40 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [bull. 64 



The bull roarer, made from a dry seed pod, is popular in some 

 villages- and is probably one of the few toys used by the natives 

 before the conquest. 



Cricket, baseball, marbles, kites, and spinning tops have been 

 introduced among the Indians of British Honduras, and all have their 

 devotees. 



Religion 



The Indians, who are extremely superstitious, believe that the air 

 is full of 'pishan, or souls of the dead. They imagine that these 

 souls are at liberty at all times to return to earth, and that at cer- 

 tain seasons they are compelled to do so. They are regarded as 

 being capable of enjoying the spirit, though not the substance, 

 of food or drink provided for them. Some of these pishan the 

 Indians believe to be friendly and some inimical to mortals. They 

 believe also in spirits, usually miscliievous or harmful, known as 

 xtahai, who often take the form of beautiful women, though they 

 have never been human. The natives will whisper a message into 

 the ear of a corpse with the certamty of having it conveyed to a 

 friend or relative in the next world. They firmly believe that the 

 clay images of the gods upon incense burners, at one time found in 

 considerable numbers in forests which had been uncut since the days 

 of their ancestors, live, walk about, and dance at certain seasons. 

 Another belief held by the Indians is that the images of Clu'istian 

 saints are endowed at times with life and perform acts desired by 

 their devotees. A celebrated wooden image, supposed to reJDresent 

 San Bernardo, was credited with considerable powers in this respect, 

 and when an Indian wanted rain for his milpa, the return of an 

 errant wife, or any similar blessing, he would come and pray to 

 the image to obtain it for him. On one occasion an Indian came 

 asking the saint to aid him in the recovery of pigs which he had 

 lost, and on returning to his village found that the pigs had arrived 

 home before him. Next day he returned with the intention of 

 making an offering to the saint, and incidentally to the owner of 

 the house where the image was kept. He found the poor Santo 

 with torn clothes and many burs sticking all over him. On inquir- 

 ing how tliis happened he was informed that the saint had been 

 out in the bush hunting for pigs, a quest which had given him 

 a great deal of trouble before he could find and drive them home, 

 and that when he got back he was tired out, his clothes torn by 

 thorns, and covered with burs — an explanation with which the 

 Indian was perfectly satisfied. 



The men are very unwilling to dig either in ancient mounds or 

 ruins, as they are afraid of being haunted by the pishan of those 

 whose remains they may disturb; and nothing will induce them to 



