cepo

"Bring out the two in the cepo!" ordered the alférez in as terrible

An Eagle Flight A Filipino Novel Adapted from Noli Me Tangere Jos�� Rizal 1878

For the benefit of those not acquainted with the instruments of torture of the Philippines, we will say that the cepo, a form of stocks, is one of the most innocent; but by skipping enough holes, the position is made most trying.

An Eagle Flight A Filipino Novel Adapted from Noli Me Tangere Jos�� Rizal 1878

Lest there might not be a sufficient number of the Maco and Guahibe Indians, who are acquainted with the labyrinth of small channels and cascades of which the Raudales or cataracts are composed, two Indians were, during the night, placed in the cepo — a sort of stocks in which they were made to lie with their legs between two pieces of wood, notched and fastened together by a chain with

Travels to the Equinoctial Regions of America 1851

Raudales or cataracts are composed, two Indians were, during the night, placed in the cepo -- a sort of stocks in which they were made to lie with their legs between two pieces of wood, notched and fastened together by a chain with a padlock.

Personal Narrative of Travels to the Equinoctial Regions of America, During the Year 1799-1804 — Volume 2 Alexander von Humboldt 1814

There is nothing magical or hand-waving about random variation and natural selection, and the examples I gave are all real. cepo, Tom Dayton, Tilo Reber, Marco, Greg, thanks for your comments and links.

RealClimate Mark A. York 2009