 of her man." 
 
 "But she can make beautiful collars," 
 Bori protested. 
 
 "Ptt!" again Hacha exclaimed. 
 
 The boys had emptied out their basket, 
 and strewed over the ground the shells they 
 had picked up. There were many sorts: 
 some were tiny, jewel-like things of marvel- 
 lous colourings; others were larger but of 
 shape so wonderful that they looked as if 
 cunning hands had fashioned them. The 
 boys picked them over, sorting the kinds. 
 When each had his own arranged he began 
 
Folklore of the Antillas 87 
 
 comparing them with the others. In the 
 end the most perfect ones of each kind were 
 put together, every boy's collection being 
 drawn from to complete an assortment. 
 So closely had the boys applied themselves 
 to this work that they had ceased to talk 
 and had paid no attention to time. The 
 five black heads bent over their task as if 
 they had never thought of anything else. 
 Their heads went up like the heads of deer 
 surprised as a strange grating sound was 
 heard. Five pairs of black eyes swept the 
 scene; nothing appeared to be altered, 
 nothing showed what could have made the 
 sound. 
 
 At that moment a little bronze figure came 
 bounding from the land side toward them, 
 but noiselessly. Hacha stood up, anger in 
 his eyes. "So he returns," he exclaimed, 
 "he comes to take back his gift ; we scorn it, 
 but to take it back is perfidy." 
 
 The boys all rose and watched Guayo 
 approaching. Again the grating sound was 
 
88 As Old as the Moon 
 
 heard, this time louder; the boys started; 
 it came from behind them though Guayo was 
 approaching in front. Their native sus- 
 picion made them all regard him fiercely. 
 But they stood rigid, not moving a muscle. 
 They looked like five little bronze figures. 
 The light on their dark skins made them 
 shine as though they had been polished by 
 a sculptor's hand. Their slender limbs 
 looked slighter even than they were against 
 yellow red rocks and sand and the wonderful 
 blue of the sky that bent above the rushes 
 near them; farther on, a group of feathery 
 palm trees waved gently their fringed 
 branches; they made the only motion visible 
 until the glance travelled on to the rushing 
 form of Guayo. But he was on the scene 
 before the eye could move over it. His 
 breath hardly lasted, as he cried out: 
 
 " Look behind you; they come, the enemy 
 the Behiques foretold." 
 
 The boys all turned and looked toward 
 the beach; at a distance down the coast 
 
Folklore of the Antillas 89 
 
 they saw a large object drawn up on the 
 sand, and beyond, in the water another 
 approaching. 
 
 "It is the sea serpent Vagoniona has sent 
 from the caves of Haiti to destroy us," 
 cried Hacha, his eyes wide with terror. 
 
 "No, it is the Evil Spirit of Whiteness that 
 has appeared in the Isles of the Lucayas 
 and moves over the sea to rest on the land. 
 A messenger, swift running, has come to 
 our Nitaino bringing a message for him to 
 send the Cacique; the message is from 
 Guanahani where first the Evil Whiteness 
 appeared; men bring it, strange men; like 
 devils are they and like gods. Flee, I have 
 come to tell you ; flee before they see there 
 are inhabitants in the land." 
 
 " Ayme ! already they have seen," answered 
 Hacha; "gather up the cibas for the sacred 
 collars, boys, and let us fly." 
 
 The boys made themselves flat upon the 
 sand while they filled the baskets with the 
 choicest of the shells they had been sorting. 
 
90 As Old as the Moon 
 
 But Guayo sprang among them and tried 
 to stay them. 
 
 " There is not time," he cried; " look, they 
 are here, just behind these rocks; make 
 rather a peace offering. Give them of the 
 finest and they will be gone." 
 
 "Ah!" exclaimed Hacha angrily, "they 
 are of your mother's people, no doubt; 
 they come to rob us of our sacred things and 
 you come to frighten us that we may give 
 to them without struggle. That, for your 
 insolence and perfidy," and he struck Guayo 
 a terrible blow on the temple with his fist 
 doubled into a knot of iron. 
 
 The smallest of the boys gave a cry as 
 Guayo dropped on the sand. At that 
 instant an awful figure appeared from 
 behind the rushes. Upon its head glittered 
 a covering that looked harder than the hard- 
 est rocks; its front was enveloped in more 
 of the shining, hard substance and it 
 extended terrible arms that looked strong 
 as the world itself, the sun sparkling on 
 
Folklore of the Antillas 91 
 
 invincible plates that encircled them. The 
 hands carried death-promising weapons 
 frightful to behold. In voices that, to the 
 trembling Indian boys seemed the tones of 
 the dreaded enemies of Vagoniona, the 
 strange creatures cried to them. Their fear 
 rooted the lads to the spot; they had not 
 voices with which to answer nor could they 
 understand the language of the speakers. 
 
 The creatures rushed upon them. The 
 boys, recovering ability to move, tried to 
 escape; their naked bodies writhed in the 
 clutches of terrible hands that grasped them, 
 but their childish strength was as nothing 
 to the strength of these fiends. There were 
 many of them. Some held the boys while 
 others gathered up the shells, quickly dis- 
 cerning that some were finer than others and 
 keeping such apart. They pointed to the 
 shells and motioned to the boys to get more, 
 to lead the way to where others would be 
 found. They pointed to the little gold 
 placques some of the boys wore on strings 
 
92 As Old as the Moon 
 
 on their necks, and, by signs, demanded to 
 be given these. The boys shook their 
 heads ; they pointed to the shells and waved 
 their hands toward the sea-shore; pointed 
 to the gold and waved their hands toward 
 the mountains whose blue tops showed 
 above the palm trees. 
 
 And all the while the boys struggled to get 
 free. The strangers grasped them the 
 tighter and, turning back from the shore, 
 moved toward the water. The boys cried 
 out at that. Hacha used his fists and feet 
 and then his teeth; the others followed his 
 example. Then the strangers struck them 
 cruel blows and one ran back to the prostrate 
 form of Guayo, whom they had turned over 
 and seemed to think dead, and with the 
 terrible weapon he had in his hand, he made 
 a thunderbolt to pass through the little 
 body. It writhed and turned; Guayo 
 opened his eyes, gasped and stretched stark 
 upon the sand. The stranger laughed, 
 showing horrible broken teeth and black 
 
Folklore of the Antillas 93 
 
 spaces between, and running to the men 
 who held the boys shook at them the death- 
 bringing weapon, pointed to the gold 
 placques on their necks and made them 
 understand that they would share Guayo's 
 fate if they would not lead the strangers to 
 the place of gold. 
 
 Then the boys nodded,indicatingthat they 
 must be left fr«e to walk. Hacha it was 
 who acted for them all. In his own tongue 
 he said to the boys, "When they have 
 loosened us run, each one of you, all in 
 different directions; call out 'The gold is 
 here, is here,' and Vagoniona help us to 
 deliverance ! " 
 
 But the strangers did not leave the lads 
 to walk freely; they held a hand of each in 
 those rock-hard fingers of theirs. Hacha 
 tried to wrest his away; instantly he was 
 picked up and carried like an infant. Then 
 it was he put his fingers to his lips and 
 blew, before he could be stopped, a shrill, 
 loud, far call. The next moment his 
 
94 As Old as the Moon 
 
 head was enveloped in a heavy wrapping 
 and the strangers, turning, ran rapidly 
 toward the sea and the great objects they 
 had left upon the beach. Into these objects 
 they sprang, tossing the boys in also. But 
 one, the smallest lad, fell into the water. 
 The strangers heeded him not for yonder 
 over the hill came running the braves of the 
 tribe, fitting, as they ran, the great arrows 
 to their bows. 
 
 Out upon the water the strangers pushed 
 the great objects they had come in which 
 must, indeed, be nothing other than canoes 
 of most marvellous kind. Out, out they 
 propelled them beyond the range of the 
 speeding arrows that were sent after them. 
 Then they leaned on their oars and laughed. 
 The most terrible of them stood up and 
 lifted his great weapon, pointing it at the 
 Siboneyes, the warriors of the tribe who, 
 the boys could see, had come at Hacha's call. 
 But their valour was useless; behold the 
 stranger carried with him the thunder- 
 
Folklore of the Antillas 95 
 
 bolts of heaven and even the Cacique would 
 be helpless to save. Yonder on the shore 
 was one little Indian killed; in the lapping 
 water lay the body of another drowned; 
 and here, in this terrible canoe were the 
 others of that little band of six who went so 
 merrily this morning to gather shells for the 
 royal collars of their tribe. Would the four 
 little Indian boys be lost and never be 
 found? Who knows? 
 
GAYAGUAYO, THE MERCHANT 
 
 T^HE beach was the market place of the 
 Indian village, and the famous mer- 
 chant, Cayaguayo, who was loading his 
 canoe for a voyage to the land of the Guana- 
 hacahibes, kept the small traders busy 
 supplying his needs. He walked up and 
 down the rows of Indians who squatted 
 beside their wares, upon the sands. Some 
 had heaps of shells in loose piles or in 
 baskets; some brought fruits of many sorts, 
 some ofifered sweet juices made from the 
 fruits and put into long-necked gourds; 
 some showed honey in the comb laid upon 
 shining leaves; some held out nuts cracked, 
 ready to eat and some brought almonds and 
 cocoanuts whole in the shell. A woman 
 displayed aprons of fibre ornamented with 
 colors painted upon them. An old man 
 mixed tinted clay in a flat gourd and was 
 
Folklore of the Antillas 97 
 
 ready to paint the bodies of those who 
 wished to be decorated. A number of 
 boys stood over a fire built in a nest of stones 
 and held the ends of long wooden rods over 
 the slow coals burning them to sharp points 
 that would make the simple sticks into 
 formidable lances. Farther on men fitted 
 fine pointed bits of stone, huge teeth of 
 animals and strong fish-scales to shorter 
 darts. One grim old fellow stood guard 
 over his stock, not seeming to want to sell it. 
 ' "More hatchets, Guanajo?" Cayaguayo 
 asked. " Where did they come from .?•" 
 
 The man shrugged his lean shoulders 
 thereby making it plain he had associated 
 with some not of Indian blood and manners. 
 
 " The island has never had many of these," 
 Cayaguayo continued; "our people could 
 not fashion them, you know, and the great 
 Genie who planted them deep in the ground 
 did not show men how to make them 
 multiply." 
 
 "Um-mh!" exclaimed Guanajo, "when 
 
98 As Old as the Moon 
 
 the white strangers came to Haiti they had 
 such hatchets, and even better; they have 
 shown the Haitian how to make such; I 
 learned of them. These did not grow in 
 the Earth, but they are good hatchets." 
 
 "So they are, and I will bring you for 
 them corn from Guanahacahibe or a cotton 
 strip. Do you agree?" 
 
 "As you like, but the cotton is the best 
 exchange. The Camagueyanos can grow 
 com equal to what Guanahacahibe raises." 
 
 "Take some of my macanas, Caya- 
 guayo?" asked a sturdy youth coming up 
 with a bundle of clubs. " See, here are some 
 made of corbana if you like that wood or 
 there are those of palm and of acana." 
 
 They were terrible looking clubs, as wide 
 as three fingers of a man's hand and as 
 long as an ordinary man is tall. They had 
 two exceedingly sharp points and were 
 grasped by two handles set near one end 
 so they could be used as battle axes. Caya- 
 guayo bartered for the clubs. 
 
Folklore of the Antillas 99 
 
 " Of old the people had no need of these 
 things," he said; "no Caribs visited the 
 western end of the island and the Guana- 
 hacahibes did not fight with any, but the 
 White Evil have spread to many places, 
 they may reach even to the country of the 
 mountain rivers; the people will need mac- 
 anas. Take these to the canoe." 
 
 Out on the bay the enormous canoe was 
 being loaded from small skiffs by bare- 
 backed, slim-limbed men and boys. All 
 the things the merchant had been bargain- 
 ing for were taken to be loaded into the big 
 vessel. The Indian carriers waded out as 
 far as they could and transferred their 
 burdens to the skiffs which took them to the 
 bigger boat. 
 
 "Where are the Coris skins I ordered of 
 you?" Cayaguayo, about to embark, asked 
 of a youth accompanying him. 
 
 "The men of the Ciguayo tribe promised 
 to shoot the animals and bring them here 
 to-day," answered the lad. 
 
100 As Old as the Moon 
 
 "I see them not," the merchant exclaimed 
 angrily; "we cannot sail without them for 
 I have promised them to the Cacique of 
 Siguanea." 
 
 The youth looked frightened, but at that 
 very instant several canoes rounded the 
 point of rocks running into the bay. 
 
 "Here they are," cried the lad. In a 
 few moments the strong brown arms of the 
 rowers had sent the canoes well up on the 
 sands of the beach. Quickly they were 
 spreading out before the merchant's eyes 
 beautiful great mantles and strips of soft 
 white fur as fine and delicate as velvet. 
 There were some dark skins too, a few of 
 deer and of a pale gray fur, while there were 
 many of feathers in a number of lovely hues. 
 
 Cayaguayo's face ceased to look angry; 
 he made prompt bargains and sent the skins 
 to be added to his cargo. 
 
 "Know you that the strangers, the White 
 Evil, have gone southward?" asked one of 
 the new comers. "The great admiral him- 
 
Folklore of the Antillas 101 
 
 self has gone to the isle of the tall trees ; the 
 pines will sigh over the stranger's head 
 and soon he will possess those lands as he 
 does what he has taken from the people of 
 Haiti." 
 
 "He will trade," said the merchant; "I 
 fear him not. Those Indians who refuse to 
 enter into commerce with him will suffer; 
 he is cruel to them that deny him what he 
 asks, so they lose double. Now, away to 
 the canoe," he called to his men; "we 
 should reach Siguanea before the sun 
 returns from slumber." 
 
 Long, deep strokes did the rowers of the 
 big canoe take. The sea was calm, and they 
 could send the boat swiftly through the rip- 
 pling waves. In the afternoon light the 
 green of hundreds of little islands shone 
 upon the glittering water like jewels set in 
 silver. The ocean and the sky shone like 
 the eyes of laughing children. Under the 
 keel of the canoe the white foam bubbled. 
 The merchant in the prow hailed the men 
 
102 As Old as the Moon 
 
 whose bare arms glistened like rich bronze; 
 they glanced at their commander with 
 fearless, gentle eyes and, laughing, made the 
 canoe fly faster. They looked like big, 
 happy children and the glee in their hearts 
 made work but play. Now and then Caya- 
 guayo called a halt; the rowers rested while 
 the canoe rocked quietly. Night came, and 
 over the sea darkness hung, but only as if a 
 beautiful, deep blue veil were shrouding a 
 fair face; for behind the darkness there 
 was a glow as of warm light and through the 
 great dome of the sky the stars shone as 
 if they were lamps swinging low to the earth. 
 The sharp air of early morning began to 
 blow cool on the naked backs of the rowers 
 by the time they had reached the shores of 
 Guanahacahibe. At that moment day 
 broke through dark; the gloom and cold 
 were, all in an instant, swept away as the 
 sun, who had slept until the very last moment 
 in the cave of Jobaba, rushed out and began 
 to mount the sky. 
 
Folklore of the Antillas 103 
 
 And by the light, Cayaguayo beheld a 
 startling sight. Yonder, on the other side 
 of the harbour into which he was taking his 
 canoe and cargo, were floating several 
 strange and fearsome looking objects. The 
 Indians all gazed amazed and frightened. 
 Although they had heard that the strangers 
 were coming to this land, and that the huge 
 canoes which had brought them over the 
 sea were not serpents as some had called 
 them, yet nevertheless the sight of these 
 things was frightful. Though the con- 
 querors had been two years in the islands, 
 Cayaguayo had never before seen any of 
 them. But only a moment did the mer- 
 chant chief stand fearful and hesitating; 
 the next instant he cried: 
 
 "To the right, rowers, out beyond the 
 turn of the cape. Quick! if we escape 
 not the White Evil it will fare worse with 
 all. Bend to it, braves ; give of your strength 
 and Vagoniona protect us!" 
 
 So swift were the Indians to obey that in 
 
104 As Old as the Moon 
 
 almost a flash the big canoe had shot around 
 the far edge of the point and was out of sight 
 of the Spanish ships lying in the harbour. 
 
