CULTURAL

One of Honduras' most enduring legends is of the ciguanaba, whose name means female spirit in the Nahuatl Indian language (cigua, woman and naba, spirit). She is also called La Sucia or the Dirty One, because she is usually found washing clothes or bathing in creeks at night, as in this story told by Comayagua native Doris Lara.

"Once my uncle was coming home late at night on horseback. As he approached a creek, he was surprised to see a woman standing there, her long hair hanging free as if she had just bathed.

"'Take me with you to the next village,' asked the woman. My uncle accepted and helped her climb up behind him on his horse.

"They had ridden along for a few minutes when the woman began to chuckle with a strange cackling laugh. He turned around to look at her and there he saw her huge breasts, bare in the night. 'Toma tu teta, Toma tu teta,' (Suck on these teats) she offered. As the light of the moon broke through the clouds, he could see her old, wrinkled face with only a few crocked teeth.

"He quickly tried to get her off his horse and rode quickly home."

Stories of a woman similar to La Sucia are told by both Black English speakers, who call her "Bubby Susan" sometimes, and by Garifunas. Among the Garifunas she is called Agayuma.

Professor Angel Batiz, head of Garifuna bilingual education in Trujillo, has collected the following story of the Agayuma. This is an example of a Garifuna story with a chorus that is sung by the audience and the storyteller. Before he tells the story, the storyteller teaches the audience the chorus. The custom of having sung choruses in stories is common in West African tales, a custom the Garifunas still maintain even though they now speak an Amerindian language related to Arawak and Carib South American Indian languages.

"Once there was a woman who had three sons. She became ill and needed a medicinal plant which was only found a long way away from the village. The oldest son offered to go and get it. He never came back. After a while, the second son left to go and get the plant. He never came back either.

"Before the mother had become ill, a man came to the village. The boys' mother gave him food and a place to stay. Before he went away he them a gift of two good dogs, that already had names -- Yamasi and Fiero.

"When the second son did not come back, the third son asked for permission to go and to take the two dogs. After a short walk, he came to a creek. Out came the Agayuma. He climbed up a tree and began to sing:

Yamasi, Fiero
I am calling you, Yamasi
I am calling you, Fiero
I am imploring your names
Yamasi, Fiero
Because I might die.

"Unfortunately, the wind was in the wrong direction and the dogs heard nothing. The Agayuma tried throwing stones and sticks at him, to make him fall down like a mango. He continued to sing: Yamasi, Fiero, I am calling you, Yamasi...

"The wind was still in the wrong direction, but he kept singing: Yamasi, Fiero....

"Suddenly the wind shifted. The dogs heard the boy singing, calling their names. They came and chased away the Agayuma. The boy was able to get the medicinal plant for his mother and she recovered completely. The other two sons never returned home and people assumed they were captured by the Agayuma."

Telling traditional stories is no longer as common as it was in Honduras. To present a traditional character in a new medium, David Flores, choreographer of the folk dance group "Zotz," now includes La Sucia in his presentations. A new generation now shrieks in mock fear as she approached the audience crying, "Toma tu teta, toma tu teta."

Many cigua stories are also now available in written form in the recently published "Oral Literature of Southern Honduras" book series, now on sale at Libreria Guaymuras in Tegucigalpa. By converting oral literature to writing, there is less chance this tradition will be lost. Unfortunately, an earlier compilation of Garifuna stories by "Popo" Arriola of the National Folkloric Garifuna Ballet and Jesus Munoz Tabora of the Ministry of Culture, in conjunction with the Organization of American States, seems to have disappeared without a trace.

We had been away for nearly nine weeks. We pulled into our driveway dead tired, but eager to see our beloved cat Rebecca. We wandered around our barn calling for her, but she did not come. We became anxious. A veterinarian had once told me that cats do not have a very long memory, that if you have been away for several weeks they forget about you. Finally I heard a wistful meow approaching in the darkness. I picked her up, hugged her and went off to bed. Hours later we awoke with a start, hearing a mournful wail outside our window. It was not like her to wake us. Fearing the worst, we ran outside. There was Rebecca. She picked up a small object and dropped it at our feet. It was a mouse, a homecoming present.

