Nicaragua de mis recuerdos

El Viejo del Monte de Solentiname

The legend of El Viejo del Monte (the old man of the forest) is one of the archipelago’s most enduring folktales. No one is exactly sure around what time the story originated, but it has been told and retold for at least the past seven generations.

The moral of the legend is a simple one—Don’t mess with nature.

It is said that the character now known throughout the numerous islands of the Solentiname Archipelago as El Viejo del Monte, used to be a merciless hunter who practiced his aim by randomly killing all species of animals who stepped in his path. Without any respect for the life of the animal, El Viejo del Monte wouldn’t even honor his prey by eating it; he just slew it and left it to rot.

Partly to punish him and partly to teach him a lesson, the gods turned the man into a part man/part simian creature (sisimico) and made him keeper of Solentiname’s abundant wildlife. Now El Viejo del Monte protects the numerous species of birds, reptiles and mammals that live in Solentiname from poachers and irresponsible hunters. What he once disrespected and destroyed, he now protects just as viciously.

(Continue … Solentiname – El Viejo del Monte)

Legend written by Maria Alejandra Mendieta/Solentiname.com