Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1883-08-22
CANNIBALISM IN AMERICA.
Customs OF the New Mexican Indians"
Some Interesting Facts.


Customs OF the New Mexican Indianf--
Some Interesting Facts.
The aborigines of Mexico and Gem
trail America were far less barbarous
than the natives of other parts OF
North America. While, therefore,
cannibalism existed among them, 1t
took the form of religious ceremony.
Prescott asserts, on the authority or
the Spaniards, that the Mexicans were
not cannibals in the coarsest accepta-
ton Of the term. They did not feed
on human flesh merely to crafty
british appetite, but in obedience to
their religion. Their repasts were
made of victims whose blood had been
poured out on the altar Of sacrifice.
A similar statement is made regarding
the ltzas of Central America.
Among the New Mexican Indians
the case was different While tribes
differed among themselves in regard
to this practice, with many human
flesh was sought as food. Incredible
as it may seem, at least one tribe OF
Indians inhabiting Texas has prac-
tised cannibalism within twenty-five
years. Mr.. j. &. Walker, formerly
member of the United States Army,
and now a resident of Mexico, in
a private letter to the author, gives the
following interesting facts:
"The early American settlers on
Matagorda Bay were greatly harassed
by tribe of Indians called CarrOn-
kowas, inhabiting the bay shore, and
subsisting chiefly on fish and oys-
ters. But they were known to have Il
keen relish for human flesh, which
they sometimes added to their ordi-
nary menu. In 1S34-5, the custom
was, however, becoming obsolete, and
about that time was wholly abolished
by the reigning chief. But there was
cognate tribe remnant of which
still exists, which practiced cannibali5m
as late certainly as 1854. At that
time | was an officer in the United
States army, and stationed at Fort
Inge, in Texas. The Tonkowas, the
tribe to which allude, being on good
terms with the whites, were allowed to
roam about Western Texas and in the
summer of 1854 were camped on the
Nueces river, few miles from the fort.
| was frequently at their village, and
on one occasion, when encamped with
party of soldiers not far off, re-
turning war-party Of the tribe brought
in the remains Of a Comanche whom
they had slain; and the night was
made hideous, in a double sense, by
the orgies that followed. During the
night the entire remains We're eaten,
principally by the warriors. | do not
think that the eating of human flesh
was often practiced by them at this
time; and even on this occasion it may
nave been done more as an expression
Of eXultation over a fallen enemy than
for the mere satisfying of hunger.
But these Indians afterward confessed
to me that formerly their tribe habit
ually fed on human flesh when they
could obtain the bodies of their enc
mics.
ut seems inconsistent with the facts
| have just stated, but it is never
theless true, that these semi-cannibals
were less fierce and blOOdthirsty than
most of the other wild Indians. They
were always on good terms with the
settlers, and made common cause with
them against the Comanches, kioWas,
and other predatory tribes on the
northern border Of the state
ii have often hearl from rartici-'
pants in some of these engagements
that it was the invariable custom of
their TonkOWa allies t. have a feast Of
roasted Comanche after their battles"