 Cayaguayo hurriedly got his merchandize 
 ashore; he made a market on the beach such 
 as that where he had lately bought. He sent 
 out messages. "Go to the village," he 
 commanded; "tell the people I am here but 
 they must come unobserved, few at a time, 
 else the conquerors follow, suspecting some- 
 what, and take all from us all." 
 
 In the village of bohio huts the people 
 had seen the canoe coming, had watched it 
 turn and disappear behind the cape. With 
 anxiety they had noted that the formidable 
 sea monsters of the strangers slept still and 
 the guards were unheeding. Then they 
 began to take from their huts, and to carry 
 away, many articles. These they bore 
 toward the shore so that they met the 
 messengers sent to summon them. There 
 followed a time of quick trading. The 
 Cacique for whom the skins had been brought 
 
Folklore of the Antillas 105 
 
 came himself to fetch them. In exchange 
 he offered a great load of fantastically 
 carved large calabashes and of fine gourds 
 of all shapes. Others brought cotton cloth, 
 of different colours and white, in long strips. 
 Still others came with baskets filled with 
 beads and pierced shells. Bundles of herbs 
 were brought too, and spices of delicious 
 odour. 
 
 It was a brisk market that went on there 
 behind the bluff of the headland. Caya- 
 guayo had the exchange cargo quickly 
 loaded, in spite of the long parleys the 
 customers made and the delays of the lag- 
 ging. At last he had got all on board. The 
 people stood about to see the canoe push 
 off; the rowers, in water up to their necks, 
 were waiting the word to shove the boat 
 down the shelving beach when a shout 
 caused all eyes to turn shoreward. There 
 their startled eyes beheld the invaders 
 running toward them while the shouts were 
 given to stop the canoe's departure. Terror 
 
106 As Old as the Moon 
 
 was on the faces of the Indians ; only Caya- 
 guayo did not tremble. With a quick call 
 to his rowers he himself pushed the boat 
 into deep water, waded and swam after her, 
 climbing on board as the others did when 
 they were well off shore. 
 
 The Spaniards advanced, firing their 
 thimderbolts, whereat the people on the 
 beach fell on the ground entreating mercy 
 and even Cayaguayo stayed his going. 
 
 "Listen," cried one of the strangers, 
 and he spoke in the language of the Sibon- 
 eyes, which was, indeed, the second of the 
 Indian tongues the conquerors had learned. 
 "Our chief wishes you no harm; he will 
 pay you if you will allow him to see your 
 ship and your merchandize and he will 
 pay you yet more richly if you will guide him 
 to the land of the Gilded Chief of whom all 
 your race speaks." 
 
 The people, who had fallen on their faces, 
 rose from the ground; their confidence 
 returned quickly at the soimd of a kind 
 
Folklore of the Antillas 107 
 
 voice. Cayaguayo answered that he would 
 willingly show his boat and its cargo, with- 
 out pay, but he could not show the way to 
 the land of the Gilded Chief for that was 
 far away; he could only direct the strangers. 
 Then the Spaniards, even the great Admiral 
 himself, came down to the shore. Many 
 things were brought and given as presents 
 to the Indians, glittering things that seemed 
 wonderful, especially the small mirrors in 
 which they could see the marvel of reflection 
 of their own countenances. Soon the 
 Spaniards had gained in barter all the 
 articles Cayaguayo had brought to the 
 Guanahacahibes, but the merchant himself 
 would make no exchange. In the end, 
 though,^ the Spaniards persuaded him to 
 guide them part of the way on the journey 
 to the land of the Gilded Chief. 
 
 The canoe put off and the great caravels 
 got under sail and followed. Out on the 
 sea, beyond sight of land, Cayaguayo ordered 
 his rowers to stop. Standing up in the 
 
108 As Old as the Moon 
 
 prow of his canoe, where the strangers on 
 the decks of the slow following ships could 
 see him, he pointed south and held up one 
 finger, closed his eyes and laid his head on 
 his other hand, signifying they must sail 
 until they had slept and wakened, or one 
 whole day and night. He opened his eyes 
 and showed another finger with the same 
 gestures — that made two days and nights ; 
 so with a third and fourth. Then he pointed 
 west and in the same way indicated they 
 must sail two days in that direction, and 
 after that one day more south; in all seven 
 days' journey. 
 
 The Spaniards seemed amazed and dis- 
 tressed. Evidently they disbelieved him; 
 they wanted him to come upon their ships 
 and pilot them, but he shook his head, 
 sat down and ordered his rowers to proceed. 
 They obeyed instantly. At their imheed- 
 ing of an order to stop the Spaniards made 
 to follow in lowered boats and sent some of 
 their thunderbolts after the flying canoe. 
 
Folklore of the Antillas 109 
 
 But now Nature helped. A gray mist 
 suddenly arose; it grew and spread and 
 presently, over the surface of the wide sea, 
 nothing could be seen. Hidden by the fog, 
 Cayaguayo, knowing those waters as the 
 fish know them, escaped from the White 
 Evil and carried his cargo safely to port. 
 
 For twenty years longer Cayaguayo the 
 merchant preserved for his people the 
 traflSc of the western extremity of Cuba, then, 
 when Fernandez de Cordoba came, the first 
 American to make trade famous, lost the 
 monopoly of the island's internal commerce. 
 
HATUEY, THE HERO 
 
 rpHE long island that is washed by the 
 restless waters of the Atlantic and by 
 the blue waves of the Caribbean Sea and by 
 the warm currents of the Gulf Stream, was 
 known to all the Indians of the Lucayas and 
 of the Antillas. They called it Cuba, the 
 Beautiful Country of the Dead, because it 
 was a lovely and a joyous land where all 
 the people who had not lived there hoped 
 to go some day and to live as happy spirits 
 after they had died. At the same time this 
 island was inhabited by native tribes that 
 were busy and happy over their every-day 
 living, so it was not what we should call a 
 land of the dead by any means. 
 
 The rocky shore of the eastern end of this 
 island stood then, as it does now, boldly 
 out in the strip of water that separates it 
 from the neighbouring land where, in the 
 
 110 
 
Folklore of the Antillas 111 
 
 Long Ago, dwelt the brave and warlike 
 men of Haiti. In Cuba the people did not 
 love war; they would not fight if they could 
 help it. When, therefore, the Haitians who 
 had fought the Spaniards desperately after 
 being cruelly treated in return for their 
 hospitality to the strangers, tried to incite 
 the Siboneyes to resist the invaders the simple 
 tribes were hard to persuade. 
 
 But there was one Haitian brave who 
 thought the people of Cuba must be saved 
 and he, loving his neighbour as himself, 
 determined to try to rescue the beautiful 
 island. 
 
 One dark night there went, across the 
 narrow strait that we call, to-day, the Wind- 
 ward Passage, a frail canoe that sought to 
 hide itself, as night came on, behind the rocks 
 along the shore. It carried three Indian 
 boys and the men who rowed it. With peril 
 to the boat and all in it, a landing was made 
 among the dangerous rocks. The canoe 
 was lifted out of the water and carried 
 
112 As Old as the Moon 
 
 away across the open spaces to a tangle of 
 rushes, where it was hidden. Then the 
 larger of the boys called his mates around 
 him. 
 
 " Each of us knows well what he is to do, 
 is it not so ?" he asked. 
 
 The boys nodded gravely. 
 
 "You, Mayabonex, what are your or- 
 ders?" 
 
 "To take word to the chief of the Sibon- 
 eyes that the captain called Velasquez, 
 who has so aflBicted the people of Haiti, is 
 about to embark for Cuba." 
 
 "And you, Guarocayo?" 
 
 "To entreat that Indian who has jour- 
 neyed toward the setting sun to tell the 
 invaders that in the land of Mexico or of 
 the Aruacos they will find the Gilded One 
 they are ever seeking ; so may they lead away 
 those who torment us." 
 
 "Have you a word to speak also, Cigu- 
 ayo ?" he asked the smallest boy. 
 
 "I bring a message from the good 
 
Folklore of the Antillas 113 
 
 father. Las Casas," said the child; "he 
 bids all to believe that he labours to save 
 them." 
 
 "As for me," announced the speaker, 
 who was Manicate, a son of the once mighty 
 chief of that name, "I come to go through 
 the land and whisper to the people to be 
 ready and to be strong, for Hatuey comes 
 to lead them against the stranger. And now 
 each to his work." 
 
 The boys raised the necklaces of black 
 beads they wore and made vows upon them ; 
 they took off their collars of pearl and shells 
 and swore by them a great promise; again, 
 putting on their ornaments, the badges of 
 their rank, they turned, each a different 
 way, looked a moment about them and, as 
 though they had been shadows, they dis- 
 appeared, leaving no trace behind them. 
 But through the land these slim shadows 
 moved and everywhere they went the people 
 let them come close and listened to the mes- 
 sages they brought. Already the islanders 
 
114 As Old as the Moon 
 
 had heard of the terrible Velasquez and of 
 his band of ruthless followers who were 
 cruel beyond anything ever dreamed of. 
 Already they knew that the strangers wished 
 to be served with treasure to gather which 
 others must be oppressed with toil. 
 
 "Why have they not laboured, and 
 searched, and found for themselves, in their 
 own land, what they seek here ?" they ques- 
 tioned. "Are they lazy, these white men, 
 that they cannot do as others do?" 
 
 Yes, that was what they were. So long 
 had these men of Spain lived by spoil that 
 to work for the thing they would fight for 
 seemed to them preposterous, ignoble; so 
 they were indolent in doing anything but 
 that which made adventure and excite- 
 ment. In their own land the fields were 
 neglected and devastated, the soil brought no 
 living; so they left their country to ruin and 
 went away, to scatter ruin through other 
 lands which they drained of all possessions. 
 No wonder the Indians trembled at the name 
 
Folklore of the Antillas 115 
 
 of Velasquez, and any who opposed him 
 had a hero's courage. 
 
 On a night as dark as that when the boy 
 messengers had come, Hatuey the Indian 
 chief reached the shore of Cuba. This 
 savage who had been shocked at the cruelties 
 he had seen the strangers commit, was 
 endowed with as noble a heart as ever beat, 
 for he could risk sacrificing himself in the 
 effort to help others. For this he had come. 
 The Indians of Oriente, the eastern part of 
 the island, came at his call; he gathered an 
 army to oppose the invaders, for, as he told 
 the Siboneyes, the domination of the white 
 men meant the Indian's slavery and death. 
 To the troops who put themselves under 
 him, he said: 
 
 "Comrades, we prepare to meet and 
 oppose these strangers who have come to 
 our lands. They call themselves Christians ; 
 we do not know what that may mean in 
 their religion, but in ours it would mean, 
 according to their acts, traitors to Justice. 
 
116 As Old as the Moon 
 
 You know that, in Haiti, they have taken 
 from us our lands, our power, our families 
 and our very selves. They have tormented 
 and killed our fathers and brothers; they 
 have destroyed our maidens; they have 
 slain this chief here and that one there. 
 Why do they persecute us, O comrades?" 
 
 And the people answered, as with one 
 voice, "Because they are cruel and evil." 
 
 "No," said Hatuey, "it is because they 
 wish us to tear up oiu- land, to find that 
 which Maonocon has hidden from us, 
 and to deliver it to them because it is the 
 god they adore. Do you know their god? 
 Behold, I will show you him they love," 
 and uncovering a small palm basket, a little 
 Indian "haba," he showed them a quantity 
 of gold. 
 
 "This," he cried, "is the god that these 
 Christians love tenderly and serve loyally. 
 It is to satisfy this god that they torment 
 us and persecute us, destroy our lands and 
 our people and secure to themselves all our 
 
Folklore of the Antillas 117 
 
 possessions. To find more of this god, 
 they leave Haiti, having taken all they could 
 and laid waste what served them not, and 
 now they come to Cuba to do likewise. 
 You they will break and slay with terrible 
 labour as they have slain my people. But 
 come, let us be before them! Let us make 
 a feast for this all-powerful god and dance 
 before him our great dance and then, when 
 the stranger arrives, the spirit of greed shall 
 not be able to stand against the spirit that 
 fights for us." 
 
 The people looked at the glittering metal 
 brought from their mountain streams and 
 washed, and melted, and hammered into 
 disks and worn in honour of the Sun whose 
 colour it was. Yes, this was the thing 
 above all things that the stranger wanted. 
 The words of Hatuey roused them. Believ- 
 ing as he said, it was, indeed, well to honour 
 this idol of the white men to appease him 
 if that might be. A great dance was pre- 
 pared, a great feast was made; all night they 
 
118 As Old as the Moon 
 
 danced, and ate and drank to the Christians' 
 god of gold. From twilight to dawn they 
 danced until they dropped, one by one, from 
 fatigue, and slept heavily while the intoxica- 
 tion of the drink wore oflF. When they were 
 recovered Hatuey rose again before them 
 and spoke gravely: 
 
 "It is better, you must see after all that 
 has happened in this dance, that we discard 
 the god of the Christians, that we need not 
 again drink and dance to him and no longer 
 give him room anywhere, for should we even 
 swallow this gold and hide it within our 
 bodies, there would the invaders search for 
 it. We will throw it into the waves that 
 none may know where to find it." 
 
 But they were too wise to drown the treas- 
 ure by daylight; at night, by the light of 
 stars only, the gold was lost. Some say it 
 was entrusted to the four lads who had come 
 bearing the four messages from Haiti; 
 that these lads, not trusting even their 
 rowers, took their canoe far out in the bay 
 
Folklore of the Antillas 119 
 
 and dropped into the depths the basket of 
 gold. Nevertheless, the men of greed dis- 
 covered that some of the treasure they 
 sought had been sunk in the sea and when 
 Velasquez landed on the island he came in 
 added fury. He was greeted with an 
 onslaught of the Indians. Led by Hatuey, 
 they fought with desperation, but their 
 valour was useless against the firearms of 
 the fierce white men ; they were driven back 
 and back. In the mountains they took 
 refuge and there Hatuey made a mighty 
 resistance. 
 
 But prisoners had fallen into the hands 
 of the Spaniards ; the brave young Manicate 
 was among them. Not to save his own life 
 would Hatuey yield but when he heard that 
 the enemies were inflicting horrible tortures 
 upon that lad, among other captives who were 
 asked to tell of the chief's camping place, he 
 determined to try but once more for victory 
 and if defeated to yield himself to save others 
 from torment. A last terrible battle was 
 
120 As Old as the Moon 
 
 fought; in the melee Hatuey was captured. 
 The conquerors gave him a mock trial, 
 condemned him and sentenced him to be 
 burned to death. 
 
 They tied this proud and noble Cacique 
 to the iron rod that was planted among the 
 pile of fagots. A priest of the conquerors' 
 camp came and counselled him to be bap- 
 tized that he might die a Christian, to which 
 Hatuey returned: 
 
 "Why should I become a Christian.?" 
 
 "Because those who die Christians," said 
 the friar, "will go to heaven, where they 
 will be happy forever." 
 
 "And will the white men go there?" 
 asked the Indian. 
 
 The friar told him that those who had 
 been baptized would surely go. 
 
 Then Hatuey cried out in a loud voice, 
 " No, I will be neither baptized nor go to the 
 heaven of those Christians." 
 
 When his speech was made known to the 
 Spaniards a fearful shout arose; speedily 
 
Folklore of the Antillas 121 
 
 torches were set to the fagots and the last 
 of the great Caciques perished amid the 
 savage rejoicings of his enemies. Thus 
 he gave his life for the cause of his adopted 
 people and to this day the stranger who 
 loves the land for which the Haitian chief 
 fought and died is called "As Cuban as 
 Hatuey." 
 
Ill 
 
 NEGRO SLAVE MYTHS OF THE 
 SPANISH PERIOD; TALES OF 
 LOST TREASURE 
 
 (SIXTEENTH TO NINETEENTH CENTURY) 
 
WHY THE CROCODILE HAS NO 
 TONGUE 
 
 TT WAS a busy time at the plantation of 
 San Claudio; most of the slaves were 
 at work in the cane fields ; only two or three of 
 the women were kept at the residencia to 
 attend to the wants of the family, and they 
 were all so busy that it was no wonder Little 
 Andrecita was not much looked after. 
 One day, while her nurse was busy with 
 other things, she ran away through the 
 garden to the river and strayed down the 
 banks far out of sight. 
 