Sara Morris Swetcharnik is a sculptor and writer of narratives.

Residency part III: rentistas and pensionadas

By Melanie Wetzel

In the early 1990s the Honduran government decided to jump on the bandwagon of some other countries such as Costa Rica and Mexico and try to encourage foreign retirees to come spend their golden years and pension dollars in Honduras. These people who are here, living and spending, but not working, are a financial benefit to the society. To this end, lawmakers made some special residency statuses, available to persons with a steady outside income, to make it simple and attractive for retirees to come to Honduras.

The Honduran Institute of Tourism (IHT) handles these two residencies. The following is a summary of the content of the law regulating rentista and pensionada residencies.

Applicants may start residency procedures at any Honduran consular office abroad, or at the Institute of Tourism. The standard documents are required: a medical exam, photocopy of passport, and a letter from the police stating that the applicant has no criminal record.

To obtain the residency, the interested party must prove that he or she receives a stable income originating in a foreign country of not less than $600 for pensionada and not less than $1,000 for a rentista residency. This person will be able to apply for residency for their spouse, dependents and unmarried children under the age of 18 or those with physical disabilities who are financially dependent. Children under 25 who are students may also be included.

Persons who obtain residency as pensionada or rentista will have a one time only exemption of import taxes so that they may bring their household possessions into the country. Recipients may also bring in a car or other vehicle tax free, which may be replaced every five years.

The monthly income is exempt from Honduran income taxes. The beneficiaries of this residency may not hold jobs, except in productive activities in which they have invested, or offering professional services to the government or to universities or other higher educational centers.

The Pensionada or rentista must reside in the country at least four months of the year. Residency can be canceled for falsification of documents, failure to meet any obligations contained within this law, or when it is considered that the presence of the person is damaging or could affect national security, tranquility or public order. The residency card is valid for two years at which time the resident must solicit a certification from the Institute of Tourism stating that his/her status as resident is sustained.

For more information, contact the Instituto Hondureno de Turismo, Departamento de Pensionados y Rentistas, Apartado Postal 3261, Tegucigalpa, Honduras.

EXHIBITS IN HONOR OF THE PRESIDENCIAL INAUGURATION -- THROUGH JANUARY 31 -- In celebration of the inauguration of President Carlos Flores, several local art galleries will be offering expositions of HOnduran and Central American artists. Galería Portales, Galeria Trio's, and Galeria Clases will be open form 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBIT -- THROUGH JANUARY 30 -- In celebration of this year's presidential inauguration, the international organization "Partners of the Americas" is presenting the work of North American photographer Dolores Sandoval at the Instituto Hondureno de Cultura Hispanica in Comayaguela.

WATERCOLOR EXHIBIT -- FEBRUARY 6-21 -- Galeria Portales will be presenting the artwork of Ulises Daniel Rivera.

GALLERY -- PERMANENT -- The public is invited to visit the permanent gallery of the Honduran Family Fund (PRAF). Proceeds from the sale of paintings will go toward the purchase of school supplies for needy children. The PRAF is located behind the National Congress in downtown Tegucigalpa.

TRADITIONAL INDUSTRY -- THROUGH FEBRUARY -- The Honduran Institute of Anthropology and History is currently displaying a cultural exhibit of the Garifuna community featuring the processing of Casabe, a staple of the Garifuna diet that is made from the yucca root. The exhibit is open to the public Tuesday through Sunday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and is being held in the auditorium next to the Museo de la Historia Republicana, in Villa Roy, Barrio Buenos Aires. Call 37-0268 for more information.

