Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1882-02-01
Indians in Mexico.


corn is the principal food in the temperate
zone, while the banana Is eater by those
who lnhabit the hot zone. Maize and ba.
nanas grow without any exertion on the
part of the consumer, and we generally
find both fruits growing in abundance
around the Indian huls. Next to maize
and bananas, frijoles (besns) are cherished
by the redskins. Meat is seldom eaten,
and only that which is dried and cut up
into long strips. Eggs, however are much
liked, and we seldom find d hut without
chickens. TortIllas, Kind OF hoe cake,
are served on HOLIDAYS or consumed In the
town after the Indian has disposed of his
fruits in the market. The favorite bever-
age is pulaue, an extract of the agave
plant. Pulque, taken in moderate por-
tions, is wholesome; but taken in large
quantities it is rather intoxicating. On
holidays we find many Indians drunk,
after having invested their last cent IN the
favcrtte beverage. In former times II
was the exclusive right of the aristocracy
to get intoxicated. In these days of mod
ern progress the privilege is shared by the
vulgar as well. The common Indian re-
ne plus ultra of all earthly enjoymepts.
Yet the authorities seen not always to
share the redskins singular views, as the
drunkards are often arrested and locked
up.
As simple as his manner of living is the
Indians clothing. The materials are usu'
ally cotton or leather, and are manufac
tured by tie wearers Themselves The
shirt If such is worn. Is roughly made oi
cotton. The men wear wide trousers,
| which seldom reach below the knee, anC
which are fastened with a sash in the
same manner as the trousers worn by the
inhabitants of the eastern countries.
Leather trousers, adorned with silver but
tons or coins, are only worn by those whC
can boast of small fortune, and the hap
py owners are "a proud of their property
as the Alhanese or the Cheibek of Asls
Miner. Many Indians wear but single
primitive shirt with blue aud white stripe:
holes being made in the garment for the
entrance of The head and arms. An In
dian wearing this single shirt reminds {
traveller of the wandering Bedouins ant
the inhabitants of India. The pictur
esque head piece, adorned with beauti
full feathers, hGs given away to the prosa-
ic felt or straw hat. The brims of thes,
hats are frequently ten inches wide, anc
the part that covers the head is covered
with colored ribbons and glass pearls. 4
faithful Moslem would at once recogniZ:
in these Indian hats degenerate offspring
of the sacred turban. Shoes are not worr
by the Indian; be usually travels barefoo
or uses a pair of sandals, corresponding
exactly tn those worn by the hospitabl'
sons of the Arabian desert. A wooleI
blanket, with hole in the center, L
iowned by nearly all IEdians inha5ltini
the temperate zone. This protects tn
bearer against stormy and cold weathe
and keeps him warm in the night. 4
very light portable mat and the blanke
form the Indians bed, on which he rest
his tired limbs, while his brother in tn
far East is kneeling on mat formed ex
aetly like his, his face turned to Mecca an
Offering his morning prayer to Allah, tn
: ruler of the nslng sun. The women wea
, blue or white cotton shirt and blanke
, frequently interviewer with beautiful ars
besques, is tied around the hip. In th
hot regions the Indian women general
wear no shirt at all, but only the blank'
or blue petlcoat. The hair is hangln
down the back or is twisted into queue
whose ends are tied to the sash that holC
the pett:coat. Both sexes wear rosario
on which a cross or an image OF SON
saint is fastened around their necks en-
hanging down on the breast. Tne India
women Of Tehuantepec wear necklaces
small gold coins and are as proud OF the
treasure as the Bedouin maiden is
heis.
The Indians dwelling place is prlmiti,
and has the appearance OF an lmmen
bird cage, as il is usually constructed {
reeds, the roof consisting of palm leay
or leaves of the agave. Windows
wanting, and the fresh air may easily pc
= citrate INTO the lightly constructed edific
q whose door is generality constantly opt
, without latch or lock. In the mounta
districts the Indian constructs his house
wood, and it resembles exactly the blocl
e house in Canada or the far West. III
interior of these huts consists generally
but one room. whose only decoration is
kind of family altar, above which we a
: sure to find an image Of one Of the Ho
Virgins, generally that of the Vi
= gin of Mount Carmel. The wa
a is often decorated with martyrs and SAINT
The table. if such luxurious piece OF furr
ture exists, is generally covered with pre-
ty nosegays and other artistic arrang
II ments of flowers. On the eve OF gre
holidays tallow candle is put on the
tar and takes the place of the kitchen Il
that on common week days furnishes lig
q for the family. when the visit OF son
friend or tale-telling stranger keeps
members from seeking their couch at
early hour. The kitchen utensils are I
metate and the comal. The metate l.
smooth stone about eighteen inches lor
and serves to grind the Indian corn
h the cocoa nut. The comal is an earthe
vessel that serves to prepare the tortill
>, A gourd bottle for water completes
Ind;op,s movable prODerty.