 Now Andrecita had been told some 
 wonderful tales of an ancient land far away 
 where gods and goddesses, witches, fairies 
 and monsters made themselves very busy 
 with everyone's affairs and could be very 
 amusing, and she wished very much that she 
 could go to live in the land where these 
 
 135 
 
126 As Old as the Moon 
 
 entertaining things happened. But her 
 nurse, to whom she had related these tales, 
 had comforted her by saying that Cuba was 
 just a fortunately endowed with witches 
 and monsters as any land need wish to be, 
 and chief among the last was Cayman, 
 the river griffin that sometimes came alone, 
 sometimes with his brothers and cousins 
 along the streams, opening his terrible jaws 
 at whatever he saw. He had, said the nurse, 
 a horribly ugly and frightful looking body 
 as long as a bohio or a big canoe and 
 covered with shiny knobs and scales so thick 
 and hard that a cavalier's armour could 
 scarcely be as heavy, and, though his tail 
 was small for such a huge creature, turning 
 back like a bow, it made his head, by 
 contrast, all the more formidable; it was so 
 prodigiously long and he opened his alarm- 
 ing mouth so wide he could easily swallow 
 a cow if he wanted to do so. Cayman's 
 cousins were as ugly as he but they could 
 Bot run so fast for their legs were shorten 
 
Folklore of the Antillas 127 
 
 and they were held back by their discouraged 
 looking tails that dragged on the ground as 
 they waddled. Altogether this family of 
 monsters was, the black people maintained, 
 the equal of any monsters to be boasted of 
 anywhere except, perhaps, in Africa where 
 the Congo people remembered to have seen 
 creatures of most superior horribleness. 
 
 Nevertheless, Little Andrecita had not 
 been at all frightened when her nurse de- 
 scribed this animal, and she never thought 
 of him on the day she wandered by herself 
 along the river bank. She foimd some 
 good stepping-stones in the stream and she 
 was tip-toeing on them to the other side 
 of the river when she saw the rock she was 
 about to step upon begin to move. She 
 stopped, very much amazed; yes, it was 
 surely moving and now this Little Andrecita 
 suddenly felt very frightened, for this thing 
 she had thought to be a rock lifted up an 
 enormously long head; it opened immense 
 jaws and, to the little girl's unspeakably 
 
128 As Old as the Moon 
 
 horror, it snapped at her. She fell back 
 on the rock she had been about to quit 
 and, clinging to it with might and main, she 
 screamed with terror. 
 
 It happened that some of the slaves, who 
 had been working in the cane fields near 
 the river, were just going to their dinner 
 when they heard Little Andrecita's cries. 
 
 " It is the witch Chongo," some whispered ; 
 "we must not interfere or hinder him or he 
 will bring us evil." 
 
 Others said, "No, it is not Chongo, for 
 he does not come that way. It is the voice 
 of the master's child, she must have fallen 
 in a thorn thicket; if we go to her help the 
 master will be pleased," and they ran 
 toward the sound of the cries. 
 
 When they burst through the bamboo 
 rushes and saw Little Andrecita crouched 
 on a rock in the middle of the stream while 
 a big crocodile snapped its jaws at her they, 
 too, began to scream. Black Juana was 
 the only one who knew what to do. " Run," 
 
Folklore of the Antillas 129 
 
 she cried; "I have been bending so long over 
 the cane I am too stiff to run, but go you 
 all, bring the dogs, Xulos, Quinaje, and the 
 rest to bark at Cayman; the creature will 
 run after them, then we can reach the child; 
 run!" 
 
 The messengers ran, they seemed to fly, 
 and the dogs raced back barking furiously, 
 for they had scented at once their arch 
 enemy. On they came and at their appear- 
 ance the ugly crocodile left off snapping at 
 Little Andrecita and began to run toward 
 the hounds with amazing swiftness, while 
 the dogs, still barking, wildly backed away, 
 and urged by the slaves drew the monster 
 farther and farther off. Black Juana 
 snatched up Little Andrecita and ran 
 home with her. 
 
 It was fortunate, indeed, that at San 
 Claudio there were some of that breed of 
 Xulos and Quaniquinajes that had belonged 
 on the island when the white people first 
 came to it. Those dogs had been dumb, 
 
130 As Old as the Moon 
 
 you will remember. But the Negroes say 
 they began to bark after they had fought 
 with a great crocodile and bitten out his 
 tongue. Since that time the monster Cay- 
 man has had no tongue, they declare, so 
 there is an awful cavity between his great 
 snapping jaws. And naturally he hates 
 dogs, he and all his family, so that whenever 
 they hear barking they run as fast as possible 
 toward it, hoping, no doubt, to catch the 
 dogs and get back their tongues. But as 
 their legs are shorter than those of a dog, 
 they are always outrun. Then they return 
 sullenly to the streams and marshes and ill- 
 naturedly snap at everything that dis- 
 pleases them. Perhaps it was because they 
 were so snappish in the first place that the 
 dogs had a chance to bite out their tongues. 
 
WHAT THE GALLEONS BROUGHT 
 
 "ITt^ORD had come that a galleon was 
 sighted. It was not the time of 
 year for a galleon to arrive. In the month 
 of September, as everyone knew, the great 
 ships that formed the galleon squadron 
 and the flota were just starting from Spain. 
 There would be many vessels sailing in 
 company; the bigger ones full of rich, rich 
 articles to sell, at three or four times their 
 usual value, to the colonists in New Spain 
 and New Granada, in the Antillas and the 
 Lucayas, but it would be long before they 
 could reach the islands. 
 
 The great ships with their valuable stores 
 and tremendous treasure would be com- 
 panioned by smaller vessels that carried but 
 few goods but had many guns with which 
 to protect the merchantmen. For pirates, 
 corsairs, freebooters were sailing the seas 
 
 131 
 
132 As Old as the Moon 
 
 continually, looking everywhere for prizes 
 they could capture, and no ship was safe 
 that did not go under the escort of men-of- 
 war. 
 
 Besides the merchant-ships that came, 
 protected by the flota, often there would sail 
 into the harbour, past the guns of the 
 fortress, great, black, strange-looking vessels 
 that people looked at but did not go very 
 near to. They were the slave-ships. 
 
 It was now many years since Ciguayo, 
 a little Indian boy, had come in a frail canoe 
 to Cuba, bringing a letter to the good Padre, 
 Las Casas, begging help for the Indians who 
 were being made slaves in Haiti. The 
 kind priest who had defended the Indians 
 to whom the conquerors were so cruel, was 
 dead long ago; so were the Indians he had 
 tried to help, they, and their children; there 
 were no more Indians left. Under the hard 
 labour and cruelty of their masters they had 
 faded away and in their places were people 
 with black skins who had been brought 
 
Folklore of the Antillas 133 
 
 from far across the sea. Now ra the streets 
 the labourers were black; on the plantations 
 the workers in fields and mills and mines 
 were black; in the homes the servants were 
 black. There were thousands of these 
 blacks, so many that, almost, were the white 
 people lost to view. Yet the few whites 
 were the masters of the many blacks because 
 the Negroes were ignorant as well as poor. 
 The name Negro, which is the Spanish word 
 for black, became a word of reproach 
 because the white people who spoke it 
 were, themselves, too ignorant to know what 
 justice and pity meant. They were only 
 eager to have many slaves that they might 
 live idly themselves. When a slave-ship 
 was coming in, therefore, great was the 
 excitement. 
 
 Down by the fortress, whose strong walls 
 were edged about, at low tide, by the dry 
 crags of a coral reef, just as they are to-day, 
 little boys were playing while they watched 
 to see "what comes." 
 
134 As Old as the Moon 
 
 "If it were a corsair," cried one lad, **I 
 should like it to be a Frenchman, the same 
 who came before, for now we have La 
 Fuerza, and Morro is also finished, we could 
 pay him ]()ack finely; our gims can destroy 
 anything now. Oh! anything." 
 
 "No," said another boy, "they cannot 
 destroy the fever that the last slave-ship 
 brought; the fever deistroys us and the 
 guns cannot defend us from it." 
 
 "Oh, you are always so solemn, Jose," 
 cr^ed another; "a fever is nothing — there 
 is always fever; the doctors and the Sisters 
 of Mercy can take care of that and if some 
 blacks die, what difference, but " 
 
 "But this fever, yellow fever, kills not 
 only the blacks," answered Jos^ fiercely, 
 "it has killed my mother and almost it 
 killed us all," he rubbed one hand slowly 
 over the yellow- white flesh of the other; 
 "it has been brought in the filth and horrors 
 of the slave-ships. Does not my grand- 
 father say that before these ships came there 
 
Folklore of the Antillas 135 
 
 was no malady, no sickness in all the island ? 
 The slave-ships are a curse, Pancho." 
 
 But at this moment Pancho gave a joyous 
 shout. Rounding the point where Morro 
 watched both sea and harbour came a great 
 hulk with spreading sails. She came 
 swiftly for the wind was fresh, but tacking 
 cautiously to sail in through the narrow 
 harbour strait. Yet it was a solemn- 
 looking cortege that approached — almost 
 th,ey seemed phantom ships for not a soul 
 moved about their decks, nor from their 
 ports looked out any face. The flags that 
 floated from the mast, fore and aft, were all 
 the signs of life to be seen, and a hush fell 
 upon the people who watched these ships 
 come in. 
 
 All at once, though, a figure appeared 
 upon one of the poops, a man waving to the 
 shore. Then young Pancho set up a shout. 
 
 "It is he, it is he," he cried; "my father 
 returns! He has brought the blacks who 
 can work the cane; now we shall be rich. 
 
1S6 As Old as the Moon 
 
 rich. Do you hear, boys? Oh, let us 
 swim out to meet him! Who will wager 
 he can reach the ship as she passes La 
 Fuerza?" 
 
 As he spoke Pancho stripped off his 
 clothes. Long hose and velvet breeches 
 were thrown upon the ground, fine ruffled 
 shirt followed and a little white, naked figure 
 sprang across the coral rocks and plunged 
 into the beautiful clear water. The other 
 boys held back; perhaps they had had 
 bathing enough for one day, though the 
 Islanders almost lived in the water, or 
 perhaps the black ship was too fearful a 
 thing to approach. They hesitated and in 
 that instant the man upon the poop of the 
 ship uttered a great cry; he sprang to the 
 taffrail, waving his arms wildly. 
 
 "Go back, Pancho," he called; "go back! 
 Por Dios, boys, rescue him. Danger is 
 here!" 
 
 The man looked desperate. Other men 
 now appeared on the deck; they all ran about 
 
Polklore of the Antitias IS'? 
 
 frantically talking, motioning, crying out 
 orders nobody could understand. On 
 the ship they were lowering a boat. Already, 
 at this great alarm, a little barca had put 
 out from the shore, yet what need? It 
 was but a short, gun-shot's length between 
 shore and ship; what could happen to a 
 good swimmer in that distance ? 
 
 But what was that in the water just 
 appearing and disappearing above the sur- 
 face yet moving ever swiftly in the wake of the 
 ship ? Some strange and monstrous finny 
 creatures, showing wide, gleaming white 
 throat and huge, saw-like jaws — a grew- 
 some sight. 
 
 Had Pancho seen them, that his face was 
 so white when it rose above the water? 
 Did anything pursue him, that he grasped so 
 frantically at an oar held out to him ? 
 He never reached it; suddenly his black 
 head disappeared; one of the monster's 
 shapes darted away and from the ship the 
 father's grief -stricken cry went up. 
 
138 As Old as the Moon 
 
 "Sharks in our waters?" cried the boat- 
 men of the barca, peering after the great 
 fish. "Ave Maria! what has brought 
 them?" They looked at the black hulls 
 of the slave-ships. Those told no tales, 
 neither did anything else — until long 
 after. The hundreds of ghastly Negroes 
 who were hauled from the holds of the 
 slavers into the first light and air they had 
 known in many weeks, could tell nothing — 
 then. Long afterward, when some of 
 them had learned to speak the language 
 of their masters, they told how scores and 
 scores of their companions, dying on that 
 fearful voyage, had been thrown in the sea; 
 how the sharks had learned to expect such 
 meals daily and, following the vessels for 
 the prey fed to them, had come to infest the 
 waters where the ships dropped anchor. 
 
 And along the coasts, to-day, the fishers 
 also tell that tale. "For look you, senor," 
 say they, "the Indians, and even our first 
 forefathers, swam safely in these bays, aye. 
 
Folklore of the Antillas 139 
 
 and in the sea itself, beyond. What brought 
 the tiburon but the lure of prey making a 
 pathway through the sea ? 'Tis but another 
 of the curses, senor, of the great traffic made 
 by the galleons." 
 
THE TREASURE OF A HUNDRED 
 FIRES 
 
 JUAN BAUTISTA and Tomas Ana 
 Maria had their heads close together 
 over the fonda table. No one else was in 
 the small inn cafe. Long-stemmed glasses 
 of black coffee stood in saucers before 
 them, but for once they were neglecting 
 their favourite driak. Juan Bautista was 
 saying: 
 
 "I tell you my friend there is treasure 
 out there; I've seen it myself many and 
 many a time when I've been fishing alone. 
 If only someone had been with me, then, 
 I could have got it. I know when Don 
 Jose Cienfuegos reigned in these parts 
 there was plenty of loot brought to these 
 shores that never went away and never 
 landed. And in the archives are the 
 accounts of how the French corsairs pur- 
 
 140 
 
Folklore of the Antillas 141 
 
 sued ships to the very shores of the 
 harbour and sank them, yet got away 
 with nothing but the booty from one 
 or two. There remains, it is clear, all 
 the treasure that was in the others. 
 Of course, the water has destroyed much, 
 but doubloons cannot be destroyed. It's 
 worth trying for, this treasure, surely, 
 man!" 
 
 "Then why hasn*^t someone got it 
 before now? Others must have thought 
 to try for it," asked Tomas doubtfully. 
 
 "So they have tried, but ill-luck was 
 against them — they hadn't the password, 
 so to speak." 
 
 "And you have? That's curious; how 
 comes it, friend?" 
 
 " Why, this way, to my notion. Every- 
 one knows that a hen and chickens are 
 always scratching around down there on 
 the coast near the spot where the ships 
 went down. That hen, you know, is the 
 guardian of the treasure. Everyone thinks 
 
142 As Old as the Moon 
 
 that she is going to lead him to it, but no 
 sooner does a stranger get near enough 
 to see into the water than she disappears 
 — she and all her chicks, too. Right 
 before a person's eyes, man, they all 
 vanish." 
 
 "Ah.''" queried Tomas Ana Maria. 
 
 "Yes; but one day I took another way 
 to reach the place," Juan i^autista looked 
 very shrewd as he explained. "I went by 
 water. I got in close enough to see, as I 
 told you, the hulk of the ship arid odds 
 and ends lying way down at the bottoni 
 of the bay. The hen paid no attention 
 whatever to me; she clucked about on the 
 edge of the shore, and the chicks after her, 
 as sensible as if she were in the patio 
 yonder, walking about among the children. 
 She never saw the other side of the matter. 
 So you have only to take her on the side 
 she's not thinking of and, just as with a 
 woman, there you've got her. That is 
 the password." 
 
Folklore of the Antillas 143 
 
 "Um-m!" said Tomas Ana Maria, "but 
 did you get the treasure?" 
 
 "Haven't I told you that no man can 
 get it alone?" answered Juan Bautista 
 impatiently, "I came to tell you about it 
 so that you may have some of it if you'll 
 help to get it." 
 
 At this point Tomas Ana Maria drank 
 his black coffee; then he asked, "Am I 
 the only one you've told?" 
 
 "Well," hesitated the other, "you're 
 the only one I've told all to, and the only 
 one I've asked to go with me." 
 
 "Ah!" again said Tomas, and now he 
 rubbed his chin, "somebody may be there 
 before me — or before you, either." 
 
 "We can go out together in my small 
 boat," Juan went on, ignoring that last 
 speech. "When we reach the place, one 
 of us can slip over the stern into the water, 
 keeping well out of the hen's sight, dive 
 for one of the wrecks and mark the place 
 before she can make it disappear. Per- 
 
144 As Old as the Moon 
 
 haps he can snatch at something and bring 
 it up; it will be a proof something is there." 
 
 "So the treasure vanishes with the hen ?" 
 
 "Ave Maria!" cried Juan almost past 
 his patience, "that's just it; she charms 
 away the treasure when she disappears; 
 it is only visible when she is about; we've 
 got to submit to being led around by a 
 pecking hen, if we are to keep this treasure 
 in sight." 
 
