56 THE ABORIGINES OF PORTO RICO 



A female zemi, called Guabancex, was a water and wind goddess, 

 who, according to Pane, had two subordinates, one of which, called 

 Guatauva, was a messenger to the lesser zeinJs^ while the other, 

 Coatrischie, controlled winds and water, at times personating the tem- 

 pest and raising winds which overthrew houses. 



The zeini Yobanua-Boi'na, who was kept in a cave, was worshiped 

 for rain, and lilce Gualiancex had two subordinates called by Fane 

 Boirnail and Maroig, bj' ^Martyr Buthaitel and Marohu. These were 

 evidently other clan names for rain and wind gods; their idols are said 

 to have been made of stone. 



According to Gomara, tlie Haitians had two statues made of wood 

 called Moi'obo and Bintatel whicli were kept in a cave at ToabojMia, 

 and to whicli they made pilgrimages at certain times of the j'ear. This 

 is the cave from which the sun and moon are supposed to have emerged. 

 Charlevoix says that the cave of Yobobahi," the master, was situated 

 in the territory of the cacique Manatibex, one of the live great caciques 

 of Haiti, and was called Bintatel, or. according to Torres, Boiniael, 

 meaning "the son of the master of water." According to the hitter 

 author, who tlius interprets Pane, tliis name was applied to a stone 

 zciiu that tile Haitian Indians held in great reverence, before which 

 they were accustomed to perform rites when it did not rain. The sun 

 caves of Yohobala are thus described by Charlevoix: 



The cavet: I'rom which the sun and the moon came out and to which the Haitian 

 [leiiple made pilfrrimages from all parts of the ir^latid contained two idols, to which 

 they di<l not fail to carry rich offerings. There i.s a belief that thi.'f is the .same cave 

 which is seen in the Dendon quarter at a distance of 6 or 7 leagues of Cape Francois. 

 It is 150 feet deep and about as high, but is quite narrow. The entrance is higher 

 an<l wider than the largest porte-cochere in Paris, througli which, and by an open- 

 ing made in the vault, the grotto receives all its light. This opening appears to be 

 worked in the shape of a belfry, and it is believed that the sun and moon make their 

 exit to the sky by this way. 



WX the vault of the cave is so pretty and regular that it is difficult to believe that 

 it is a work of nature. Xo statue is seen in this place, but tliere are everywhere 

 zfiinK carved in rock, and the whole cavern ajiiiears to contain high and low niches, 

 which are believed to be artificial. 



T'he ZKiKi Faraguvaol was u truulv of a tree found by an Indian and 

 carried to a chief. This being had the habit of wandering about and 

 could miraculou.sl}' escape when confined in a sack. It was supposed 

 to wander continually over the face of the earth. Opigielguoviran 

 had four feet like a dog and at the advent of the Spaniards is reputed 

 to have plunged into a morass from which he never emei'ged. Its idol 

 was made of wood. 



The ztuil called Giocauvaghama, according to Gomara, Pane, and 

 other authors, was con.siilted by the (■aci(|ue Guarionex to learn the 

 fate of his gods and people. 



Peter Martyr say.s that when they built a house for the cacique 



a yobo. " a great tree," referring, no doubt, to Fray Ramon Pane's tradition that the sun saw men 

 fishing and turned them into trees. 



