1950-09-02 — Page 3

THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 1950.

A one-legged Indien watches ritual fires burn on the ancient steps of Church of Santo Tomas in mountains of Guatemala. White men are not allowed to use steps.

SHAFTS OF SUNLIGHT provided illumination for Ed Vobell's pre-focussed camera as he took this shot of worshippers lighting candles. He made photo at great-risk.

AN INDIAN COUPLE is caught by camera while at prayer. Flickering candles gave just enough light to make photo.

FORBIDDEN PHOTOS OF INDIAN RITES

HERE'S a quiet sameness to the days and nights in the highlands of Tara same hos to the and outan behande

Indians live today much in the manner of their Mayan ancestors. Chris- tianized by missionaries scores of years ago, they still take part in many rites of pagan origin. Weird bellefs, including the fear that any image made of themselves will bring death, still persist.

The natives forbid the taking of photographs, particularly during cere➡ monies which often have their basis in witchcraft and voodoo. A 2,000- year-old curse is supposed to fall upon the violators of their rites.

Risking the wrath of worshipers in the picturesque village of Chicht- castenango, 10,000 feet up in the mountains, artist Ed Vebell secretly took the photos on this page. "Just before I took my pictures," he says, "two other cameramen, attempting to take the same shots, were heavily stoned by the Indians. I pre-set the focus on my camera, set the shutter at a 50th of a second and then let it hang down at my side."

Whenever Vebell saw what looked like a good shot, he quietly dropped his hand and pressed the shutter. "Talk about 'shooting from the hip," " he says, "this was it."

He ran a greater risk inside the church of Santo Tomas, where a num- ber of signs in Spanish and English specifically forbid taking of photos.

ALTHOUGH THEY ARE CHRISTIANS, Indians still perform'many clothes of this family indicate which tribe or town they come old rites. At right is one of Mayan idols they worship. Colourful from. In addition to pictures on page, Vebøll made some in colour.

'ON MARKET DAYS in Chichicastenango, every Thurs- day and Sunday, Indians fill the square before Santo

Tomas church, Vendors set up wares on tables, chairs and counters. Awnings keep sun of perishable foods.

Manila