La Piedra de Huixtla in
Chiapas
The Mame (original Maya) lived in this land many centuries ago. But the
land is now inhabited by the Ladinos, the modern Maya. I always thought
of the Ladinos as being a part of the east coast of México, however,
the Ladinos also live in and about San Cristóbal in the mountains
of Chiapas. It is not unlikely that they also lived on the Pacific coast.
A Turkish word Ladini means "not associated with religion."
Their religion? The Arabic word Ladini just means "ancient Latins."
This is the definition that all recognize at the present time.
On a Mexican mountain ridge near the border town of Tapachula, Chiapas,
there is a small village called Huixtla. Along the path there is a well-worn
path leading to a great stone monolith that is visible for miles around.
It is called "La Piedra de Huixtla" and it has a legend connected
with it.
The legend is that there is a "magic" doorway which when opened
leds one to a beautiful garden where wealth can be found. This doorway is
at an indentation at the base of the rock, a sort of a cave, not a very
large depression, just big enough for a small altar where believers can
light candles and burn incense in hopes that one of them can be the person who opens
the great door to the magic land underneath. This story is, of course, nonsense.
We are adults and it is just a myth.
However, when we were children, we heard a similar story. It was called
Aladdin and the Forty Thieves. Al Ladini or Al Ladino would be alternate
spellings of this traditional name. If Aladdin rubbed his magic lamp near
the Piedra de Huixtla, the door would open up immediately. The forty thieves
were vanquished a long time ago by this brave boy, so we would have instant
access to the garden and its wealth.
The question that remains is who was Al Ladini or Al Ladino. Was he a
Turk, an Arab or was he just a native Ladino, living in the land of México,
when strangers came to visit?