PUPPETS --SUNDAYS -- D'Barro Restaurant in Colonia Alameda of Tegucigalpa presents the Bambu Puppet Theater Sundays at 10:30 a.m. Admission is Lps. 20.

VIRGIN OF SUYAPA DAY -- FEBRUARY 3 -- The Honduran Catholic community will be holding celebrations in honor of the Virgin of Suyapa, Patron Saint of Honduras.

WEIGHT WATCHERS -- Weight Watchers, an international weight loss program with over 40 years of experience in helping people maintain a healthier lifestyle, will be offering classes beginning in January in Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula. To join or for more information contact Juan Cueva Membreño at 39-0161.

TOASTMASTERS - The Tegucigalpa Toastmasters Club invites the public to learn and practice techniques of effective speaking and leadership skills. Meetings are held every first and third Tuesday of the month at the American School library in Tegucigalpa at 6:45 p.m. More information with Maggie Arbuckle at 31-5055 or 38-5114.

FAMILIES ANONYMOUS -- Families Anonymous (FA) meetings are held every Tuesday evening at the Union Church at 7:30 p.m. Call Eileen for more information at 39-9779 or 39-9778.

CIGAR SMOKERS OF HONDURAS -- Regularly meets the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of each month at 6:30 p.m. at Texas Barbecue restaurant on Blvd. Morazán in Tegucigalpa. Bring two cigars to trade, and contact Joe Mays at 32-6519 for more information.

SPANISH CLASSES -- Spanish as a second language courses are being offered at the National Autonomous University of Honduras. Learn Spanish with personal and advanced methods for Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced and Superior levels. For more information, call 32-2110, Ext. 217 or write to University Certificate in Spanish Proficiency, P.O. Box U 8779, Tegucigalpa.

ART CLASSES -- The "Leonardo da Vinci" Centro Experimental de las Artes is offering a drawing and painting program for children seven years and older who are interested in developing their art skills and creative potential. The curriculum and methodology are designed to develop imagination, creativity, and encourage the consolidation of human values. Classes will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3 to 5 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. and on Saturdays from 8:30 to 11 a.m. and 2 to 5 p.m. For more information about registration call 52-3074.

ART CLASSES -- The Dr. Ricardo Redondo Licona Fine Arts Academy is offering painting, music, theater, folkloric and popular dance, singing and ballet classes in Tegucigalpa. More information at 30-3880.

CHRISTIAN RALLY AND SEMINAR -- FEBRUARY 16, 17, 18 -- Various Christian Organizations and Public and Private Christian Institutions will be presenting a rally and seminar called "Save the Family." The event will begin at 6:00 pm each night in the Estadio Nacional of Tegucigalpa, and includes speakers Alberto Mottesi, Noemi Mottesi and Marcos Witt. Activities will also take place at the Amor Viviente Church. For more information call 34-3946 or 34-3838.

TEGUCIGALPA

MUSEO DE HISTORIA REPUBLICANA

Formerly the National Museum and the Museum of the Honduran Republic, the New Museum of Republican History is located at the Villa Roy building in Tegucigalpa's Barrio Buenos Aries. It is open 8:30 to 3:30, Tuesdays through Sundays and features portraits, paraphernalia, and other interesting items from past presidents. Admission is Lps. 20 for non-resident foreigners and Lps. 10 for Hondurans and Central Americans. For more information, call 22-3470 or 22-1468.

CENTRAL BANK MUSEUM

The Central Bank of Honduras located at the Comayaguela annex building is open from 9 a.m. to noon and from 1 to 4 p.m., Monday to Friday. It has a permanent coin and painting exhibit. For special presentations, call the Emision y Tesoreria department at 37-2270 (-78), ext. 2117 (-2120).