 "Ah!" once more said Tomas Ana Maria 
 in a doubting voice; but he went with Juan 
 Bautista. 
 
 The fisherman's little boat cruised cau- 
 tiously about the bay of the Hundred Fires. 
 Cienfuegos town looked down upon the 
 blue waters across which mighty guns 
 used to be heard firing hundreds of shot 
 and shell. Now men pursue their way in 
 peaceful silence. The clear waters gleam 
 above lost ships and buried treasure for 
 which captains of old sold life dearly. 
 Juan Bautista and Tomas Ana Maria 
 
Folklore of the Antillas 145 
 
 rowed along, thinking of all the things 
 they could do with the riches buried under 
 those waves. 
 
 "Where is this hen and chickens?" 
 asked Tomas at last. 
 
 "Patience, patience!" commanded the 
 other, "we shall see her in good time; 
 'tis never best to hurry unduly." 
 
 "But to speak truly, Juan," Tomas 
 asserted, "I've not much notion that any- 
 thing can be found by a hen's scratching." 
 
 "She shows the chicks where to find 
 something," argued Juan. 
 
 "But they get it themselves." 
 
 " Just what we are going to do!" declared 
 Juan. "Hist, quiet now! there's the hen 
 yonder." 
 
 There she was sure enough, a yellow 
 hen and a whole brood of chicks following 
 her. Every little while she stopped and 
 scratched busily, whereupon the chicks 
 would rush up and peck at whatever was 
 shown them, just as other chicks do. With 
 
146 As Old as the Moon 
 
 quiet, majestic step the hen proceeded, 
 moving in a small space as though it were 
 large as the universe. Presently she sat 
 down, clucked to the chicks and gathered 
 them under her wings. Then she dozed. 
 
 "Now," whispered Juan, "is the time; 
 she'll not notice us!" 
 
 "But where's the treasure?" asked 
 Tomas, peering into the water. 
 
 "Why, down there, of course; you'll 
 have to dive for it, man." Juan spoke 
 almost angrily, "You don't expect it is 
 going to rise up out of the bay and ask 
 you to take it, do you?" 
 
 "No," admitted Tomas, "I don't expect 
 anything." 
 
 "Then you'll get nothing if you expect 
 nothing," growled Juan. "You hold the 
 boat's bow to shore and I'll dive." 
 
 Tomas agreed heartily. Cautiously the 
 men exchanged places, watching the hen 
 lest she be roused. But she drowsed, 
 unheeding them. Juan crept over the 
 
Folklore of the Antillas 147 
 
 stern of the boat and, hanging to it by one 
 hand, was slipping into the water when the 
 hen jumped up with a shrill cackle, a call, 
 a flutter and, right before the eyes of the 
 two men, there in the unshaded open, 
 she and her whole brood vanished. 
 
 But Juan dove at the same instant. 
 When he came up presently his face 
 looked as blank as it was wet. 
 
 "What did you get?" asked Tomas 
 anxiously. 
 
 "Nothing but this," answered the other, 
 disgustedly throwing a sponge into the 
 boat. "Of course, it was too late when 
 I went down ; she had already broken the 
 charm. What can you expect of a cackling 
 
 fool r 
 
 " Why, I expected nothing," said Tomas 
 Ana Maria; "it would seem, friend, that it 
 is best to catch a hen, as well as a woman, 
 before you coimt on her. Better luck 
 next time." 
 
 JBut the luck has never been better 
 
148 As Old as the Moon 
 
 either for Juan or for any other man. 
 Perhaps a hundred fires have burned 
 and melted the treasure, though the people 
 who ought to know say it is there safe 
 and sound, only the hen always keeps 
 guard over it and no sooner does anyone 
 try to touch it than she charms it away 
 and herself with it. 
 
THE GHOSTLY ARQUEBUS 
 
 T)EDRO had need of money; he could 
 not dig; to beg he was ashamed, 
 for he was of high degree, but no one 
 knew that, for he was no boaster, and not 
 to a soul had he ever told it or even men- 
 tioned that he was honest. Consequently 
 these were two things about him that no- 
 body knew. This made it easier for him 
 to set about trying to get possession of the 
 treasure. 
 
 Now, the treasure of the armed chest 
 was, as everyone knew, at the bottom of 
 the bay, and anybody who wished might 
 try to get it ; many had tried, and that was 
 not stealing either, for it belonged to none 
 unless it be the Spirit of the Waves that, 
 as all the world has declared, is jealous 
 always of any interference with what is 
 buried in its territory. But that, the good 
 
 149 
 
150 As Old as the Moon 
 
 padre had often said in Pedro's hearing, 
 was all nonsense; there was no Spirit of 
 the Waves, and a poor man who looks 
 for a lost and deserted treasure nobody 
 owns is committing no crime he need be 
 ashamed of. 
 
 So Pedro's conscience was clear, and 
 he determined to venture once more to 
 raise the armed chest. He could even 
 defy any Spirit of the Waves there might 
 be for, after all, the chest was not buried, 
 it was in plain sight, there in the sand and 
 rocks at the bottom of the bay. Pedro 
 determined to go alone on this expedition, 
 for he had heard how Tomds and Juan 
 Bautista had gone together on such an 
 errand in Cienfuegos Bay and one of them 
 had blundered; that was because neither 
 of them was alone. Pedro would not 
 risk a blunder; he would go quite alone. 
 To be sure, in order to accomplish this 
 he must go by night, or at least in the dusk. 
 Perhaps the dusk of morning would be 
 
Folklore of the Antillas 151 
 
 best, for in the gloaming of these beautiful 
 summer nights all the world and his wife 
 remained abroad, and no one could tell 
 how near to the point whence the treasure- 
 spot could be seen anyone might come. 
 Therefore, Pedro decided to start just 
 before the beams of Lucero should have 
 melted into the gray light of dawn. 
 
 When the time came, notwithstanding 
 his excellent reasons for feeling satisfied 
 with his plan, Pedro set out with shaking 
 limbs and a heavy heart; almost he was 
 tempted to give up the exploit, but the 
 thought of what he should become possessed 
 of by persisting nerved him to proceed. 
 He could not go, though, with joyous 
 mien. He dared not whistle to keep up 
 his courage, so in desperate need of being 
 cheered he began to put riddles to himself 
 as he went along. Then, as if to plague 
 him further, he could think of none that 
 did not seem to be made on purpose to 
 frighten him. 
 
152 As Old as the Moon 
 
 At the f onda his trick of putting into dog- 
 gerel rhyme the common conundrums of the 
 people and inventing amusing puzzles, made 
 him popular. But now he could not invent 
 anything, and only his poor jingles — those 
 of ominous sayings, too — ^rang in his head : 
 
 What thing can it be, what thing can it be. 
 
 That the larger it is the less we can see ? i 
 
 The answer made him shiver: 
 
 It is the darkness and the gloom. 
 We never can see though it takes all the room. 
 
 Pedro found himself trembling so that 
 he almost dropped the blunderbuss he was 
 carrying as a means of defence if he was 
 forced to do anything violent. Matters 
 were no better with him when another 
 riddle popped into his head: 
 
 What's higher than a pine or reed. 
 And yet weighs less than a cumin seed ? 
 
 For the answer was grewsome: 
 
 Nothing but smoke so high could float 
 While treasure sinks in a sinking boat. 
 
Folklore of the Antillas 153 
 
 By this time Pedro was some distance 
 on his way, and the farther he went the 
 more dreadful to him were the loneliness 
 and the darkness. Now he tried not to 
 think of riddles, but against his will they 
 repeated themselves: 
 
 Sailing without sails. 
 
 Whistling without lips, 
 Grasping without hands or nails. 
 
 It sees nor touches what it skips. 
 
 He knew quite well what it was: 
 
 The wind that blows 
 Where the black tide flows; 
 
 and his abject fright made him almost 
 helpless. But just then the dawn made 
 a great leap and began to race with the 
 darkness. All the birds woke up and 
 began to chatter together. Pedro no longer 
 felt alone; the feathered wild things kept 
 him company. 
 
 Now he had reached the shore. He 
 would not row his boat lest spirits, of 
 several kinds, should be roused and bring 
 
154 As Old as the Moon 
 
 interference; he waded into the water, 
 pushing the boat before him until he 
 could swim, and made straight for the 
 spot where the treasure was. The water 
 was so clear that he could see right to the 
 bottom, and there was light enough now 
 to distinguish things. Yes, there it lay, 
 a great chest and upon its lid a pile of 
 fire-arms, an ancient arquebus among 
 them, the weapons that had been useless 
 in defending the treasure when it went 
 down so long ago beneath the waves. 
 Absurd to say, as the townspeople did, 
 that those water-soaked guns could be 
 used again, much less that they could 
 rise of themselves and attack anyone who 
 attempted to gain the treasure. 
 
 Pedro's fright was now all gone. He 
 got his block and tackle ready; he took 
 one end of the rope in his teeth and from 
 the stem of the boat he dove down, down 
 to where the treasure-chest rested beneath 
 the green water. 
 
Folklore of the Antillas 155 
 
 But, behold! at the instant that Pedro 
 dove, a thundering explosion of firearms 
 rent the air; the sound reverberated along 
 the shore and rolled away, away to the 
 hills as if it would go on forever. As 
 speedily as he had gone down Pedro 
 came up. The rope had been dropped, 
 nor was there anything in his hands, and 
 when, as he climbed, shakingly, into his 
 boat, he looked down to the bottom of the 
 bay, he saw one of the ancient firearms 
 laying itself down upon the treasure chest. 
 The ghostly arquebus had done what 
 rumour said it always did if the treasure 
 was attacked: it had discharged its thunder 
 full at the daring offender. 
 
 Pedro in sore fright, yet, withal, deep 
 thankfulness to be spared his life, got away, 
 back to his cabin before the sun was up. 
 He said nothing of his adventure then, 
 but when others, in after time, were heard 
 to speak of the chest of treasure under the 
 waters of the bay, and of the ancient fire- 
 
156 As Old as the Moon 
 
 arms that lay upon its lid, it might be 
 noticed that, presently, he would bring 
 the talk round so that he could tell a tale 
 of the Ghostly Arquebus, which he de- 
 clared he had heard ever since he could 
 remember. 
 
GLOSSARY-INDEX 
 
Glossary-Index 
 
 AcATAO (A-eah-taow). Aged Indian in legend, "Fast of 
 
 the Siboneyes." 67. 
 Amatauna (Ah-mah-yow-na). One of the caves in which 
 
 lived the souls Vagoniona had to breathe upon before 
 
 they could enter earth as humans. 48. (See also 
 
 Cazibaxagua.) 
 Akuacos (Ah-^oo-ah-cos). Tribe belonging to Guarani 
 
 race of South America, traces of it thought to be evi- 
 dent in some of the islanders. 
 As Old as the Moon. Indian saying and legend. 29. 
 Bajagua (Bah-ha-qim). One of the caves inhabited by 
 
 the spirits of men before life. 18. (See also Caji.) 
 Beads. Sacred necklaces made of marble and shells. 113. 
 Behique (Be-heek). Priests, medical men, conjurors, 
 
 interpreters of the Cemies idols. 
 BiAUTEX (Be-ow-tex). Proper name, boy in tale, "Fast 
 
 of Siboneyes." 
 BoHECHio. Name of the chief of a tribe; boy's name in 
 
 story. 
 BoHECHio's Friend Was Dumb.The Reason, legend. 42. 
 Bomo (Bo-hee-o). Indian name for hut or cottage. 104. 
 BoTUCA. A province on the south coast. 
 Cacique (Cah-seek). Indian name for chief. According 
 
 to Fort y Roldan, in his book "Cuba Indigina," the c. 
 
 was not a warrior but a sort of oligarchic governor, 
 
 or municipal ruler, over his own flock or his own allied 
 159 
 
160 As Old as the Moon 
 
 with his neighbour's. In exchange for these rights, 
 the municipality was expected not to acquire more 
 riches than it really needed. The state was divided 
 into pueblos; each pueblo had a cacique. Every 
 cacique had under him as a sort of aide, a naitani or 
 nitaino. There were thirty-two tribes at time of 
 discovery, evidently but two classes, i. e., the cacique 
 naitano, and the behique (priest), and the guajiro, 
 the term used to-day for peasant countryman, 
 corrupted. 
 
 Caji (Cahrhee). Name of a cave, the same that was called 
 also Cazibaxagua. 18. 
 
 Caobas (Cow-bas). Resinous pieces of pine used for 
 lighting. 
 
 Caonabo (Cow-nah-bo). A chief, lord of the mines Cibao, 
 in Haiti. He destroyed the fortress Colimibus left 
 there. 
 
 Capkomy. a rat, Indian name for (see legend 35). 
 
 CAtJNANA {Cow-nahyaah). The province where were 
 the caves from which the human race was thought 
 to come when sent by Vagoniona. 
 
 Cauta (Cow-to). Mountains in province of Caunana; 
 rock in which were the caves. 
 
 Cave People. Indians believed all people lived in caves 
 after the flood. 
 
 Cazibaxagua (Cah-zee-bah-zag-wah). One of the caves 
 in which waited the souls to be sent to earth by 
 Vagoniona. (See Amayauna.) 
 
 Cataquayo. Indian trader Colmnbus met at Isle of 
 Pines, 1494. 
 
 Cataquayq. The Merchant. 96, 
 
Glossary-Index 161 
 
 Cemies. Wood and stone images consulted by the priests 
 as gods. 7. (See also Semies, Tames and Zemes.) 
 
 Chickens. Legend of hen that guards treasure. 140. 
 
 Children of the Sun. Name assumed by all Sun 
 worshippers in every land. 26. 
 
 CiBAO. A stormy country of steep mountains, 18 leagues 
 from town of Isabel; first gold Spaniards got was 
 found there. 
 
 CiBAS. Beads of marble or shell, badge of royalty, 
 first mentioned as given Yagoniona by Goddess of 
 the Waves, his mother. 89. 
 
 Cienfueqos. (A hundred fires.) Name of town in the 
 south of Cuba, called after Don Jose Cienfuegos. 
 
 CiGXJATOs. Archers who lived on north coast. Boy's 
 name in "What the Galleons Brought." 131. 
 
 CojiBA. Indian name for plant now known as tobacco. 
 7. (See Tobacco.) 
 
 CoLLABS. Signof royalty, beads; gold; vow made on. 113. 
 
 Commerce. First American to have monopoly of . 109. 
 
 CoPETES. Large trees with fine heavy leaves that Span- 
 iards used for writing paper. 
 
 Corns. Four-footed animal, small like a rabbit, fur similar 
 to ermine; without cry; very cunning. 99. 
 
 Corsairs. Raids on island. 140. 
 
 Cotton. Trade in, at time of conquest. 98. 
 
 Crocodiles Have No Tongues, Wht. Legend. 125. 
 
 Cuba. Indian name of island so called to-day; Columbus 
 named it Juana. According to Fort y Roldan, the 
 meaning of Cuba in Lucayan tongue was "The 
 Beautiful Country of the Dead." Other authorities 
 gave it as "Land of Happy Souls," 110. 
 
162 As Old as the Moon 
 
 CuBANACAN. Province where Indians told Columbus 
 he would find gold. 
 
 Dead. Tainos believed the dead returned to the cloud- 
 world and to the presence of the good genie but could 
 re-visit the earth and liked to do so when they could 
 meet anyone alone. 5. 
 
 Dog. Those found in the islands had no bark though they 
 were the companions of man. Some historians say 
 these dogs were used for food. 42. 
 
 Doubloons. A coin in value equal to three dollars or 
 three pieces of eight. 
 
 Eahth. Believed to have come in a doud from another 
 world where everything found on the earth was made. 
 When e. was a child, 3; when e. grew old, 11. 
 
 Ector. Refreshing drink made from native fruits. 70. 
 
 EilAXI. Green peppers Indians were found using as food. 
 
 Evil Spirit. Mabuya. 7. E. S. of Waters (the Euro- 
 peans). 
 
 Fast. Indian custom to make ready by fasting to hear 
 prophecy of the Cemies (see Tzmes) spoken through 
 the behique. 
 
 Fast of the Sibonetes, The. Legend. 67. 
 
 Fever. Yellow, not native to Cuba but brought in slave- 
 ships. 134. 
 
