Perhaps they think that these last watch over their bread-making.  It was thus that the ancients believed that the dryads, hamadryads, satyrs, pans, nereids, watched over the fountains, forests, and seas, attributing to each force in nature a presiding divinity.  The islanders of Hispaniola even believe that the zemes respond to their wishes when they invoke them.  When the caciques wish to consult the zemes, concerning the result of a war, about the harvest, or their health, they enter the houses sacred to them and there absorb the intoxicating herb called kohobba, which is the same as that used by the bovites to excite their frenzy.  Almost immediately they believe they see the room turn upside down, and men walking with their heads downwards.  This kohobba powder is so strong that those who take it lose consciousness; when the stupefying action of the powder begins to wane, the arms and hands become loose and the head droops.  After remaining for some time in this attitude, the cacique raises his head, as though he were awakening from sleep, and, lifting his eyes to the heavens, begins to stammer some incoherent words.  His chief attendants gather round him (for none of the common people are admitted to these mysteries), raising their voices in thanksgiving that he has so quickly left the zemes and returned to them.  They ask him what he has seen, and the cacique declares that he was in conversation with the zemes during the whole time, and as though he were still in a prophetic delirium, he prophesies victory or defeat, if a war is to be undertaken, or whether the crops will be abundant, or the coming of disaster, or the enjoyment of health, in a word, whatever first occurs to him.

Can you feel surprised after this, Most Illustrious Prince, at the spirit of Apollo which inspired the fury of the Sibyls?  You thought that that ancient superstition had perished, but you see that such is not the case.  I have treated here in a general sense all that concerns the zemes, but I think I should not omit certain particulars.  The cacique Guamaretus had a zemes called Corochotus, which he had fixed in the highest part of his house.  It is said that Corochotus frequently came down, after having broken his bonds.  This happened whenever he wished to make love or eat or hide himself; and sometimes he disappeared for several days, thus showing his anger at having been neglected and not sufficiently honoured by the cacique Guamaretus.  One day two children, wearing crowns, were born in the house of Guamaretus; it was thought that they were the sons of the zemes Corochotus.  Guamaretus was defeated by his enemies in a pitched battle; his palace and town were burnt and destroyed; and Corochotus burst his bonds and sprang out of the house, and was found a stadium distant.

Another zemes, Epileguanita, was represented in the form of a quadruped, carved out of wood.  He often left the place where he was venerated and fled into the forests.  And each time that his worshippers heard of his flight, they assembled and sought him everywhere with devout prayers.  When found, they brought him reverently on their shoulders back to the sanctuary sacred to him.  When the Christians landed in Hispaniola, Epileguanita fled and appeared no more, which was considered a sinister forecast of the misfortunes of the country.  These traditions are handed down by the old men.