NATIONAL ART GALLERY

The Galeria Nacional de Arte features rock art, pre-Columbian ceramics, colonial paintings, religious art and a wide selection of 20th century Honduran painters. The gallery is located at the Plaza de la Merced in downtown Tegucigalpa. It is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10-5 p.m. and Sunday from 10-2 p.m. Admission is Lps. 10 for adults, Lps. 5 for senior citizens, Lps. 3 for students and Lps. 1 for children accompanied by adults.

IGUANA FARM

The Biosfera Ecocentro Iguana Farm in Colonia La Joya invites the public to come and learn everything about iguanas. Admission is Lps. 5 for adults, Lps. 3 for children. The facility is open every day (except Wednesday) from 9 to 5. For more information, call 30-6346.

YUSCARAN, EL PARAISO

YUSCARAN HOUSE OF CULTURE

Yuscaran's Casa de la Cultura is located at the former Casa Fortin in downtown Yuscaran, El Paraiso department, just 45 km from Tegucigalpa on the road to Danli. It is open Mondays through Saturdays.

LA PAZ, LA PAZ

LA PAZ HOUSE OF CULTURE

The La Paz Casa de la Cultura is located in downtown La Paz. It features an attractive exhibit of the Lenca handicrafts and culture. It is open Mondays through Sundays.

SAN PEDRO SULA, CORTES

SAN PEDRO SULA MUSEUM

The Museo de San Pedro Sula is located between 3rd and 4th Avenues, 4th Street N.O. in San Pedro Sula. It is open from 10 a.m. to 4:15 p.m., Tuesdays through Sundays. Admission is Lps. 5 for adults, Lps. 2 for students (must present valid ID) and Lps. 2 for children under 12 years of age. (Tel: 57-1496, Fax: 52-7091)

COPAN

COPAN ARCHEOLOGICAL MUSEUM

Located in the village of Copan Ruinas, Copan department, the museum exhibits a splendid assortment of Mayan pieces that have been found in the Copan Ruins Archaeological Park just 1 km away.

LA PUENTE ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM

Featuring a sizeable collection of Mayan handicrafts and photographs as well as a room with Japanese antique ceramics, this museum is located at the El Puente Archaeological Site, about an hour's drive from Copán Ruinas.

MAYAN SEPULTURAS MUSEUM

Inaugurated in 1996, this is the premier Mayan museum in the Mundo Maya, featuring the finest examples of Copán's tombs, sculptures and architecture. Located at the Copán Ruins Archaeological Park, the museum is open Monday through Sunday.

COMAYAGUA, COMAYAGUA

COMAYAGUA COLONIAL MUSEUM

Located in the city of Comayagua, 2 hours north from Tegucigalpa, the Comayagua Colonial Museum is in the building that served as home to the government in the 19th century. It contains objects used by indigenous cultures and the Spanish during the pre-Colombian and Colonial eras.

COMAYAGUA RELIGIOUS MUSEUM

Located in the Casa Cural in front of Comayagua's cathedral, this museum features religious paintings and objects dating back to the 16th century. Hours are 8-12 and 2-4 p.m., Mondays through Fridays. For more information, contact Leonardo Letona at 72-0348.

TELA, ATLANTIDA

LANCETILLA BOTANICAL GARDENS

Located 2 kilometers from Tela on the Atlantic coast highway, the gardens feature one of the largest collections of tropical and subtropical plants, shrubs and trees in all Latin America. It is open from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Mondays through Sundays. There is an admission charge.

LA CEIBA, ATLANTIDA

BUTTERFLY AND INSECT MUSEUM

Thousands of butterflies and insects from Honduras and 18 other countries are on display in La Ceiba' private Butterfly and Insect Museum. It is located in Colonia El Sauce, 2nd etapa, casa G-12. Visiting hours are 8-12 and 2-5, Monday through Saturday. The museum is closed Wednesday afternoon. Fees are Lps. 15 for adults and Lps. 10 for students. Tel. 42-2874, e-mail: rlehman@ns.gbm.hn

ROATAN, THE BAY ISLANDS

CARAMBOLA BOTANICAL GARDENS

Possibly the only private gardens in Honduras, the Carambola Botanical Gardens and Nature Trails is located in Sandy Bay, Roatan, Bay Islands. A wide variety of exotic plants is featured here, including "Roatan's most extensive orchid collection." It is open daily from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call 45-1117 and ask for Bill or Irma Brady.