 Flood. The story of a deluge was prevalent among the 
 Indians. 10 and 83. 
 
 Fonda. Spanish name for small or unpretentious inn. 140. 
 
 Fox. Legend of cunning similar to all folklore. 
 
 Fox AND the Vejete, The. Legend. 61. 
 
 Freebooters. Coming to the island. 131. 
 
 Friend. Why the dog is a, constant one. 45. 
 
Glossary-Index 163 
 
 Galleon. Fleets formed by many merchant ships that 
 
 carried supplies to Spain's colonies. They were 
 
 accompanied by the flota and men-o'-war escort. 
 Galleons Brought, What the. Legend. 131. 
 Genie, Good. 5. Supposed to reign over the other 
 
 world whence the earth came. Indian name of g. 
 
 Yocauna-gua-Maonocon ( Yo-cow-ner-gwa-Mow-no- 
 
 con). 
 GovEBNiNG, Sechet OF. Discovered by Bohechio. 46. 
 Gkethottnd. His cunning matched against that of fox. 52. 
 GuACANAJAHi (fioo-ah-can-ah-hcM-ee). Indian chief of 
 
 Haiti referred to by the Sons of the Sun. 85. 
 GuAJiKo {Goo-ah-hee-ro). Countryman; word corrupted 
 
 from name of tribe common to Florida and islands. 
 GuANAHANi (Goo-ah-na-ha-ni). Island of San Salvador 
 
 first discovered and language of natives learned. Men 
 
 from that tribe became the Spaniards' interpreters. 78. 
 GxjANiQTJiSAJE (Goo-ah-nee-kee-nah-ky). 43. Dumb dogs 
 
 found by Spaniards in the islands. (See also Xulos.) 
 GtTAKOCATO (Goo-ah-ro-cah-yo). Indian boy who went 
 
 with message to Cuba. 112. 
 GuATO (Goo-ah-yo). Boy who was taunted with his 
 
 Aruacos blood. 82. (See also Origin.) 
 Haba. Indian name for basket made of palm fibre. 
 Hacha. Boy's name in legend "Sons of the Sun." 
 Haiti. The island next to Cuba; half of it still bears that 
 
 name, the other half being known as Santo Domingo. 
 Hatuet (At-oo-eh). The Indian who was the last to 
 
 strongly oppose the conquerors. He left Haiti and 
 
 devoted himself to helping Cuba, but was defeated 
 
 and executed, 1511. 
 
164 As Old as the Moon i 
 
 Hatuet, the Hero. Legend. 110. 
 
 Hen. Legend of one that guards treasure in Cienfuegos 
 
 bay. 141. 
 Hobo. A large tree with fruit like a cherry, but yellow; 
 
 the bark, boiled, made a lotion used for bathing 
 
 nervous persons. 
 HnACANi (Hoo-ah-can-ee). Fisherman friend of Vagoni- 
 
 ona changed into a nightingale for disobeying. 48. 
 Hundred Fires. Bay of Cienfuegos named after General 
 
 Don Jose Cienfuegos. Legend. 140. 
 Idols. Images of wood and stone were found in the huts 
 
 of the Indians. Some historians say the Indians 
 
 adored these images; others that they were only repre- 
 sentations, such as pictures are to us, of ideas. 5 and 7. 
 Instinct. In brute and man. xxi. 
 Itau. Indian girl in story, "Fast of the Siboneyes," to 
 
 whom prophecy was made. 67. 
 JoBABA (Ho-bah-bah). Name of cave said to have been 
 
 inhabited by the sun and moon. Tainos myth. 23. 
 JuLOCO. Carib name for the god of the Rainbow. 
 La Fuerza. The first fortress built in Havana, 1556. 
 Language. The first Indian 1. that the conquerors 
 
 learned was that of Guanahani, the second Siboney. 
 
 They reported that no two tribes understood each 
 
 other. Spoke to Cayaguayo in his tongue at Isles of 
 
 Pines in 1494. 
 Las Casas. The priest who was the defender of the 
 
 Indians. 
 Leaves. Green leaves said to be food of god of rainbow; 
 
 Is. of copey tree used by Spaniards as writing paper. 
 Legends. Where found; authorities for, see Religion. 
 
Glossary-Index 165 
 
 Lizards. Food of the God of the Rainbow. 
 
 LucAYAS. According to Fort y Roldan, "In Haiti there 
 were exact ideas of the origin of the world but 
 other ideas in the Lucayas, isles of which Cuba is one." 
 
 LucTJO. Greatest of Carib gods, had ten sons, all became 
 gods; eldest was the moon (see Noum), 
 
 Mabtjta. The spirit of evil and mischief. 7. 
 
 Machokael. The guardian of the entrance to the cave 
 of souls. 12. 
 
 Mamet. Tropical fruit very rich and sweet; blossom is 
 scarlet. 
 
 Man. Indian ideas of the coming of himian beings. 9. 
 
 Manicate. Indian chief of importance, also his son in 
 "Hatuey the Hero." 
 
 Maonocon. Second name of the great Genie. 6. 
 
 Matabonex. Indian boy who brought to Cuba news of 
 Velasquez's coming. 112. 
 
 Men, The Coming of. Legend. 12. 
 
 Men of the Caves. 15. 
 
 Mental Attitude of Indians, xvii. (Preface.) 
 
 Mental Condition of Indians, xvi. 
 
 MiBABOLANOs. Trees into which were transformed cave- 
 men who issued without permission. 
 
 MiBABOLANOs, The. Legend. 17. 
 
 Moon. Legend of sun and moon. 22. Carib legend 
 of, said to refresh the breeze. 57. 
 
 Moon, As Old as the. Legend. 29. 
 
 Mtths. Meaning of. xxi. 
 
 NiPE (Nee-py). A large bay on north shore of Cuba. 
 
 NoTJM. Carib name for moon myth. 57. 
 
 Obiente (0-ree-en-ty). The eastern province of Cuba. 
 
166 As Old as the Moon 
 
 Origin. Of Indians of Antillas unknown; believed not 
 to hare inhabited islands above 300 years prior to con- 
 quest; aborigines' belief as to their own origin was that 
 they came from caves (Brother Ramon, see Idols), 
 the world having come from the clouds; knew that 
 heaven, earth and all things were created; knew the 
 world had been destroyed by water; warned of flood 
 by three persons, aged men, coming from several ways; 
 counselled to build canoe (ark); took animals into 
 canoe; their right to go unclothed, 83; apparitions 
 (see. Dead). 
 
 Pancho. Nickname for Francis, character in "What the 
 Galleons Brought." 
 
 Papaya. Papaw, tree and fruit, latter like a melon in 
 look and taste. 
 
 Pirates. Coming to islands; Corsairs. 
 
 Prophecies. Coming of invaders was prophesied; see 
 "Fast of the Siboneyes." 
 
 Rainbow, The. Myth of god Juloco. 54. 
 
 Rat. Capromy, Indian name for; myth of why woman 
 fears it. 35. 
 
 Religion. Believed an immortal being whom none can 
 see ruled mankind from heaven; that he had no 
 beginning, no father, but had a mother; images of 
 wood and stone were kept in each cacique's home, 
 venerated but not certainly adored; guided in 
 all things by behiques (priests) who interpreted what 
 cemies (images) said. Pichardo calls this interpreter, 
 priest; Pezuela, doctor; Valdes, a malignant spirit, 
 bujiti. Herrera says Cuba had no religion, having 
 no temples, idols or sacrifices. 
 
Glossary -Index 167 
 
 RinsENfOR, The. The nightingale. Legend of. 48. 
 Scolds. What started them, " Why the Woman Fears the 
 
 Rat." 35. 
 Semis. Same as Cemies, Tzmes or Zemes, images of stone 
 
 or wood kept in each house of cacique. 
 Sebpent, Sea. First ships of Spaniards thought to be 
 
 such. 89. Legend, "As Old as the Moon." 29. 
 Shadow. Superstition of. 82. 
 Shakks. What brought them to the islands. 138. 
 SiBONETES. Tribe of Indians of Tainos race found in 
 
 Cuba. The S. was the warrior of the tribe, belonged 
 
 to upper class. ( See Cacique.) 
 SiBONETES, The Fast of the. Legend. 67. 
 SicoMO. Carib boy who tells legend of Noum. 
 Slave-ships. 133. 
 
 Sons or the Sun. The legend of, 80; reference to, 12. 
 Sun and Moon Came from. Where the. Legend. 22. 
 
 Tainos myth. 
 Tainos. Tribes found in Cuba and some other islands. 
 TiBURON. Shark. 
 
 ToA, ToA, THE Mamma Boys. Legend. 60. 
 Tobacco. Indian name of two-pronged pipe through 
 
 which was inhaled fimies of smoking cojiba plant. 
 
 Name of pipe was given by Europeans to the plant. 7. 
 
 Tobaccos of peace, see "Fast of the Siboneyes." 
 Treasure. Carried in galleons, 131; lost purposely in 
 
 sea, 118; legend of it in wrecked ships, 141. 
 Treasures of a Hundred Fires. Legend. 140. 
 Tree, Mirabolanos. Souls of men turned into. 
 Tricks of the Fox. Legend. 51. 
 Tzmes. Variation in spelling of Cemies. 
 
168 As Old as the Moon 
 
 Umatao (Oo-mah-tah-ow). Priest who fasted. 67. 
 Vagoniona. Father of men; master of the souls in caves, 
 
 Cazibaxagua, Amayauna; son of the Sun and of the 
 
 goddess of the wares . 
 Vejete. a buffoon, or old comic actor. 
 Velasquez, Diego. Sent, 1511, by Diego Colon, son of 
 
 Discoverer, to start settlements in Cuba. 
 Waters. Playfellow of the Earth. 9. 
 What the Galleons Brought. 131. 
 Where the Sun and Moon Came from. 22. 
 Why Crocodiles Have No Tongues. 130. 
 Why the Woman Fears the Rat. 36. 
 Witch. The rain, a sullen witch. 57. 
 Wonder Stories. When begun in each land. xxiv. 
 XuLOS. Indian word for dog, same as guaniquinaje, 
 
 without a bark. 
 Yauna. Witch in legend, "The Reason Bohechio's Friend 
 
 Was Dumb." 45. 
 Yocauna-gua-Maonocon. Name of being believed to 
 
 inhabit heaven. (See Religion.) 
 Zemes. Images of gods. (See Cemies.) 
 
VOCABULARY 
 
Vocabulary 
 
 Able, va. to be able, poder. 
 Ability, s. habilidad. 
 Abods, s. domicilio. 
 ABotiT, frep. al rededor. 
 Above, prep, encima, sobre. 
 AccoMPAJsnr, va. acompanar. 
 Across, ad. de traves, al traves. 
 Adopt, va. adoptar, prohijar. 
 Advance, va. avanzar, adelantar. 
 
 Adventure, *. expedicion 6 empresa rodeada de peligroa. 
 Affliction, s. calamidad, miseria. 
 After, prep, despues, detras, en seguimlento de. 
 Against, prep, contra, junto, cerca. 
 Aged, a. viejo, cargado de anos. 
 Ago, adv. largo tiempo, pasado, despues. 
 Agreed, part. a. determinado, convenido. 
 A HUNTING, WENT A HUNTING, f ue a cazar. 
 Alarming, a. alannante. 
 Alive, a. vivo 6 viviente. 
 
 All, todo; all but, todo menos, d excepto; in all direc- 
 tions, por todas partes. 
 Allegiance, s. lealtad, fidelidad. 
 Almond, s. almendra. 
 Almost, ad. casi. 
 Alone, o. solo, solitario. 
 AuTER, va. alterar, mudar. 
 
 171 
 
172 As Old as the Moon 
 
 Ai/THOUGH, conj. aunque, aun cuando. 
 
 Amazement, s. espanto, sorpresa. 
 
 Anchorage, s. anclaje. 
 
 Ancient, a. antiguo. 
 
 Angbt, a. enfadado, enojado. 
 
 Ankle, s. tobillo. 
 
 Annot, va. molestar, danar. 
 
 Anoint, va. untar, ungir. 
 
 Another, a. otro, distinto. 
 
 Answer, s. repuesta, contestacion. 
 
 Anxiety, s. ansia. 
 
 Ant, a. cualquier 6 cualquiera; anyone, alguno; any- 
 thing, algo. 
 
 Apart, ad. aparte, separadamente. 
 
 Appeal, s. apelacion; vn. apelar. 
 
 Appease, va. aplacar, apaciguar. 
 
 Apply, va. aplicar. 
 
 Approach, vn. acercarse; va. acercar. 
 
 Appropriate, va. apropiar, adaptar; a. apropiado. 
 
 Approval, s. aprobacion. 
 
 Afbon, s. delantal. 
 
 Arbour, a. emparrado, glorieta. 
 
 Arc, s. arco de cfrculo. 
 
 Arch, s. arco; va. abovedar, cubrir con arcos. 
 
 Archives, s. archivos. 
 
 Argue, vn. razonar; va. arguir, probar con argumentos. 
 
 Arm, s. 1, brazo; 2, rama del arbol; 3, biazo de mar; 4, 
 anna. 
 
 Armour, s. armadura. 
 
 Around, ad. al rededor. 
 
 Arquebus, s. arcabuz, arma de fuego. 
 
Vocabulary 173 
 
 Articles of merchandise, s. mercaderias; small arti- 
 cles, menud^ncias. 
 
 Ask, va. pedir, rogar, preguntar; vn. buscar, inquirir. 
 
 Asleep, ad. dormido. 
 
 Assent, s. asenso, aprobacion; vn. asentir. 
 
 Association, s. compafiia, asamblea; va. acompafiar; 
 vn. asociarse. 
 
 Assortments, s. surtido. 
 
 Astonish, vn. pasmar; va. asombrar, aturdir. 
 
 At last, 'pre'p. por fin, al fin. 
 
 Attention, s. atencion, cuidado. 
 
 Avert, va. desviar, alejar. 
 
 Avoid, va. evitar, dejar, huir. 
 
 AwAT, ad. ausente, afuera; inter j. fuera de aqui! marcha! 
 
 Babble, vn. balbucear, charlar. 
 
 Back, *. espalda; to come back to, vn. volver. 
 
 Baptize, va. bautizar. 
 
 Bare, a. desnudo, raso. 
 
 Bargain, s. pacto, compra 6 venta; vn. negociar. 
 
 Bark, s. 1, corteza; 2, barco; vn. ladrar. 
 
 Barter, vn. traficar, pennutando generos; va. trocar; s. 
 trafico. 
 
 Basket, s. canasta. 
 
 Battle, s. batalla; battle-axe, hacha de annas. 
 
 Bat, 3. habia. 
 
 Beach, s. ribera, orilla, playa. 
 
 Beam, s. 1, astil; 2, rayo de luz; sunbeam, rayo del sol. 
 
 Bear, va. llevar. 
 
 Beast, s. animal irracional, a distincion del hombre; bestia. 
 
 Beat, va. apalear; to beat out, airancar, lanzar. 
 
 Beautiful, a. hennoso, belle. 
 
174 As Old as the Moon 
 
 Became, pp. del verbo to become, venir a parar. 
 
 Begin, va. empezar, principiar, comenzar. 
 
 Behind, prep, detras, tras. 
 
 Behold, va. ver, mirar, notar; inter j. vele ahi! 
 
 Being, a. ente, ser. 
 
 Beneath, ad. y, prep, abajo; bajo 6 en paraje mas bajo. 
 
 Bent, pp. del verbo to bend, inclinar, encorrar. 
 
 Beseechingly, ad. con suplica. 
 
 Besides, prep, sobre, fuera de; ad. ademas. 
 
 Betray, va. traicionar, exponer. 
 
 Better, a. mejor. 
 
 Beyond, prep, mas alia, allende, fuera. 
 
 Biggest, a. lo mas grande. 
 
 Bit, s. pedazo pequeno de alguna cosa, bocado. 
 
 Black, a. 1, negro, oscuro; 2, grave, triste; 3, horrible, 
 
 atroz. 
 Blank, a. confuso, turbado. 
 Blast, s. soplo de aire. 
 Blew, pp. del verbo to blow, soplar. 
 Blxte, a. azul. 
 
