The World’s Indigenous Peoples – By Peter Halder
Guyana Map showing Regions
On August 9 Guyana and the rest of the world observed and celebrated the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples. In Guyana, the indigenous people are known as Amerindians. They comprise some 10.5% of the country’s population. There are nine tribes – Wai Wai, Patamona, Arecuna, Macusi, Wapisiana, Carib, Warrau, Arawak and Akawaio. They live in 120 settlements in Regions 1, 7, 8 and 9. Continue reading →
Short Story: The Alligator – Adapted from an ancient Amerindian myth
By Peter Halder
Sun owned a giant lake in the forest.
In it was a wide variety of fishes which it prized.
From day to day, however, Sun observed that fishes were disappearing from the lake. It did not believe that they were eating each other or that some left the lake and migrated on land. Fishes are excellent swimmers but they cannot walk or survive on land. They are water creatures.
Sun arrived at the conclusion that someone or something was stealing fishes from the lake on a daily basis, most probably at night when it had set and was not around.
It therefore decided to engage a watchman to keep an keen eye on the fishes. Continue reading →
Guyana Christmas Nostalgia – by Peter Halder + video
Growing up circa the mid-1940’s on Non Pareil Street, Albouystown, Georgetown in Guyana, Christmas was indeed the most wonderful time of the year. It was not just the greatest holiday but a season that lasted from Christmas Eve into the new year. It was hustle and bustle for moms and dads but for children, it was jolly, merry, festive with lots to eat and drink.
Two weeks before Christmas Day, a masqerade band began to tune up and practice in Padmore yard, near where we lived. Members of the band were from Plaisance village on East Coast Demerara. Continue reading →
The Snake Repellent
(Adapted from an ancient Amerindian Myth)
by Peter Halder
Fero Gadjee and his family lived at Seba, a settlement on the Upper Demerara River in Guyana. The family lived in a typical troolie palm thatched hut a short distance from the bank of the river. His father, Jaro worked at the Seba stone quarry.
When Fero turned 18 years, he decided to go and live on his own. A relative who lived at nearby Zion Hill told him about a plot of land on the western bank of the river about three miles to the south. The land needed clearing. Continue reading →
The Honey Tragedy
(Adapted from an ancient Guyana Amerindian myth)
By Peter Halder
Mead, a drink made from honey, was a favourite of the Gods of ancient mythology. The overpowering yearning and taste for honey by an Amerindian maiden at Tiger Hill, Upper Demerara River, led to tragedy in her life.
Lutu Alstrum was the only daughter and child of a Macushi Amerindian couple who lived at Grassfield, some 40 miles south of Linden. When she was born, for whatever reason, she refused to suckle on her mother’s breasts. A family member suggested to her mother to put honey on her breast nipple. Lutu loved the taste and so was able to feed on her mother’s breast milk. There was no honey available at Grassfield, it was brought from time to time by family and friends from a Sacred Grove of medicinal trees located at Tiger Hill. A huge honeycomb on a golden coloured leafy tree in the centre of the Grove, dripped honey. No one saw any bees around. Continue reading →
The Awakening – by Peter Halder
Emil Seon lived at Malali in a cottage which he built on a sand hill overlooking a series of rapids in the Demerara River below. It was 6.30 p.m. and he was busily engaged in getting dressed to attend a traditional Easter Saturday family Party across the river.
The family usually spent Easter Saturday night singing native Amerindian songs, drinking sleepy tonic made from sweet potatoes, and eating boiled cassava, yams and smoked labba. The Party ended at 11.30 and Emil hurried to return to his home. Frightening tales were many about strange happenings in the dense forest area that surrounded the Malali Settlement on both sides of the river. Continue reading →
The Witch and The Tree
by Peter Halder
Warraboola the Witch lived in an underground cave in the large area of thick woods some distance from the oak trees lined main avenue of the city.
Long tresses of grey and black hair reached down from the top of Warraboola’s head to her waist. On her head was a black, broad-rimmed cone shaped hat. Her long narrow face was adorned with thick grey bushy eyebrows, black steely eyes, a long, thin crooked nose, a wide mouth with thin lips and a long narrow chin. Her two ears were long and narrow like two antennas. She had long hands, with long fingers and long claw-like nails, Over her narrow bony body she wore a long-sleeve black dress that reached to her ankles. She had on long black boots. She sat in an old fashioned rocking chair smoking a corncob pipe. The puffs of smoke that rose from it gave the cave an evil and dreadful odor. Continue reading →
MARIA AND THE WICKED WITCH
by SIMONE GATSON
FICTION
Two wonderful children’s stories are featured. In the first, MARIA AND THE WICKED WITCH, 6-year-old Maria, tricked by an evil witch, disobeys her parents, enters a forbidden forest and is taken captive. She uses all her wiles to escape from the witch.
The second, THE THREE CRAYONS – Red, Blue and Green – are taken to a Village Fair by their parents Mom Brown Crayon and Dad Yellow Crayon. The three crayons become separated from their parents and are lost. They encounter a magic Wishing Tree which re-unites the family.
About The Author Continue reading →
QUEST FOR THE ROD OF MOSES
E-BOOK 13 – by Peter Halder
Category: FICTION – Adventure
A young warrior, Zarn, is chosen by Fairy Julietta to seek and obtain the Rod of Moses as the means to ensure the Royal Family of the Kingdom of Zamara has a male heir to the Royal Throne. The King’s brother, plots with an evil Wizard to abort each of the Queen’s pregnancy with a male heir by the use of a black demon storm cloud. Zarn, guided by Fairy Julietta and the Holy Prophet Selah, sails to Egypt and follows the path Moses, with his Rod, took to the Promised Land, including traversing the Great Wilderness. Zarn faces many dangers, perils, strange adventures and creatures, to locate the Holy Rod and return to Zamara.
To purchase the e-book, click on the AMAZON.COM or
SMASHWORDS.COM link below.