The Maya Calendar is a public service for our readers. If you would like to announce an event taking place in Honduras, please send the information to: Calendar Editor, Honduras This Week, Fax 32-2300, e-mail: hontweek@hondutel.hn

Students model the dresses of Intibuca (in white) and the Sierra de Opatoro region (center). Honduras has a wide variety of traditional folk dance outfits, and many styles are still used on special occasions.  (Photo by David Flores)

By WENDY GRIFFIN

TEGUCIGALPA -- Last year, many foreign residents saw some of the variety in Honduran folk dance outfits for the first time, since the Honduran post office issued a series of stamps showing dresses from different parts of the country.

Honduran folkdance dress styles were collected by the first national director of folklore, Rafael Manzanares. Thirty years later, his small booklet outlining the different styles is still used all over the country, as teachers frequently require the use of these dresses on special occasions, such as the Sept. 15 Independence Day parade. Most towns have folk dance groups that use one or more of these styles, when they perform dance at fairs and other special occasions.

One common style is all white for both men's and the women's clothes. This white cotton material is called manta, and was previously the principal cloth used by the poor. Those outfits of manta were used, reported Manzanares, by the people of Intibuca who are mostly Lencas.

This style is considered most appropriate for dancing Lencan dances and mestizo dances with indigenous influence. It is also the most common clothes for typical dolls in the central region.

Due to their bright colors, the most popular folk dance dress is the style found in the Sierra de Opatoro, La Paz department. This is also a Lenca region, including the towns of Guajiquiro, Chinacla and Opatoro. Because this dress sometimes uses a shiny metallic decoration in place of some ribbons, it is also called the dress of lintajuela as this shiny Christmas tinsel like garland is called.

The men's outfit from the Sierra de Opatoro is the same as the style of Intibuca, except that it is made of khaki-colored cotton cloth.

Today, Chorti men still dress in white cotton clothes similar to the style used in Intibucá, while Chorti women wear bright colored cottons, but with ribbon patterns similar to those of Intibucá. Chorti men carried four handkerchief: for their hat, neck, pocket, and one to offer to women before a dance.

The traditional folkdance dress of the Tolupans is also similar to the Intibucá style, notes Tolupan Sylvia Rodriguez. These styles probably date from colonial times.

One of the popular styles of Ladino folk dance dresses is the style of Jocomico, Choluteca. The women wear white blouses, long floral skirts and a flounce (vuelo) around the bottom of the skirt. The men wear a bandanna around their neck, white shirt, dark pants, straw hats, and leather sandals. This style of clothes is considered appropriate for all Ladino mestizo dances, except colonial style dances of the high society.

During the colonial period, the poorer classes held their dances for the most part outdoors. The elite, particularly in the nation's former capital of Comayagua, held their dances indoors, in private homes and dance salons. These dances, such as the waltz, the Lancers, the Varsoviana, the Mazurka, the Schottische, show their European origins, although there are Honduran variations, as is also true of Honduran polkas.

The folk dance dress used for these dances is known as the "princess-style" dress. It has puffy sleeves on top and then straight to the waist, a style known as leg-of-mutton sleeves. The skirt is wide, as are all Honduran folk dance dresses. At the time of these dances, in the 19th century, Honduran high society women wore extravagant, high hair styles as was common in France. For folk dancing, most groups still use just the braided styles of the poorer, hardworking classes.

Something strange happened when recompiling the descriptions of the men's outfit for these kinds of dances, noted Honduran dance specialist David Flores. The description by Rafael Manzanares is almost the same as the men's dance outfit for the Sierra de Opatoro.