 Blutf, 8. penasco, roca escarpada. 
 Boast, vn. alabarse, jactarse. 
 Bold, a. intrepido, audaz. 
 Bosom, s. seno, el corazon. 
 Bottom, «. fondo, suelo. 
 Bound to drown, destinado & stmiergir. 
 Bow, s. arco, arma para disparar Heches; rainbow, el arco 
 
 iris; bowstring, cuerda de arco. 
 Bracelet, «. brazelete. 
 Branch, s. rama. 
 Breathe, vn. respirar. 
 
Vocabulary 175 
 
 Breed, s. casta, raza. 
 
 Breeze, s. brisa, viento suave. 
 
 Bright, s. claro, luciente. 
 
 Brisk, a. vivo, acelerado. 
 
 Broke, pp. del verbo to break, romper. 
 
 Bronze, s. bronce. 
 
 Brood, vn. considerar, 6 rumiar alguna cosa con cuidado. 
 
 Brown, a. moreno, castano. 
 
 Bubble, vn. burbujear, bullir. 
 
 Buffet, vn. combatir con punadas; «. punada. 
 
 Buffoon, ». bufon, chocarrero. 
 
 Build, va. edificar, construir. 
 
 Bundle, s. mazo envoltorio, paquete. 
 
 Burden, s. carga. 
 
 Buried, pp. del verbo to bury, enterrar, esconder. 
 
 Burn, va. quemar, incendiar. 
 
 Burst, vn. reventar, rebosar. 
 
 Busily, ad. apresuradamente, diligentemente. 
 
 Bust, a. ocupado. 
 
 By and by, prep, presto, luego. 
 
 Cackle, vn. cacarear, charlar. 
 
 Calabash, s. calabaza. 
 
 Call, to call to, va. llamar; to call upon, implorar, 
 
 exhortar. 
 Cane, s. cana. 
 Canoe, s. canoa. 
 Caravel, s. carabela. 
 Carrier, s. portador. 
 Cast, va. tirar, arrojar. 
 Catch, va. coger, asir, alcanzar. 
 Caught, pp. del verbo to catch, coger, etc. 
 
176 As Old as the Moon 
 
 Cautiously, ad. prudentemente, cautamente. 
 
 Cavauer, *. caballero de distincion. 
 
 Cave, s. cueva, caverna. 
 
 Cease, vn. cesar, desistir. 
 
 Cessation, s. suspension, parada. 
 
 Chain, va. encadenar, enlanzar; s. cadena, grillete. 
 
 Change, ra. cambiar, convertir; s. mudanza. 
 
 Chabm, s. encanto, embeleso; va. encantar, atraer, arrobar. 
 
 Chicken, s. polluelo 6 polio. 
 
 Child, s. nine, nina. 
 
 Choicest, a. lo mas escogido 6 exquisite. 
 
 Claim, s. pretension, derecho. 
 
 Clat, «. tierra crasa y pegajosa, arcilla. 
 
 Clear, a. clara, trasparente. 
 
 CuMB, va. subir, escalar. 
 
 Cloak, s. capa. 
 
 Close, va. cerrar, acabar. 
 
 Closer, a. mas cerca. 
 
 Clothes, s. pi. vestidura, ropaje. 
 
 Clothing, s. vestidos, ropa de toda especie. 
 
 Cloud, s. nube; va. anubular. 
 
 Club, s. clava, baston. 
 
 CoAis, 3. pi. carbon encendido. 
 
 Coast, s. costa, orilla del mar. 
 
 Coaxing, s. engatusamiento. 
 
 Coffee, ». cafe. 
 
 Collar, s. collar, cadena de metal que rodea el cuello. 
 
 Comb, s. peine. 
 
 Commander, ». comandante. 
 
 Companion, ». camarada, socio; vn. asociarse. 
 
 Compare, va. comparar, cotejar. 
 
Vocabulary 177 
 
 Complete, o. completo, acabado; va. completar, concluir. 
 
 Condemn, va. condenar, sentenciar a una pena. 
 
 Consequently, ad. en consecuencia, por consigiiiente. 
 
 Constantly, ad. constantemente, igualmente. 
 
 Continue, vn. continuar, durar. 
 
 Cool, a. fresco. 
 
 Corn, s. grano, semilla de las mieses, maiz. 
 
 CoBNER, s. angulo, rincon, esquina. 
 
 Corsair, *. corsairo, pirate. 
 
 Crack, s. hendedura, estallido. 
 
 Cramp, va. apretar. 
 
 Creak, vn. crujir, estallar. 
 
 Creature, s. criatura, bestia, animal. 
 
 Creep, vn. arrastrar; to creep out, salir sin hacer ruido. 
 
 Crept, pp. del verbo to creep, arrastrar. 
 
 Cried, pp. del verbo to cry, gritar, Uorar, vocear. 
 
 Crinkle, vn. serpentear; s. sinuosidades. 
 
 Croaker, s. lo que hace cantos de ranas, reganador. 
 
 Crocodile, a. cocodrillo, caiman. 
 
 Crossly, ad. contrariamente, enojadamente. 
 
 Crouch, vn. agarcharse. 
 
 Crown, ». corona. 
 
 Cruel, a. cruel, inhumano, barbaro. 
 
 CuimvATE, va. cultivar, labrar. 
 
 Cunning, a. 1, sabio; 2, manoso, astuto, sutil. 
 
 Curl, va. ensortijar, ondear. 
 
 Current, s. corrientes del mar. 
 
 Curtain, s. cortina. 
 
 Customer, s. comprador, parroquiano. 
 
 Dance, vn. bailar; s. danza, baile. 
 
 Danger, s. peligro, riesgo. 
 
178 As Old as the Moon 
 
 Dare, vn. osar. 
 
 Darkness, s. oscuridad, tinieblas. 
 
 Dart, va. lanzar; s. dardo. 
 
 Daughter, s. hija. 
 
 Dawn, vn. amanecer, s. alba, aurora. 
 
 Day, *. dia, luz. 
 
 Dazzle, s. deslmnbramiento. 
 
 Dead, a. muerto; s. hombres muertos. 
 
 Deceive, va. enganar, defraudar. 
 
 Declare, va. declarar, manifestar. 
 
 Dedicate, va. dedicar, consagrar. 
 
 Deer, *. ciervo. 
 
 Defile, va. profanar. 
 
 Desiand, va. demandar, preguntar. 
 
 Depart, vn. partir 6 partirse. 
 
 Depend, vn. depender, descuidar en una persona. 
 
 Deposit, va. depositar, consignar. 
 
 Depth, s. hondura, abismo. 
 
 Descend, vn. descender, bajar. 
 
 Despair, *. desesperacion; vn. perder la esperanza. 
 
 Destiny, s. destino, fortuna. 
 
 Destroy, va. destruir, desolar, matar. 
 
 Determine, va. detenninar, decidir. 
 
 Devastate, va. amiinar, robar. 
 
 Devil, s. diablo, espiritu maligno. 
 
 Devour, va. devorar, destruir. 
 
 Dew, s. rocio. 
 
 Disappear, vn. desaparecer, perderse de vista. 
 
 Discern, va. percibir, descubrir. 
 
 Discover, va. revelar, descubrir. 
 
 Dishevel, va. desgrenar, desmelenar. 
 
Vocabulary 179 
 
 Disk, s. disco. 
 
 Displease, va. enfadar, ofender. 
 
 Dispute, va. disputar, arguir. 
 
 Distant, a. distante, remoto. 
 
 Distribute, va. repartir, dividir. 
 
 Distrust, va. desconfiar, s. sospecha. 
 
 Dog, s. perro. 
 
 Domination, s. dominacion, tirania. autoridad. 
 
 Door, s. puerta. 
 
 Double, va. doblar, duplicar. 
 
 Doubloon, s. doblon, moneda de era de Espana del 
 
 valor de 60 reales. 
 Dove, s. palomo 6 paloma. 
 Drag, va. arrastrar. 
 
 Drain, s. desaguadero; va. secar, escurrir. 
 Draw, va. tirar, sacar, destripar. 
 Dread, s. miedo, espanto; va. temer, recelar. 
 Drew, pp. del verbo to draw, tirar; drew back, pp. del 
 
 verbo retroceder, 6 retirar. 
 Dried, pp. del verbo to dry, secar. 
 Drink, va. beber; s. bebida. 
 Drop, vn. caer, bajar. s. gota. 
 Drown, va. ahogar, sumergir. 
 Drowse, va. adormecer. 
 Dry, a. arido, seco; va. secar, enjugar. 
 Dull, a. lerdo, estupido; dull in colour, ofuscado; va. 
 
 embotar. 
 Dumb, a. mudo. 
 
 DwEi/r, pp. del verbo; to dwell, habitar, morar. 
 Ear, 3. oreja, espiga. 
 Early, o. temprano; ad. temprano. 
 
180 As Old as the Moon 
 
 Earth, s. tierra, el globo terrestre. 
 
 Easily, ad. facilmente. 
 
 Edge, s. punta, borde, margen. 
 
 Eldest, a. lo mas anciano. 
 
 Embark, va. embarcar; vn. emprender algun negocio. 
 
 Emerge, vn. salir; salir de la oscuridad; salir a luz. 
 
 Empty, va. vaciar, evacuar; a. vacio, desalojado, vano. 
 
 Enable, vn. habilitar. 
 
 Encircle, va. cercar, rodear. 
 
 End, s. fin, extremidad, termino. 
 
 Endanger, va. arriesgar, peligrar. 
 
 Enemy, s. enemigo. 
 
 Enjoy, va. gozar, agradar. 
 
 Enormous, a. enorme, atroz. 
 
 Enough, a. bastante; ad. basta. 
 
 Entirely, ad. enteramante, absolutamente. 
 
 Envelope, *. envolvedor, cubierta; va. envolver, esconder. 
 
 Equal, a. igual, semejante. 
 
 Escape, va. huir, evitar; s. descuido, fuga. 
 
 Especially, ad. principalmente, especialmente. 
 
 Eternal, a. eterno, perpetuo. 
 
 Even, a. igual, raso; ad. aun, no obstante; va. igualar, 
 
 allanar. 
 Evidently, ad. claramente, evidentemente. 
 Example, s. ejemplo, muestra. 
 Exceedingly, ad. smnamente, extremamente. 
 Exchange, s. cambio; va. trocar, cambiar. 
 Excitement, s. estimulo, instigacion, agitaci6n. 
 Excuse, va. excusar, perdonar; s. excusa, defensa, disculpa. 
 Explorer, s. explorador. 
 Extend, va. extender, hacer cr?cer, 
 
Vocabulary 181 
 
 Eye, 3. ojo, mirada. 
 
 Face, s. cara, rostro. 
 
 Fact, s. hecho, realidad. 
 
 Fagot, s. haz 6 gavilla de lena. 
 
 Faint, a. languido, perezoso; va. decaer, desmayar. 
 
 Fair, a. 1, hennoso; 2, claro, sereno; 3, dulce, blando; 4, 
 
 recto, justo. 
 Faiby, *. duende, encantadora. 
 Fantastic ault, ad. fantasticamente. 
 Fab, ad. lejos; far off, a gran distancia. 
 Fashion, va. formar, amoldar. 
 Favour, va. favorecer, amparar; s. favor, beneficio. 
 Favourite, s. favorilo, confidente; o. amado, favorecido. 
 Fear, s. miedo, fearful, fearsome, o. miedoso, temeroso. 
 Feast, s. banquete, festin 
 Feather, s, pluma. 
 
 Feathery a. plumado, ligero como una pluma. 
 Fervently, ad. vehementemente, fervientemente. 
 Fetch, va. ir a traer algo, sacar, llegar; to fetch away, 
 
 llevar, quitar. 
 Fibre, s. fibra, hebra. 
 Field, s. campo, Uanura de tierra. 
 Fiend, s. enemigo, ente infernal, furia. 
 Fiercely, ad. furiosamente. 
 Fight, s. batalla, pelea; va. guerrear, combatir. 
 Figure, s. figura, hechura, cifra 6 numero. 
 Fill, va. llenar, hartar. 
 Fine, a. fine, puro, agudo, delicado. 
 Finger, s. dedo. 
 
 Finny a. armado de aletas como los pecea 
 Fire, a. fuego. 
 
182 As Old as the Moon 
 
 Firing, pa. del verbo to fire, tirar. 
 
 Fisherman, s. pescador. 
 
 Fishing, s. pesca. 
 
 Fit, va. surtir, proveer. 
 
 Fitting, i. e. proper, o. propio. 
 
 FiASH, s. relampago. 
 
 Flat, s. piano; a. llano, raso. 
 
 Flew, pt. del verbo to fly, huir, volar. 
 
 Fleet, s. escuadra de navios de guerra, Acta, de buques 
 
 mercantes; a. veloz, Hgero. 
 Flesh, s. carne. 
 
 Floating, pa. del verbo to float, flotar; s. flotante. 
 Flock, s. manada; a flock of bibdb, bandada de 
 
 aves. 
 Flood, *. diluvio. 
 Flower, s. flor. 
 
 Fltttter, vn. revolotear; s. alboroto, tumulto. 
 Fly, va. huir, volar; s. mosea. 
 Foam, s. espuma; vn. espumar. 
 Follow, va. seguir. 
 Fool, «. idiota, bobo, tonto. 
 Foolish, a. indiscreto, tonto. 
 Forbidden, pp. del verbo to forbid, prohibir. 
 Force, s. poder, fuerza. 
 Forever, ad. para siempre. 
 Forgot, pp. del verbo to forget, olvidar. 
 Formidable, a. formidable, tremendo. 
 Forth, ad. en adelante, fuera. 
 FotJNDATioN, s. cimiento, fundamento. 
 Fox, s. zorro. 
 Fkanticallt, ad. fren^ticamente, furiosamente. 
 
Vocabulary 183 
 
 Fkeebooter, s. ladron, filibuster, nombre con que, en 
 otro tiempo, fueron conocidos ciertos piratas que 
 saquearon las Antillas. 
 
 Freely, ad. libremente. 
 
 Frowning, mirando con ceno. o. cenudo, 
 
 Frdit, s. fruta, producto. 
 
 Fur, s. pelo de las bestias. 
 
 Furry, s. hecho de pieles 6 parecida de ellas. 
 
 Further, a. mas distante. 
 
 FoRY, s. furia. 
 
 Galleon, s. galeon; bajel grande usuado antiguamente. 
 
 Garment, s. vestidura, vestido. 
 
 Gasp, vn. boquear, suspirar 
 
 Gateway, s. entrada por las puertas de algun cercado. 
 
 Gather, va. recoger, rebuscar. 
 
 Gaze, vn. contemplar; va. mirar de hito en hito. 
 
 Genii, s. espiritu bueno 6 malo, numen. 
 
 Gentle, a. suave, docil, manso. 
 
 Gild, va. dorar. 
 
 Glance, s. ojeada, mirada, vislumbre. 
 
 Glee, s. alegria, jovialidad. 
 
 Glimpse, s. vislumbre, mirada pronto y ligera. 
 
 Gutter, vn. lucir, brillar; s. lustre. 
 
 Gloom, s. opacidad, lobreguez. 
 
 Glory, *. gloria, honra, alabanza. 
 
 Gnaw, s. roer, mordicar. 
 
 Go, vn. ir, andar; to go about a thing, intenter, hacer 
 todo lo possible. 
 
 Goddess, s. diosa. 
 
 Gold, s. oro. 
 
 Got, jyp. del verbo to get, ganar, adquirir, obtener. 
 
184 As Old as the Moon 
 
 GouBD, s. calabaza. 
 
 Govern, va. gobemar, guiar, legir. 
 
 Ghaduaixt, ad. gradualmente. 
 
 Grant, va. conceder, dar. 
 
 Grasp, va. empunar, asir. 
 
 Grate, va. rallar, rechinar. 
 
 Grating, *. reja. 
 
 Gravely, ad. seriamente. 
 
 Gray, a. and s. gris, un color. 
 
 Great, a. gran, grande. 
 
 Greed, s. codicia, avaricia. 
 
 Green, a. and s. verde. 
 
 Greet, va. saludar; greetino, salutaci6n. 
 
 Grew, pp. del verbo to grow, crecer. 
 
 Grewsome, a. horrendo, espantoao. 
 
 Greyhound, s. galgo. 
 
 Grieving, pa. lamentando. 
 
 Griffin, s. grifo, animal fabuloso. 
 
 Grim, a. torvo, cenudo. 
 
 Grotto, a. gnita, caverna. 
 
 Ground, a. tierra, terreno, suelo. 
 
