A group of men spent the night at old forest houses, witnessing a bizarre procession of animals, from a rat to larger creatures, somersaulting through their campfire. The spectacle culminated with men running through the fire. Terrified, they took refuge on a hut roof as the animals attempted to destroy it. By morning, the eerie events left no trace, deepening the mystery.
Source
Ethnology of the Mayas of
Southern and Central British Honduras
by John Eric Thompson
Field Museum of Natural History
Anthropological Series, Pub.274, Vol.17.2
Chicago, 1930
► Themes of the story
Sacred Spaces: The old houses in the forest and the campfire setting may hold spiritual significance, serving as a backdrop for the mystical events.
Illusion vs. Reality: The travelers experience bizarre and terrifying events that leave no trace by morning, blurring the line between what is real and what might be an illusion.
Forbidden Knowledge: The men’s decision to spend the night in the old forest houses leads them to witness mysterious occurrences, suggesting they have stumbled upon hidden or forbidden aspects of the supernatural world.
► From the same Region or People
Not so very long ago a party of men arrived at a group of old houses in the forest. They decided to spend the night there. After they had eaten, they sat around the camp fire a short while. Suddenly a rat ran forward, turned a somersault in the fire, and continued on its journey. It was followed by a rabbit that went through the same motions. There followed a regular procession of animals, each one larger than the preceding one. All turned a somersault in the fire and then ran on. Finally, men came running through the fire. The travellers, thoroughly frightened, took refuge on the roof of the hut. The animals tried to cut down the house-posts to bring down the roof. They did not succeed, and in the morning there was no sign of what had happened.
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Dreamtime Whispers 