However, women now in their 90s who were young girls when these dances were still common always mention how men dressed in frock coats, called trajes tipo frak in Spanish. Pictures of well-to-do men of the time also show them in frock coats, complete with folded and tied neckcloths. Many who have written about the elegant parties of Tegucigalpa at the turn of the century also mention the leaders of the time in their elegant frock coats.

Honduran dance groups almost never publicize their performances. To see traditional dances, one generally must ask friends or attend events like the parades on September 14 and 15, in which many schools often present their dance group. During patron saint's fairs, performances by local dance groups are also common.

One of the most popular characters in Honduran oral literature is the duende. A short man who lives in the woods, many types of stories are told about him.

Some of the stories are used to frighten children so that they do not stray in the forest. But parents must also be careful, according to this story collected by students of the La Ceiba campus of the National Teaching University (UPN).

"It seems the duende carries away children when the parents do not take good care of them and treat them badly. People say that sometimes they return the child. But other times, when they know the children will be happier with the duendes than with their parents, they do not return the children."

However, the duende is most famous for his attempts to get girls to fall in love with him, as in this story told by Pedro Bobadillo of the Ladino village of Pozozarko, La Masica, Atlantida, also collected by UPN students of La Ceiba.

"Years ago in this village there was a group of very pretty girls who were almost all around the same age. As the day of San Antonio, the patron saint of the area, came closer, this group of women decided to go in search of firewood to cook the foods that formed part of the celebrations.

On their way to cut firewood, the girls talked happily all about the coming fair. After collecting the wood, each prepared her bundle, and began to haul it back to the village.

Suddenly one of the girls, the youngest and who was at the end of the group, saw a beautiful flower. On picking the flower, she saw an even prettier one up ahead. Each time she picked a flower, another appeared further on.

She kept collecting flowers, until she did not know where she was. The only thing she saw was a wonderful world of flowers. However, after a while the other girls noticed she was not with them, so they decided to look for her. At first they found only the load of firewood that she had carried on her head.

The youngest girl remained enchanted with the marvelous world of flowers. But as she came closer to another flower, she thought about her patron saint and exclaimed, "This is the most beautiful flower that I have ever seen in my life. I will cut it to take to the altar of Blessed Saint Anthony."

As soon as the girl said these words, automatically all that beauty disappeared. She realized that she was sitting on the load of firewood she had carried. At that same instant she found her other companions and she told them what happened.

Don Pedro tells us that since that date on certain days, when the celebration of the fair of Saint Anthony is near, people hear melodic whistles of an unseen person and the aroma of sweet smelling flowers. This happens at the same place the girl had become lost.

For that reason, people say that the duende must have wanted to carry the girl away, but since he could not do it -- because of the protection of the patron saint -- he comes back again and again, looking for a friend who can keep him company and have fun with him.

Another place associated with the duende and his many attempts to romance girls is La Piedra del Duende (Duende Rock) in Trujillo, located just before the Capiro and Calentura National Park. In the past, the duende used to try to get girls to come and spend time with him, since the rock has a stunning view of the ocean from there.

Currently, this rock is located on the property of Americans Jim and Carol Davis and is surrounded by a charming garden. Although the rock is now on private property, the owners generally permit tourists to see it and take their chances at possibly seeing the amorous duende.

By Melanie Wetzel

I have already begun to receive feedback on my series of columns devoted to residency. Basically, the feedback can be divided into two groups: the "No, man, it's not that hard" faction and the "No, man, it's not that easy" faction.

I am not an expert yet in this matter, even though for the past two years I have asked every lawyer, government office, and foreign resident I meet to tell me everything they know about residency. What I have gotten is lots of conflicting information and, from the lawyers, lots of promises. But fear not, dear readers. I am nothing if not persistent and I will get to the bottom of this.