 Group, *. grupo; va. agrupar. 
 
 Grove, s. arboleda. 
 
 Grunt, vn. grunir, gemir. 
 
 Guard, s. guarda, guardia; va. guardar, defender. 
 
 Guardian, s. el que guarda 6 cuida de alguna cosa. 
 
 Hail, va. y n. saludar a la voz, llamar. a. 
 
 Hair, s. pelo. 
 
 Hale, va. tirar con violencia, arrastrar. 
 
 Half, a. mitad; half way, ad. a medio camino. 
 
 Halt, vn. parar, vacilar; s. parada, cojera. 
 
Vocabulary 185 
 
 Hammer, s. martillo; va. martillar, forjar. 
 
 Handle, s. mango, puno; va. manosear, manejar. 
 
 Hang, va. suspender. 
 
 Happen, vn. acontecer, acaecer. 
 
 Happy, a. feliz, dichoso. 
 
 Harbour, puerto, lugar seguro donde pueden entrar los 
 
 navios. 
 Harvest, s. agosto, cosecha; va. cosechar. 
 Hatches, s. pi. cuarteles, portezuelas para cerrar las bocas 
 
 de las escotillas. 
 Hate, va. odiar, detestar. 
 Haughty, a. arrogante, orgulloso, insolente. 
 Haunch, s. anca. 
 Head, s. eabeza. 
 
 Headland, s. promontorio, punta, cabo. 
 Heap, s. monton, agregado de muchas cosas puestas en un 
 
 lugar. 
 Hear, va. oir. 
 
 Heart, s. corazon; heart-broken, a. penetrado de dolor. 
 Heaven, s. cielo, firmamento, region eterea, la habitaci<5n 
 
 de Dies. 
 Heavily, ad. pesadamente, tristemente. 
 Help, s. ayuda, socorro; va. asistir, sostener. 
 Hen, s. gallina. 
 Hesitate, va. vacilar, dudar. 
 Hid, pp. del verbo to hide, esconder, ocultar. 
 High, a. alto, elevado. 
 Hoarse, a. ronco. 
 Hobo, nombre Indiano, de un locion para bafiar los 
 
 enfennos. 
 Hole, s. agujero, cavidad. 
 
186 As Old as the Moon 
 
 Honey, *. miel. 
 
 Hot, a. calido, caliente. 
 
 Hound, s. sabueso, perro de monteria. 
 
 Household, s. casa, la familia que vive junta en una casa. 
 
 However, ad. en todo caso, no obstante. 
 
 Hulk, s. casco de la embarcacion. 
 
 Human, a. humane; human beings, s. seres humanos, el 
 
 linaje humane. 
 Humming-bird, s. guainambi. 
 Hxtnting, a. monteria, eaza. 
 Hut, s. choza, cabana, bohio, nombre Indiano. 
 Ignoble, a. indigno, bajo, vil. 
 Illuminate, va. alumbrar, ilustrar. 
 Illumine, va. iluminar. 
 Imagine, va. imaginar, diseurrir alguna cosa. 
 Immediately, ad. inmediatamente. 
 Impatient, a. impaciente, inquiete. 
 Implore, va. suplicar, rogar, implorar. 
 Incense, «. incienso, alabanza lisenjera. 
 Increase, va. aumentar, acrecentar. 
 Indeed, ad. verdaderamente, realmente. 
 Indicate, va. senalar, designar, Indicar. 
 Indistinguishable, a. indistinguible. 
 Indolent, a. perezosa, indolente. 
 Indulge, va. favorecer, tolerar, conceder. 
 Industrious, a. diligente, aplicade. 
 Infancy, s. infancia, la edad del hombre hasta que 
 
 tiene el use de raz6n. 
 Inhabitant, s. habitante. 
 Insignificant, a. frivolo, nulo. 
 Instead, prep, per, en lugar de. 
 
Vocabulary 187 
 
 Intend, va. intentar, tener designio de ejecutar alguna 
 
 cosa. 
 Intently, ad. anslosamente. 
 Intehfehe, vn. intervenir, mezclarse. 
 Invader, s. invasor; invade, va. invadir, usurpar. 
 Invincible, a. invencible. 
 Invite, va. convidar, invitar. 
 Ikon, s. hierro. 
 
 Issue, vn. proceder, salir, echar. 
 Jaw, s. quijada. 
 Jealous, a. zeloso. 
 Jewel, s. joya. 
 Join, va. juntar, unir. 
 Journey, s. jomada, viaje. 
 Joyously, ad. alegremente, gozosamente. 
 Juice, s. zumo, jugo. 
 Jump, s. salto vn. saltar, brincar. 
 
 Just, a. juste; just now, ahora mismo; ad. justamente. 
 Keel, s. quilla. 
 Keep, va. mantener; to keep watch, estar a quien yive, 
 
 velar. 
 Kill, va. matar. 
 
 Kind, a. benevolo, affable, carinoso; s. especie, dase. 
 Knob, s. bulto, nudo en la madera. 
 Labouh, s. trabajo, pena, fatiga; vn. trabajar, labrar. 
 Lao, vn. tardar en hacer lo que debe, roncear. 
 Laid, pp. del verbo to lay, extender, poner, echar & lo 
 
 largo en el suelo. 
 Lamp, a. limpara, farol. 
 Lance, s. lanza; va. penetrar con lanza. 
 Lap, va. arroUar; lamer. 
 
188 As Old as the Moon 
 
 Lash, va. dar latigazos, azotar. 
 
 Later, ad. mas tarde. 
 
 Laugh, vn. reir. 
 
 Laxinch, vn, arrojarse, tirarse al agua, lanzar. 
 
 Law, a. ley, regla. 
 
 Lead, s. plomo, metal blando; primacia, primer lugar; 
 
 va. conducir, guiar. 
 Leader, s. conductor, jefe, comandante. 
 Lean, vn. apoyarse, inclinar. 
 Leaf, s. salto; va. saltar, palpitar el corazon. 
 Learn, va. aprender. 
 Leave, va. dejar, abandonar. 
 Leaves, pi. de leaf, hoja. 
 Leg, 3. piema. 
 Less, a. menor, menos. 
 Lest, cony, para que no, por miedo de. 
 Let, va. permitir, dejar. 
 Liberty, s. libertad. 
 Lift, va. elevar, levantar. 
 Light, s. luz, va. aliunbrar. 
 
 Like, a. semejante, parecido; ad. como; va. querer, gustar. 
 Likewise, ad. tambien. 
 Limb, s. miembro, parte del cueipo. 
 Limp, *. cojera; vn. cojear. 
 Line, s. linea, raya, punta. 
 Lip, 3. labio, borde de alguna cosa. 
 Listen, va. escuchar. 
 LiTTiiE, a. poco, pequefio. 
 Live, vn. vivir, subsistir. 
 Lizard, s. lagarto. 
 Load, 3. carga, peso; va. cargar, impedir. 
 
Vocabulary 189 
 
 LoKELT, a. solitario, solo. 
 
 Long, a. largo. 
 
 Loss, s. perdida, priTacIda. 
 
 Low, a. bajo, hondo. 
 
 Lower, va. bajar. 
 
 LoTALLT, ad. lealmente. 
 
 LuMiNABT, 3. lumbrera, cualquiera de los astros que 
 
 despide luz. 
 Made, pp. del verbo to make, hacer, ocasionar, causar. 
 Maiden, s. doncella. 
 Make, va. bacer. 
 Manners, s. pi. modales, costumbres, crianza, corte- 
 
 sania. 
 Mantle, «. manto, mantilla. 
 Market, s. mercado, venta. 
 Mat, signo verbal del tiempos del subjuntivo or del mode 
 
 potencial. 
 Meantime, ad. mientras. 
 Means, s. pi. medics. 
 Meat, s. came, la parte de los animates que es i prop<$sito 
 
 para comerse. 
 Meetino, s. junta asamblea. 
 Mew, va. fundir, disolver. 
 Men o' war, navios de guerra. 
 Merchandise, s. mercaderia. 
 Merchant, s. comerciante. 
 Message, s. mensaje. anuncio. 
 Mighty, a. fuerte, potente, vigoroso. 
 Mind, s. mente, entendimienteo; va. notar; minded, 
 
 inclinado. 
 Ministration, s. agenda, ministerio. 
 
190 As Old as the Moon 
 
 Mirror, s. espejo. 
 
 Mischief, s. mal, dano, agravio. 
 
 Miserable, a. desdichado, infeliz. 
 
 Misery, a. miseria, calamidad. 
 
 Mix, va. mezclar, juntar. 
 
 Mock, va. mofar, frustrar. 
 
 Mode, s. mode, fonna, manera. 
 
 Moment, s. memento, minuto, importancia. 
 
 Monster, s. monstruo, lo que es sumamente feo. 
 
 Moon, s. luna. 
 
 Moreover, ad. ademas, fuera de esto. 
 
 Motion, s. movimiento, mocion. 
 
 Mouth, s. boca. 
 
 Mount, vn. subir, montar. 
 
 Mountain, s. monte, sierra, montana. 
 
 Murmur, vn. murmullar, grunir, quejarse. 
 
 Muscle, a. musculo. 
 
 Muse, vn. meditar. 
 
 Mutter, vn. hablar entre dientes, musitar. 
 
 Muzzle, a. boca, geta de Ids animales. 
 
 Naked, a. desnudo. 
 
 Nature, a. naturaleza. 
 
 Neck, a. cuello. 
 
 Needs, a. pi. necesidades; ad. necesariamente. 
 
 Neglect, va. descuidar, olvidar. 
 
 Neighbourly, a. urbane, atento; ad. civilinente. 
 
 Neither, conj. ni, tampoco. 
 
 Nest, a. nido. 
 
 Never, ad. nunca, jamas. 
 
 Night, a. noche. 
 
 Noble, a. noble, elevado, generoso. 
 
Vocabulary 191 
 
 Noiselessly, ad' sin ruido. 
 
 North, s. norte, o. septentrional; north-wind, el viento 
 
 septentrional. 
 Note, s. nota, marca, senal; va. notar, distinguir. 
 Nothing, s. nada, ninguna cosa; ad. de ningun grade 6 
 
 medida. 
 Notion, s. nocion, idea, sentido. 
 Nourish, va. nutrir, sustentar, alimentar. 
 Nut, s. nuez. 
 Oar, s. remo; va. remar. 
 Obey, va. obedecer. 
 
 Object, s. objeto, punto; va. objetar, hacer cargos. 
 Oblige, va. obligar, ligar. 
 Odds and ends, picos, y cabos pendientes. 
 Offend, va. enfadar, irritar, ofender. 
 Offering, s. oferta, sacrificio. 
 Often, ad. frecuentemente, a menudo. 
 Ointment, s. unguento. 
 Old, ad. viejo, antiguo. 
 Older, a. mas viejo. 
 Open, a. abrir. 
 
 Opening, s. abertura, entrada. 
 Opportunity, s. oportunidad, comodidad. 
 Order, s. orden, regla, metodo;va. ordenar, mandar. 
 Ordering, s. manejo, disposicion. 
 Ordinary, a. ordinario, comun, regular. 
 Ornament, s. ornato, adorno; va. ornamentar. 
 Ought, v. imp. deber; he ought to arrive, el debia 
 
 llegar. 
 Over, prep. sobre,encima; overhang, ijo. mirar a, dar a, 
 
 caer a, cabecear, inclinar. 
 
192 As Old as the Moon 
 
 OvEHTAKE, va. alcanzar, seguir, a alguna persona o cosa 
 
 hasta encontrarla. 
 Paddle, s. bestola 6 arrejada. 
 Paint, s. pintura; va. pintar. 
 Paiace, a. palacio. 
 Pale, o. palido, claro. 
 Parley, ». conferencia, platica. 
 Path, s. senda, vereda, camino. 
 Pat, s. paga, sueldo; va. pagar. 
 Peal, s. repique de campanas. 
 Pbab, s. pera. 
 Peakl, *. perla. 
 Peck, va. picotear, picar. 
 Peuhno, s. acometimiento. 
 People, s. pueblo, populacho; va. poblar. 
 Pefpeb, s. pimienta; va. rociar 6 sazonar con pimienta, 
 
 golpear. 
 Perceive, va. percibir, entender. 
 Perfect, a. perfecto, pure; va. peificionar. 
 Perform, va. ejecutar hacer. 
 Perish, vn. perecer, morir. 
 Permission, s. pennision, licencia. 
 Persecute, va. perseguir, molestar. 
 Persuade, va. persuadir, excitar. 
 Phantom, ». fantasma, espectro. 
 
 Pick, va. escoger; to pick up, recoger lo que estaba caido. 
 Piece, s. remiendo, pedazo. 
 Pierce, va. penetrar, taladrar. 
 Pile, «. estaca, pila, rimero. 
 Pilgrimage, s. peregrinacion. 
 Rllabs, coluna, pilar. 
 
Vocabulary 193 
 
 Pirate, s. pirata, el ladron que roba por el mar. 
 
 Place, s. lugar, sitio, paraje. 
 
 FiiAiN, a. lleno, raso; ad daramente; s. llano, llanada. 
 
 Plaintive, a. lamentoso, lastimoso, dolorido. 
 
 Plate, s. plancha 6 lamina de metal, plato. 
 
 Please, va. deleitar, agradar. 
 
 Plough, s. arado; vn. arar, labrar la tierra. 
 
 Plumage, s. plunaje. 
 
 Plunge, va. sumergir, zampuzar, anegar. 
 
 Point, s. punta, agujeta; va. apuntar, indicar. 
 
 Poise, va. balancear. 
 
 Portion, s. porcion, parte. 
 
 Pour, va. echar; to pour out or down, diluriar. 
 
 Prat, vn. orar, rogar. 
 
 Precious, a. precioso, costoso. 
 
 Preposterous, a. absurdo, trastrocado. 
 
 Present, «. regalo. 
 
 Presently, ad. luego, al punto. 
 
 Priest, s. sacerdote, Behique, nombre Indiano. 
 
 Primitive, a. original, antiguo, primitive. 
 
 Prize, *. premio, recompensa. 
 
 Prodigious, a. portentoso, maravilloso. 
 
 Profile, s. perfil. 
 
 Prompt, a. pronto, veloz. 
 
 Prong, s. pua, punta. 
 
 Propel, va. impeler, adelantar. 
 
 Provoke, va. irritar, estimular, provocar. 
 
 Puddle, s. lodazel, cenagal. 
 
 Punish, va. castigar. 
 
 PuKinr, va. limpiar, purificar. 
 
 Pursue, va. seguir, proseguir, continuar. 
 
194 As Old as the Moon 
 
 Push, va. empujar, apretar, estoquear. 
 
 Put, va. poner, colocar. 
 
 QuANTirr, s. cantidad. 
 
 Queer, a. extrano, singular, ridiculo. 
 
 Quench, va. apagax, extinguir. 
 
 Query, va. y n. preguntar, examinar. 
 
 Quest, s. pesquisa. 
 
 QmcKLT, ad. prontamente. 
 
 Quizn?, a. quieto, pacifico. 
 
 Quit, va. descargar, dejar. 
 
 Race, s. raza, casta; vn. correr con mucha ligereza. 
 
 Rage, s. labia, enoja, furor. 
 
 Raid, va. asaltar, invadir. 
 
 Rain, s. lluvia; vn. Uover. 
 
 Rainbow, a. arco iris. 
 
 Range, va. vagar, 3. linea, fila. 
 
 Rat, s. rayo de luz, raya. 
 
 Readt, a. listo, pronto. 
 
 Reach, va. alcanzar; s. alcance. 
 
 Reap, va. segar; vn. hacer el agosto. 
 
 Reason, s. razdn. 
 
 Refuse, va. y n. negar, repulsar. 
 
 Relax, va. relajar, ablandar. 
 
 Reluctant, a. disindinado, repugnante. 
 
 Remain, vn. quedar. 
 
 Remark, va. notar, observar. 
 
 Remember, va. acordarse, recordar. 
 
 Request, s. peticion; va. suplicar. 
 
 Residence s. morada, domicillo. 
 
 Return, vn. volver; s. regreso. 
 
 Reveal, va. revelar, manifestar. 
 
Vocabulary 195 
 
 Revenge, s. renganza. 
 
 Reverence, s. veneracidn, respeto. 
 
 Reward, s. recompensa, merecido. 
 
