Get Flash !
Sandy's Villas, Playa del Secreto Qroo. México   

CHAPTER VII

How many years ago had the federal soldiers left Santa Cruz? Silvano tried to remember exactly.

Was it 7, 8, or maybe 9?
There hadn't been any special events in the town since General Bravo left Santa Cruz and after him the ts’uulo’ob, leaving the town practically abandoned which was purified by the torches of the Cruzo'ob. The tranquil existence of the inhabitants of the tiny village of Tok'tuunich, passed among the harvest cycles which had been abundant during these years.

There was plenty of the golden grain, and the domestic animals reproduced abundantly.

They traded peacefully with the river communities of Rio Hondo, interchanging goods to satisfy their needs, tools, ammunition, clothes and the most indispensable things for their simple way of life.

The little Jacinto grew strong and healthy in his family group and with the other children of his age, he ran, and played in the streets and yards. It was time to chase, branch in hand, the multicolored butterflies that gathered in the puddles of the quick cloudbursts of the end of the dry season. The entire family, men women and children moved toward the milpa at first light to plant corn, squash and chile taking advantage of the wet earth, or to transplant the plants that had been seeded with dry soil.

Silvano Ek watched little Jacinto playing with his little friends in the center of the small square in front of their house.

Get Flash !

Riviera Caribe Maya Hotel, Playa del Carmen, Riviera Maya, Mexico

Maria, his wife, dedicated herself to her housework in the little kitchen, while Leonor, Jacinto's sister; five years younger entertained herself close to her mother. After Leonor, Maria had not conceived again.

Going to the door and scrutinizing the sky looking for signs of rain, Silvano saw his inseparable amigo, Jose, his son's Jacinto's godfather as he came near. He said without greeting- bad news Silvano, do you remember the rumors from our people who'd been in contact with the chicle cutters of the coast and the ones who have dealings with the generals?

-- I remember well compadre, what is it that worries you? As long as they don't invade our land and they pay us for the right to the chicle? I don't think the fight among them will affect us. -

- Well, maybe this time it will affect us- emphasized José. You know that some of our people go father on when they deliver merchandise and go to Santa Cruz, to Tihosuco, to Tepich, and some have ventured to the towns near Zaci, and they don't just bring back alcohol, but they also bring back diseases. That's what I'm talking about when I say there is bad news. They say, and it looks like it is true that there is small pox in some towns to the East. Nobody knows who brought it, but if it's true, we have to be very careful. Remember what the grandfathers told us about small pox and cholera, that sometimes attacked our cities .-

Silvano Ek listened with attention. He knew that if what his compadre was saying was true, it would have serious consequences.

The towns of the "Cruzoob" had been decimated generation after generation by these diseases in the towns of Tihosuco, Saban, Ichmul and others that often changed hands.

How many years had it been since they suffered small pox?

Get Flash !
Aventura Mexicana Hotel, Playa del Carmen Q. Roo. México   

He remembered that his father told stories of the horrors of the disease, that very few survived and that the fever and the sores rotten the bodies, finishing off entire families. That the people, who were defenseless at the attacks of the diseases could only abandon their homes and burn them, then flee to the mountains with their few belongings until the epidemic worn itself out. Then they would have to wait until the months of sun and rain had purified their town before rebuilding their homes.

We will have to take this matter up in the counsel. We will have to send one of our own to find out what the General knows about this if it turns out to be true, all we can do is wait and prepare to emigrate as far as we can.

And where will we go compadre?

I don't know, but if it is necessary, we'll go South, maybe on the other side of Icaiche where the "isolated ones" are, even beyond where our people have their villages in Belice and, why not? maybe even to the very region of Peten in Guatemala.

The two friends were silent each one deep in his own thoughts, with their minds in past times and the changes there would have to be in their peaceful existence if there really was an epidemic.

That same night Silvano talked with the " baatab" of Tok'tuniich. We won’t be able to rest until we know if it is true what they say about the epidemic in the villages near the coast, to the east of Zaci -he reflected while Silvano listened to him with attention- it will be necessary to send a couple of our "own" to find out.

Would you go Silvano?-

-I'm ready, I only need to choose a companion-.

-Choose one of the people, and tell me when you decide.-

Silvano thought of his inseparable friend Chuc.

-First thing tomorrow, I'll talk to some of them.

