The weekly Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1872-1887, 1875-02-27
Native Raea. of tho Pacific States.

V NuIlIOEnDA. nAB
for many years engaged in collect
ing material on this coast in relation
TO the manners anil customs Of its
inhabitance. Whom Il ia re.
Elected that the source from whence rclia-
Die I~niorna!tlon regarding these ancient
people Gould be obtained must noces-
sarlly have been most mOager and OBJ
scnre, wrapt rs they are in tho mists Of
ages tue profound research entailing the
necessity OF personally visiting the most
inaccessible portions Of the ons;ro coast
In order tina tho author might furnish
nil tho details 81 tho innor life of a
people unknown to history, entities him
! n mitch high. mp among sho public
benefactors of tho age.
From tho Forthcoming sooond yoIunn
OF this great work Mo Bnbjoin the fol-
lowing extract. ".
DRESS OF THE MEXICAN PRIESTS AMONG
THS EAnUA NATIONS.
Tho ordinary dress Of the Mexican
priests dferod little from that of other
citizens; tho only distinctive feature be
ing q black cotton mantle, which they
in tho ann Of q veil thrown
book upon the head. Those, however,
who profcssel "a moro austcre life, such
as tho pnnQnaquiltin aud Tliamacaz1ui
before mentioned, wore long black
robess many among them never cut
their hair, but allow il to grow Us long
as it would; it was twisted with thick
cotton cords, and bcdaubcd will, un-
ctuous matter, tho whole forming II
weiGhty mass, MS announcement to carry
ms 1t was disgusting to look at. Tho
nigi-prle3t usually woro, rs u badge of
his rank, q kind Of q fringe which hung
down over his breast, called Xicolli;
on feast'days lie was clothed in n long
robe, over which lie wore n sort Of
chnSuble or cope, which varied in color,
share, and ornamontation, according
to the sacrifices no made md tho divin.
ssJ 20 which he offered ti=m-
SCHOOLS FOR YOUTHS AMONG TIE
AIT NATIONS.
Tho schools and seminaries ger, m
neHcd to the tew Piles, and tho instruc.
lion OF tho young Of both sexes was a
monopoly in the hands Of the priests.
In general boys were sent 10 tho col.
leges between the ages Of six and nine
years; they were dressed in black, their
hair was left uncut, and they were
placed under the charge OF priests speci.
nlly appointed for that purpose, who
instructed them i'll tho branches most
suitable 10 their future calling. All
were instructed in religion und nartiou-
lar attention was given to good behavior
n morals. No women were permitted
to enter tho colleges, nor could the
youtiis on any account have commupi-
cation will! the other sex. At certain
seasons they wcro required to abstain
from various kinds of food.
Tho schools or colleges were of two
distinct Glasses. Those attended Ly tho
common people were called febDochciH.
or houses Of the youths;' there was one
OF these In each quarter Of the oity.
after the manner Of orr public schools.
nnI tho parents OF the district were 70.
quircd to enter their children Mt tho
age ~ FOUR or five years. The telpoch.
tlnso, or chief Of youth instructed
thcm how 20 sweep the sanctuary, to
rnplenish the fro in tho sacred censers,
to clean the school house, to do en-
ance, moro or less severe, according 10
their age, and to go in parties to the
forest to gather wool for tho temple.
Each puPiltook his meals at the house
OF his parents, hut ill we're Obliged 10
sleep in the seminary. At niglltfall all
assembled in tho ~cpicdcalco, or house
OF song, and were there taught the art
OF singing and dancing, which formed
part of a Mexican education; tiey werc
alSo exercised here in the use Of arms
At the ago Of fift,en or sixteen, or some.
times earlier. i! was customary for the
parents to withdraw their children from
tho t~clpochcalli that they might follow
a trade or profession, hut this never
was done without making a present ia
tho telpochtlato. The schools al which
tho sons Of tho nobility and those des.
tined to 10 priests wcro educated, were
called cGimecac, which means IA college,
CT monastery. Tho pupil did not do as
much manual labor ms those educated
in ~telpochcalli, nor did thcy take their
meals at homo, but ia tho building.
They wore under tho supervision OF
priests OF the TlamacazQui order, who
instructed them in NIL that the plcle-
iHns learned, besides many Of tho arts
n sciences, such ms tho study of her
ole songs and sacred hymns, which they
bad to learn by heart, history, religion,
philosophy, law astronomy, asttolosy.
and tho writing and interpreting of
hei1oglophics. II not quick and dill
CONT, they wero given less food md moro
work; they we're ndmonished to be viz
tuous and chaste. and we're not allowed
to leave the temple, until with their
fathers permission they went ont from
it TO DO married, or, in case Of a youth
0f strength md courage, to go 70 tho
wars; those who showed qualities fttod
for military lifo were exercised in
gymnastics and Trained to tho uso of
weapons. to shoot with tho bow, man
ngc tho shield, and to cast darts ut a
mark. Their courage, ssrcngtl,, and
endurance underwent severe tests, they
were early afforded opportunities Of real
izing tho hardships OF camp liio. mil.
while boys, wore sent to curry p~yovis-
sions to tho soldiers, upon which CO.
casions their behavior ~ closely
watched, md n display Of courage met
with cpttohlo IL. - -