In an attempt to get to the bottom, I spent the afternoon at the Secretaria de Gobernacion, which is according to my sources, the place where residency applications are processed. Knowing that I may be involved with these people a lot in the future, for this column if nothing else, I took a deep breath and tried to make myself very patient before I went in. My patience lasted exactly 12 minutes as I stood at a window and waited to be attended, while two workers held an animated conversation about brake pads and another studiously dug the crud out from under her fingernails with a toothpick. Then my patience snapped and I said, "Can anyone wait on me?" So there is a big red mark next to my name at the Ministry of Government and I will probably soon be deported.

When I was finally attended, however, I was given a paper that listed the five types of residency and the requirements for each. I am reproducing that information here for my readers. In the continuing series of residency reports I will go into each type in more detail.

Every type has some basic requirements: a copy of your passport or birth certificate, a medical exam attesting to your good health, and a letter from the police or courts testifying that you are not wanted for a crime or convicted of a felony. The other requirement is the Solicitude. This is a big form full of essay questions that is supposedly only available at a Honduran Consulate outside of the county, where it costs $100. Most lawyers can get you one for $150 without leaving Honduras.

Residente Inversionista: This is a person who is coming to invest. You need to make a Lps. 1,500 payment to the Central Bank. On the information sheet I was shown, there was a mystery requirement: a handwritten line said that one must also have Lps. 1 million in the bank and plans for a project. I am having a lawyer check if that is correct.

Residente Rentista: This is designed for retirees. You must verify that you have an income which comes from outside of Honduras equivalent to at least Lps. 500 a month.

Employee of Confidence: This is an employee who is so important to the business that he could not be replaced by a Honduran. Verification of employment in specific positions is required.

Technical Employee: This is an employee that due to his training and experience could not be replaced by a Honduran. Once again there must be verification of employment and education.

For both of the employee category residencies, your residency depends on your job, and you must continue to verify that you are employed by the same employer in the same position. If your employment situation changes, you must reapply for residency.

Immediate relative of a Honduran Citizen: You can obtain residency by marrying a Honduran citizen, or by being the parent or child of a Honduran citizen. In this case, you must present a birth certificate (if the Honduran citizen is your parent or child) or a marriage certificate along with the other required documents.

The chocolate pointer was full size, but still a puppy. She bounded out of the darkness and would not leave us. Loping behind me, she gleefully poked her nose between my legs, nearly tripping me. We tried to dissuade her, but she followed us home.

The next morning she was still there. When she wandered into my studio and tore an art book to shreds, I phoned her owner. His wife answered and asked if I would like to keep the dog. A car horn was honking in our driveway, so I quickly told her, No, thank you, and said I would call back.

It was Leroy our rural route postman, who had pulled into our lane with a special delivery package. I hurried to his car, but the dog moved faster. She jumped through the postman's open window, landed in his lap and proceeded to lick him in the face.

Embarrassed, I quickly apologized and explained that she was not our dog. Leroy simply laughed and said, "It's OK. Dogs usually bite me."

Sara Morris Swetcharnik is a sculptor and writer of narratives.

TEGUCIGALPA -- Interest in reevaluating Honduras' potential for commercially feasible gold and silver mines is growing. The mine of San Andres, in the department of Copan, is being reopened near Santa Rosa de Copan. South of Tegucigalpa, another Canadian company is studying the area around the old Sabanagrande mines. Even the El Tigre National Park has reportedly coming under pressure from commercial interests to reopen mines there.

Honduran law gives most of the subsurface rights to the national government. Popular myths, such as those collected through oral literature project of the Ministry of the Culture and the Organization of American Sates, identify other spiritual owners of the mines.

Although the mine in Sabanagrande is called "Mina de San Marcos," the owner of the mine is the Virgen of the Rosary. A "gringo" by the name of Mathinson, who previously had the concession to exploit the mine, reportedly promised a gold watch to this Virgin, in return for giving him the richness of this mine.

