Voices of time.

• Author: Galeano, Eduardo
• Position: LATITUDES - Reprint

Relatives

In 1992, while people were celebrating five centuries of something billed as the salvation of the Americas, a Catholic priest arrived at a community hidden in the ravines of the Mexican Southeast.

Before saying mass, he heard confession. In the Tojolobal language the Indians told their sins. Carlos Lenkersdorf translated as best he could, one confession after another, but he soon realized that no one could make sense of such mysteries.

"He says he abandoned his corn," Carlos translated.

"He says the cornfield is very sad. Many days since he last went."

"He says he abused the fire. He cursed the flames, because they didn't glow brightly."

"He says he defiled the path, cutting back undergrowth when there was no need."

"He says he hurt the ox."

"He says he chopped down a tree, without telling it why."

The priest had no idea what to do with these sins that don't appear anywhere on Moses's list.

Herbs

For heartburn, tomatoes peeled and grilled.

For indigestion, boiled leaves of tepozan.

For muscle aches, ointments of maguey, India rubber, or cooked cactus pears.

Cactus flesh and sarsaparilla purified the blood, pea pods cleansed the kidneys, and pine nuts purged the intestines.

Five-fingered flowers from the tree of little hands gave the heart serenity and courage.

The conquistadores found these novelties in Mexico. They carried them back to Spain, along with...