Spooks and Spoofs
News from the Honduras Bay Islands and North Coast
10 November 2001
By Pierre Renaldo, The Coastwatcher©

I find the local folklore interesting and since it is the witching time of the year I thought it appropriate to relate to you some of the superstitions that many of these people believe. These fantasies sound like they originated in somebody's nightmare, or possibly out of a bottle of rot gut rum. That's the kind of booze you can use as varnish remover too.

The source of my information is my housekeeper, who keeps me well informed of the most secret beliefs of Roatan's elite population, those who are in the know. This particular myth was shared with me as a result of a recent occurrence when my housekeeper (who shall remain unnamed but I will call her Lady T.) was more or less trapped into almost holding a newborn infant whose mother was not especially popular with my source. She had no desire to cuddle the infant and coo the usual statutory compliments, since she did not think the child to be cute, in fact her feelings and opinion of the newborn (and mother) were quite the opposite of anything remotely similar to the word cute.

Here is the scenario. In a chance meeting, Lady T. and another woman who is pregnant, were accosted by the lady with the newborn baby. The superstition is this: If a pregnant woman looks at a newborn infant, that hapless child is in great danger of dying very soon. However, if the pregnant lady holds the baby, it is in no danger whatever.

In this particular event, the pregnant lady did accommodate the proud new mother, but Lady T. was most reluctant, for reasons stated above and probably many more not stated at all. She was lamenting to me while moping the floor of my house and I listened with interest and amusement as I sipped my morning coffee.

Ah! The trials and tribulations of poor Lady T. She did not want to hold that little tyke, offering the excuse to herself that she had held enough babies in her time, having given birth to several. "Why?", she asked herself, "should I hold her baby? I have held enough of my own and don't need any more practice. Besides, I ain't 'spectin' neither, so that ugly chil' weren't in no danger from me."

She went on to inform me that anybody as ugly as that mama could not give birth to anything but an ugly offspring. I have the impression that Lady T. does not like that woman.

"Tell me about some of the other superstitions that the island people consider as true," I coaxed. "Some common beliefs."
She pondered my query for several minutes before offering another beauty, finally reciting the following:

"When a mean person dies, somebody who was a really evil person, they buries a pot of cooked red beans on the top of the grave, so to keep that dead person from commin back and causin' a lot o''trouble.'

I could not contain my mirth, but concealed my smile and giggle behind my handkerchief as if I was about to sneeze. I certainly did not want to offend my very good housekeeper, who is also a very good cook. But she saw through my little ploy and took it graciously, joining me in laughter.

"Now ain't that crazy? I'll tell you that these here locals are sure messed up in the head," she added.

I am now most interested in learning more of the island lore, not to poke fun but to give you a peek into the workings of the islander's minds.

Superstitious lot. Lady T. has agreed to supply me with more information like how to put a hex on your enemies. I will reveal this top secret information in the next issue of Coastwatcher. "To be continued."

If you are thinking about building a home there, or here, or if you are considering coming to Roatan to live, you may want to look at some of my books on those subjects.
http://roatanet.com/pierre/ebooks.htm
For questions or comments: elouis@globalnet.hn

Ciao, Pierre

By Pierre Renaldo, Mountain Coastal S.A,. General Contractors, Construction Management and Construction Consultants.