 Rich, a. rico. 
 
 Right, a. derecho. 
 
 Rim, s. borde, margen. 
 
 Ripe, a. maduro. 
 
 Rippling, s. el escarceo del agua cuando mana & bor- 
 
 bollones. 
 River, s. rio. 
 
 RivtTLET, ». riachuelo, rio pequeno. 
 Roam, va. andar vagando, correr. 
 Roar, s. rogido; vn. bramar como una bestia feroz. 
 Rock, s. roca. 
 Rod, s. vara, cana. 
 
 Rodent, animal como el raton que mueide 6 come. 
 Roll, va. rodar, girar; to roll up, arroUar. 
 Roof, s. tejado, techo. 
 
 Rose, pp. del verbo; to rise, ascender, subir, levantarse. 
 RosT, a. roseo. 
 
 Roughly, ad. rudamente, asperamente. 
 Round, a. redondo; va. rodear; vn. redondearse. 
 Rub, va. rascar, frotar. 
 
 Ruin, *. ruina, perdicidn; va. demoler, arruinar. 
 Run, va. correr; to run into, pasar; to run aground, 
 
 barar. 
 Rush, vn. tirarse; to rush out, salir precipitadamente. 
 Rush, s. enea, cana. 
 
 Ruthless, a. cruel, endurecido, insensible. 
 Sacrifice, s. sacrificio; va. sacrificar, inmolar. 
 Sail, vn. dar a la vela; to sail awat, partir. 
 
196 As Old as the Moon 
 
 Sand, s. arena. 
 
 Sjlse, a. sano. 
 
 Sank, pr. del verbo to sink, hondir. 
 
 Sat, pr. del verbo to sit (down), sentarse. 
 
 Sattceb, s. salsera, platillo. 
 
 Savagery, s. salvajeria, ferocidad. 
 
 Save, va. salvar. 
 
 ScAiiE, s. (of fish) escama. 
 
 ScABCELT, ad. apenas. 
 
 Scatter, va. disipar, esparcir. 
 
 Scene, s. escena. 
 
 Scent, s. olfato, olor; va. oler. 
 
 Scold, va. renir; s. reganadora. 
 
 ScoRNFULLT, od. desdenadamcDte. 
 
 Scrape, va. raer, rascar. 
 
 Screaming, s. griteria. 
 
 Si^, s. mar. 
 
 Search, va. hallar, buscar, explorar. 
 
 Second, a. segundo; va. ayudar, segundar. 
 
 Secure, va. asegurar, poner, en seguridad 6 a cubierto. 
 
 Seek, va. perseguir, buscar. 
 
 Sebm, vn. parecer. 
 
 Separate, a. separado, desunido; va. separar, romper. 
 
 Serpent, s. serpiente. 
 
 Seven, s. y o. siete. 
 
 Several, a. diversos, muchos 
 
 Shade, s. sombra. 
 
 Shadow, s. sombras, tinieblas. 
 
 Shape, s. hechura, forma; va. foimar. 
 
 Shark, s. tiburon. 
 
 Sharply, ad. severamente, con filo. 
 
Vocabulary 197 
 
 Sheaf, a. gavilla. 
 
 Shell, s. casco, concha, bomba. 
 
 Shelying, a. inclinado. 
 
 Shint, a. lustroso. 
 
 Shook, pp. del verbo to shake, temblar, sacudir. 
 
 Shore, s. costa, ribera, playa. 
 
 Shorewabd, ad. hacia la ribera. 
 
 Short, o. corto; shorter, mas corto. 
 
 Shot, pp. del verbo to shoot, tirar, lanzar; to shoot up, 
 
 crecer (las plantas) (the sun); shot up, leTanto. 
 Shoulder, s. hombro. 
 Snotrr, vn. exclamar, dar gritos. 
 Show, s. espectaculo; va. mostrar. 
 Shriek, s. grito de espanto 6 dolor; vn. chillar 
 Shrill, a. agudo, penetrante. 
 Shrivel, va. arrugar, doblar. 
 Shrub, s. arbusto. 
 Shrug, vn. encogerse de hombros. 
 Side, s. lado. 
 
 Sigh, s. suspiro; vn. suspirar. 
 Sight, s. vista. 
 Sign, s. senal. 
 
 Silky, a. hecho de seda, sedeno. 
 Silver, s. plata; a. hecho de plata. 
 Simmer, vn. hervir a fuego lento. 
 Since, ad. ja, que, puesto que, desde que. 
 Skiff, s. esquife, bote pequeno. 
 Skin, s. piel. 
 Sky, s. cielo. 
 
 Slain, pp. del verbo to slay, matar. 
 Slaver, s. la embarcacion para llevar esclavos. 
 
198 As Old as the Moon 
 
 Slavery, s. esclavitud. 
 
 Slendeb, a. delgado. 
 
 guDE, vn. resbalar; to bude awat, pasar sin ser 
 
 obseirado. 
 Slight, ligero, pequeno; de poca Importancia. 
 Sum, a. delgado; slim-umbed. con miembros finos, 
 
 delgados. 
 Slip, vn. resbalar, slip into; va. meter 6 introducir secreta- 
 
 mente. 
 Slowly, ad. lentamente. 
 Slumber, s. sueno ligero. 
 Sly, a. astute, picaro. 
 Small, a. pequeno, cbico. 
 Smile, s. sonrisa; vn. sonreirse. 
 Smoke, vn. humear, arder, fumar; *. humo. 
 Smote, pp. del verbo to smite; herir, golpear 
 Snap, va. y n. estallar una cosa, morder, tirar ima mor- 
 
 discada. 
 Soft, a. blando. 
 
 Sole, 3. planta del pie; a. unico, solo. 
 Sometimes, ad. algunas reces, de cuando en cuando. 
 Soon, ad. presto, pronto; sooner, mas pronto. 
 Sorrow, a. pesar, dolor. 
 Sorry, a. apesadiunbrado, triste. 
 Sort, s. genero, especie. 
 Soul, s. alma. 
 
 Sound, a. perfecto, entero; va. sonar; a. sonda, estrecho. 
 South, a. sud. 
 
 Sow, va. y n. sembrar, arrojar. 
 Space, a. espacio. 
 Spabklinqly, ad. con brillo, con esplendor. 
 
Vocahvlary 199 
 
 Speech, s. habla, el idoma. 
 
 Spirit, s. espiritu, animo. 
 
 Spoiti, a. botin. pillaje. 
 
 Spot, a. mancha. 
 
 Spread, va. extender, alargar; a. extension. 
 
 Sprino, vn. brotar, saltai; to spring forward, abalan- 
 zarse. 
 
 Sprinkle, va. lociar. 
 
 Squat, vn. agaeharse, ponerse en cudillas. 
 
 Squeal, vn. planir, gritar. 
 
 Stain, va. ensuciar, colorar; a. mancha, deslustre. 
 
 Start, vn. comnoTerse subitamente por algima emocion; 
 dar un salto; principiar a hacer una cosa. 
 
 Startle, excitar por miedo 6 sorpresa. 
 
 Star, s. estrella. 
 
 Stem, a. vastago, tallo; va. cortar la corriente, ir contra 
 Tiento 6 marea. 
 
 Stern, a. austere, duro; a. (Nau.) popa. 
 
 SncE, a. pale, baston. 
 
 Stiff, o. tieso, duro. 
 . Still, a. quieto, tranquilo; ad. todaria, aun. 
 
 Stirring, a. moTuuiento; pa. del verbo to stir, animar, 
 agitar. 
 . Stone, a. piedra. 
 
 Stoutly, ad. vigorosamente, con resolucion. 
 
 Straighten, va. poner derecho, enderezar. 
 ' Strain, va. filtrar; estirar; torcer. 
 / Strange, a, extranjero, singular, extraflo. 
 
 Straw, a. paja. 
 
 Stray, wi. perder el camino, descarriarse. 
 
 String, a. cordon; va. encordar. 
 
200 As Old as the Moon 
 
 Strip, s. tira, tirilla; va. desnudar, robar. 
 
 Strong, o. fuerte, vigoroso. 
 
 Substance, s. sustancia, materia, la hacienda, bienes. 
 
 Suddenly, ad. de repente, slibitamente. 
 
 SuiiLEN, a. berrincliudo, malcontento, nada amable, 
 
 tacitumo. 
 Summon, va. Uamar, citar. 
 Sunshine, s. solana, la claridad del sol. 
 Supply, va. dar, suplir. 
 Surely, ad. seguramente. 
 Surprise, va, sorprender. 
 Surround, va. circundar, rodear. 
 Suspicion, s. sospecha. 
 SwADDiiNG-BAND, envoltura de niflos. 
 Swallow, va. engullir, tragar. 
 Sweet, a. dulce, suave, blando. 
 Swell, vn. hincbarse, inflar; s. entumecencia; bwell- 
 
 INQ SEA, mar de leva. 
 Swept, pp. del verbo to sweep, barxer. 
 Swiftly, ad. Telozmente, ligeramente. 
 Swim, vn, nadar. 
 Swing, vn. balancear, vibrar. 
 Tail, s. cola. 
 
 Taken, fp. del Terbo to take, tomar. 
 Tale, s. cuento, fabula. 
 Tall, a. alto. 
 Tangle, va. enredar, atravesar; s. enredo, enlace de una 
 
 cosa con otra. 
 Tap, va. y n. tocar alguna ligeramente, golpear lentamente. 
 Taught, pp. del verbo to teach, ense&ar. 
 Tear, va, romper, desgarrar; a. raja, rotura. 
 
Vocabulary 201 
 
 Teab, f. Idgrima, Uoro. 
 
 Teeth, a. pi. de tooth, dientes. 
 
 Tender, a. tienio, afectuoso, delicado; tenderest, lo 
 
 mas tiemo. 
 Tenderly, ad. con tenura y carifio. 
 Terror, s. miedo, terror. 
 
 Therefore, ad. y cony, por esta razon, por aquello. 
 Therein, ad. en aquello, dentro de aquello. 
 Thirsty, a. sediento; blood thirsty, sanguinario. 
 Thousand, a. mil. 
 Threaten, va. amenazar. 
 Throat, s. garganta. 
 
 Through, prep, por, por medio de. por entre. 
 Throw, va. y n. echar, tirar, lanzar. 
 THUNDERBOiyr, rayo 6 centella despedida de las nubes, 
 
 fulminacion. 
 Timidly, a. con miedo, timidamente. 
 Tint, a. tinte, color; va. pintar, tenir. 
 Tiny, a. pequefio, tenue. 
 Tip, ». punta. 
 Tire, va. cansar, fatigar 
 Together, ad. juntamente. 
 Toil, trabajo, pena, afan. 
 Tone, s. tono de la voz, lamento, tonillo. 
 Took, pr. del verbo to take, tomar; to take fright at, 
 
 atemorizarse. 
 Torch, s. antorcha. 
 Tore, pp. del yerbo to tear, romper 
 Torment, *. pena, tortura. 
 Torrent, *. torrente, arroya. 
 Toss, va. corcovear, dispaiar con Tiolencia. 
 
202 As Old as the Moon 
 
 TowABD, ad. hacia, con. 
 
 Town, a. pueblo, cuidad. 
 
 Tbace, s. rastro, yereda; va. trazar. 
 
 Trade, a. comercio, trato. 
 
 Tbaitob, ». traidor. \ 
 
 Tbansfeb, va. trasferir, trasportar. 
 
 Transfix, va. traspasar. 
 
 Traveller, 3. Tiajero. 
 
 Treasure, a. tesoro; va. atesorar, guardar. 
 
 Tree, a. arbol. 
 
 Trembling, a. temor, tremulo. 
 
 Tremendous, a. formidable, digno de ser temido. 
 
 Trial, a. prueba, ensayo. 
 
 Tribe, a. tribu, raza. 
 
 Troop, a. tropa; troops, tropas, ejdrcUo. 
 
 Troublesome, a. oneroso, penoso, importuno. 
 
 Tbult, ad. verdaderamente. 
 
 Try, va. y n. ensayar, probar. 
 
 Tumble, vn. rodar, trastomar. 
 
 Turn, va. volver, rechazar. 
 
 Twentieth, a. Tigdsimo. 
 
 Ugly, a. fee. 
 
 Unclothe, va. desnudar. 
 
 Under, ad. debajo. 
 
 Undermine, va. cavar, 6 abrir camino per debajo dela 
 
 tierra; injuriar por medios ocultos. 
 Understand, va. entender. 
 Uneaten, a. no comido, no devorado. 
 Unfortunate, a. desafortunado, infeliz. 
 Unhappy, a. desdichado, infeliz. 
 Unless, conj. & menos que, si no. 
 
Vocabulary 203 
 
 Unuee, a. desemejante. 
 
 Unobserved, a. lo que pasa sin obseryarse. 
 
 Umreasoxable, a. inmoderado, excesivo. 
 
 Until, ad. hasta, mientras que. 
 
 Unworthy, a. indigno, vil, bajo. 
 
 Upon, prep, sobre, encima. 
 
 Utter, va. pronunciar las palabias, hablar. 
 
 Uttermost, a. extreme, sumo. 
 
 Vain, a. vano, inutil, en vano. 
 
 Valley, s. valle. 
 
 Valor, s. valor, esfuerzo, brio. 
 
 Valuable, a. precioso, importante, que vale mucho. 
 
 Vein, s. vena. 
 
 Velvet, s. terciopelo. 
 
 Venture, a. riesgo, aventura. 
 
 Vessel, s. vaso (Nau.); buque, embarcacidn. 
 
 View, s. vista; va. ver. percibir. 
 
 Visible, a. claro, patente. 
 
 Visit, s. visita; va. visitar. 
 
 Voice, s. voz. 
 
 Voyage, s. viaje; vn. navegar. 
 
 Waddle, vn. anadear. 
 
 Wade, vn. vadear. 
 
 Wait, va. y n. esperar. 
 
 Walk, vn. pasear, caminar. 
 
 Wall, s. pared, muralla. 
 
 Wand, «. vara, ramo; insignia de autoridad. 
 
 Wander, va. andar vagando. 
 
 Want, s. necesidad. 
 
 War, s. guerra; warlike, a. guerrero, belicoso. 
 
 Warmth, s. calor moderado. 
 
204 As Old as the Moon 
 
 Warn, va. precaver, avisar. 
 
 Wash, va. lavar, banar. 
 
 Waste, va. malgastar, destruir; a. inutil, desolado. 
 
 Watch, va. velar; watcher, s. velador; watching, s. 
 
 vigilancia. 
 Water, s. agiia; va. regar, mojar. 
 Wave, a. ola onda. 
 Weak, a. debil. 
 Weapon, «. anna. 
 Weed, s. mala yerba; va. escardar. 
 Welcome, a. bienvenido. 
 Went, pp. del verbo to go, ir. 
 West, s. poniente, occidente. 
 Whatever, -pron. cualquier, 6 cualquiera cosa que. 
 Wheat, s. trigo. 
 
 Whenever, ad. siempre que, cuando quiera que. . 
 Whereat, ad. a lo cual. 
 
 Whether, ad. si, sea, sea que; -pron. cual de los dos. 
 Whirij, va. girar; s. giro muy rapido. 
 Whisk, va. hopear, moverse con velocidad alguna cosa. 
 Whisper, va. cuchichear, susurrar. 
 Whistle, va. silbar. 
 White, a. bianco 
 Whole, a. todo, total. 
 Wide, a. ancho, vasto. 
 
 Will, s. voluntad, gana; va. y n. querer, desear. 
 WiLLiNOLT, ad. Toluntariamente. 
 Wind, a. viento; va. soplar; envolver. 
 Wink, a. guifio; vn. guinar, cerrar un ojo. 
 Wisdom, a. sabiduria. 
 Wise, a. sabio. 
 
Vocabulary 205 
 
 Witch, s. bruja. 
 
 Within, prep, dentro, adentro. 
 
 Withstand, va. resistir. 
 
 Wives, pi. de wife, esposa, mujer. 
 
 Wrinkle, va. arrugar. 
 
 Writhe, va. torcer, revolcarse. 
 
 Wrong, s. injuria; a. errado, al rerea; ad. mal. 
 
 Year, s. ano. 
 
 Yellow, s. amarillo. 
 
 Yield, va. dar, producir, ceder. 
 
 Yonder, a. y ad. alii, alia. 
 
 YoDNG, a. joTen. 
 
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