* ECUADORIAN INCIDENT *

By CHARLES REEVES

TO THE people of little Ecuador, one of our many South American good neighbors, the people from the United States still seem a bit on the side of mystery, and it is no wonder. Of all the Americans who visit there, everyone has a different reason for coming, each reason so different from another, and everyone is different in make—up. Take, for instance, Albert B. Franklin, who is a well-known authority on these people in this little country. One afternoon, having found rooms in a quiet little hotel, between planes, he found himself with nothing to do for at least two or three hours, and rang for the montubio porter.

When the servant's face peered around the door, the young author asked what the native would do if he, himself, were not working. The Ecuadorian promptly supplied the answer by saying that he would be at the maraton in the American Parr, which was some distance from the hotel.

So Franklin asked directions to the Parr, and the servant, looking puzzled, asked why the senor desire directions, for certainemente the taxi driver would be able to find it.

But Franklin explained that he wished to walk, upon which the servant inquired if the senor was a mister? "Yes," said Franklin, "but what had that to do with it?"

"But senor, it is so rare a thing: a person who speaks Christian and yet likes to walk!"

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* MORE VOODOO GODS *

HERE is family life in the ways of the gods, too, and here is the story of some of those little groups. The god of the sea, Agwe Woyo, and he has a son and a daughter, Agweto and Agweta Woyo. They all figure rather importantly along the coastal areas, near the waters, and not as much in spots such as Mirbalais.

For the loss of prestige in Mirebalais, one must understand that this is due to the fact that there is a river near Mirebalais, and the river-gods are high men, particularly the spirits of the Artibonite River, a loa named Clairme, who is a Petro deity like his wife and daughter, Mme. Clairme and Clairmezine. This little family groups lives in the deepest part of the stream, All the tributaries and streams of this river flow into the river, which in turn flows into the ocean. When the river overflows and there is a flood, it is said by the people that this is the time when Clairme goes to inspect his disciples, and all his spirits rise to greet him as he passes their mouths. As he passes, the waters which were held up for the great occasion, flow rapidly into the flooded Artibonite, as its master goes to consult with the great ruler of the sea, Agwe.

Actually, when there is the real rainy season, this legend bears up. The force of the light-colored muddy water of the major stream holds back the darker colored flow of its tributaries, and this is just as is explained in the tale. The Tombe River was once held up in this way, and the natives on seeing this, were heard to say that the Tombe was waiting for its master.—by J. Star.