Listen now to their singular beliefs relating to the origin of man.  There exists in Hispaniola a district called Caunauna, where the human race took its origin in a cavern on a certain mountain.  The greater number of men came forth from the larger apertures, and the lesser number from the smaller apertures of this cavern.  Such are their superstitions.  The rock on whose side the opening of this cavern is found is called Cauta, and the largest of the caverns is called Cazabixaba, the smaller Amaiauna.  Before mankind was permitted to come forth, they ingeniously affirm that each night the mouths of the caves were confided to the custody of a man called Machochael.  This Machochael, having deserted the two caves from a motive of curiosity, was surprised by the sun, whose rays he could not endure, and so was changed into stone.  They relate amongst their absurdities that when men came out of their caverns in the night because they sought to sin and could not get back before the rising of the sun, which they were forbidden to see, they were tranformed into myrobolane trees,[20] of which Hispaniola plentiously produces great numbers.

[Note 20:  This name is comprehensive of several kinds of trees whose fruits are used in compounding astringent and slightly purgative medicines.]

They also say that a chief called Vagoniona sent from the cavern where he kept his family shut up, a servant to go fishing.  This servant, being surprised by the sun, was likewise turned in like manner into a nightingale.  On every anniversary of his transformation he fills the night air with songs, bewailing his misfortunes and imploring his master Vagoniona to come to his help.  Such is the explanation they give for the nightingale’s song.  As for Vagoniona, he dearly loved this servant, and therefore deeply lamented him; he shut up all the men in the cavern and only brought out with him the women and nursing children, whom he led to an island called Mathinino, off the coasts; there he abandoned the women and brought back the children with him.  These unfortunate infants were starving, and upon reaching the river bank they cried “Toa, Toa” (that is like children crying, Mamma, Mamma), and immediately they were turned into frogs.  It is for this reason that in the springtime the frogs make these sounds, and it is also the reason why men alone are frequently found in the caverns of Hispaniola, and not women.  The natives say that Vagoniona still wanders about the island, and that by a special boon he always remains as he was.  He is supposed to go to meet a beautiful woman, perceived in the depths of the sea, from whom are obtained the white shells called by the natives cibas, and other shells of a yellowish colour called guianos, of both of which they make necklaces.  The caciques in our own time regard these trinkets as sacred.[21]