It would be better if they go of his or her own free will-since everybody is afraid of the disease. -

- It is the best Silvano, you're right-

When Silvano and Jose, along with two young men, left the village, they went loaded with many supplies, tobacco, liquor and ammunition for their carbines. Two pack mules saved them from the bother of carrying the supplies themselves. Except of the gourds of water and the carbines, they would be free for the long ride, they didn't know how long they would be gone.

The first day they went toward the north, along the path that went to X'ho'otsuuk and beyond, they could take the short cuts that led to the towns to the east and south of Zaci. It was a normal day and when they were tired, they made camp for the night in small clearing sheltered by and improvised roof of branches of palm leaves. They built a fire to prepare a hot drink and to heat up the " x-cacatokab" that would give sustenance to the meal. During the day, even though, they had been alert, they hadn't been able to get any piece of meat worth while. Besides, they were carrying dry meat and salted venison.

The next night Silvano and Jose and their companions stayed at a beautiful lagoon, the same where Jose and Silvano's son, Jacinto, would rest, years later, on their way home after finding in X-ho'otsuuk, the first teacher of the zone.

They enjoyed naked a refreshing bath, after taking the burdens off their beasts, giving them water, and tying them up to graze on green leaves.

Compadre -said Jose- shall we go to X-hootsuuk or shall we keep going North to the towns near Chemax.-

- We'll keep going North and later East, I think in two or three days more, somebody will be able to tell us if the disease is here or not- .

- Ok. And if the answer is no, we'd better go directly to the coast looking for the people who have been working near there. They should know.

When the two máasewáalo’ob arrived at a small community situated several leagues from Chemax, the terror that the inhabitants had been victims of the disease invaded them.

-Shall we go in or wait for someone to come out?- said Jose.

- This is what we came for compadre. Here they should be able to give us news of the disease. Let's go in-.

A middle-aged máasewáal crossed their path when they entered the clearing where the huts stood.

-Good morning-answered the other.

-We are passing through here - trying to find something out for our "baatab"-- said Silvano.

-We got news- he continued -that there is smallpox in these parts and many must have died-

--There is no disease here --he answered-- would you like to come in and rest?--

. Jose and Silvano, taking off their hats, entered the humble hut. The animals were tied up outside under a nearby tree.

Silvano sat next to his friend on a big rock ready to drink a refreshing

"pozole". He consumed the content of the jicara in a few gulps, and then he rinsed it out with water from his gourd. Another couple of sips of water to rinse his mouth and he spoke to the máasewáal who lived there .

-How far is it to the closest town?--.

-Far, very far, more or less 10 or 12 leagues to the West and to the North. There are several ranches on the way where we trade with Chemax, sometimes we go to Kanxoc or Chichimilá, almost never to Zaci .

-Are you going there?--.

- No, we came from the south, looking for news. They said that there is small pox in this area, that many people are dying-we want to know the truth so we can prepare-.

-That's what people are saying, now that the disease has broken out, and many have died, we are afraid to go . Are you planning to go on?-.

-They said that the disease came with the soldiers that a general brought from far away, but we don't know if it is true small pox?. --

-That's what they say--

-We have to keep going until we find out-

-Why don't you wait here -my brother should be back soon -he took some quintales of chicle to sell at the chicle center. He should bring news-

-When is he coming back?

- In two or three days, he's been gone a week now. You can wait here, you can sleep in the shed.

Silvano exchanged a glance with his compadre and answered , We'll stay, if it isn't any bother-

Two days later, the traveler arrived. In the chicle center they informed him that the people were being vaccinated against the disease because it had broken out in Zaci.

At this news, Silvano and his companion began the journey back to their village.

There wasn't any reason to go on. The trip was fast with one night's rest.

When he arrived at Tok'tuniich, they went to the house of the "baatab" who they reported everything.

-We will take precautions Silvano, during two or three months we will avoid traveling to those parts.

- It would be better to wait until we are sure that the danger has passed.

Silvano went to his house when his wife and children were already waiting for him. The little Jacinto now six years old, hugged his legs to welcome him.

Get Flash !

---

 

 

El Cuyo Yucatán, a new meeting with the nature. . Travelers Guide

 

Concept & Design by

Raúl Mendoza and N'aloy Vargas Cetina.
For further information,  reservations and advertising call (984) 8762234 and (985) 8563178  or fax (985) 8563178 or send an e-mail to: icai@chichen.com.mx

 

This site, Travelers Guide Series and Mayan World see better in Microsoft Explorer.  We highly recommend you install Flash 5.0  ( to see animations ) and  Real Player Basic 8.0 ( to see streaming  videos ).  You can free download them in their respective sites