When he died, his partners did not want to fulfill his vow. So one Good Friday, the mine flooded and since then it is enchanted. Villagers say it is possible to hear voices inside the mine -- the suffering souls (almas en pena) who died in the flood.

Another American later returned to try to work the mine. One day an animal bit him and he later died of rabies. Since then no one can take the gold due to the punishment of the Virgen of the Rosario, according to a legend in the book "Por Cuentas, Aqui en Sabanagrande".

One of the richest mines in colonial Honduras was the mine of the Rich Nail (Clavo Rico) in El Corpus, Choluteca. This town was founded when the Virgen of Rosary appeared to local people on a rock. The people tried to take her to Yusguare, but again and again the Virgin returned to the place where they had found her. So they made a church for her there, since that was the only place she wanted to be. They called the area El Corpus, because they found the image of the Virgin on the Thursday of Corpus Cristi.

When the Spanish saw that the Indians of that area had gold, they came with mirrors, combs, and everyday things to cheat them. During the construction of the church, the Spanish saw there was a lot of gold. They wanted to build the mine right there, but the priest insisted they respect the desire of the Virgin to be there.

The Spanish ignored him and opened the mine. There they found a large gold alligator in a lagoon. Almost immediately afterward, the mine caved in and buried them all. Mines have been opened all over El Corpus, but not around the church because the gold there belongs to the Virgin, according to a legend in "Por Cuentas Aqui en El Corpus".

Foreigners who come to mine gold think that either the gold is there or it is not. This is not the belief of many rural Hondurans who believe that their spiritual owners hide the gold. If the miners cannot come to an agreement with the Duende, lights known as carbucos or the Virgin or Gaspar of Texiguat appear. Then no matter how long they look, they will find no gold.

Around Texiguat, there is a hill called Cerro Grande or Yolutepe. There once was a magician named Gaspar who was mayor of the Indians of Texiguat. Gaspar has reportedly appeared to gringos to make deals with them to reveal the location of the gold of Texiguat.

On one occasion, he asked for two unbaptized children. People say some Hondurans have given the children who perhaps keep him company, but the gringos have refused. So he has never revealed the location of the gold to them.

On another occasion, Gaspar asked for 150 souls of people. But he wanted gringo souls as he is very fond of the poor people of Texiguat. Hondurans believe one reason cave-ins occur is because the owner of the mine has sold the souls of the workers to the Duende, the devil or whoever owns the mine. This will probably affect the possibility of new mine owners to recruit miners.

The gringos ignored this. They tried digging for eight days. After eight days, they found a toad made of gold the size of a person. It did nothing, just stopped them from digging. The next day the gringos tried to dig, but at night the huge toad just filled it in again. Finally, they had to go away when they were not ready to accept the conditions of Gaspar who takes care of the these treasures, according to this legend in the book "Por Cuentas Aqui en Texiguat".

During the colonial era, the Indians of Texiguat were forced to work in the mines of Poterillos, El Paraiso, and El Corpus, Choluteca. But they never worked in a mine at Texiguat, which remains hidden until a native of Texiguat is trained as a scientist, when he will then be permitted to find the gold.

For those who enjoy these kinds of stories, all five books of the series Oral Literature of the Southern Zone of Honduras have now been published and are available at Editorial Guaymuras in Tegucigalpa.

Ethel is a coatimundi, a long-nosed Central American cousin to the raccoon. Ethel's home is at the Catoctin Zoo near Frederick, Maryland, but when she was only 18 months old, she was invited to appear on the television program "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" in order to demonstrate the Coati Back Walk, a popular acrobatic performance in which she scampers across the backs of volunteers during zoo education activities. Ethel was nervous at her Manhattan studio debut, so host Conan graciously put her on his lap. Further frightened by the sudden start of the studio band, she urinated. She was not invited back.

Sara Morris Swetcharnik is a sculptor and writer of narratives.