Grand Rapids morning telegram., 1885-07-04
los PENITENTEO."
Weird Rites IN the Land OF the
AOntezumaS
rAssioa ws~s F~f..lss IA Portis4s % Ola
Msxiea-fhs aiaals CrsleinKisa fha.t
L. SsG Always aiI1isrs -.Aa In
tsrestins Descriptions



untl lately iIele ka0wn co0atrg % south
~es rnNorta America D1rias q soms's q Al
evenEfal and che kered career the writer
IA been thrown Ia ~itk nlany strange
nations u tAs earth, bgt among 10 one
has As many and interesting Subjects been
found a. among The remnants II the former
rulers IL Mexico. It must be remem bered
thai the Mexico Of to-day Is not the NIX
leo OF the past. only as e Is known IN
sgsnd aud tradition, with here aud there
few fating monuments Of It's former
power and glory.
A gentleman high To- day Ia the civil
and military circles OF that country
whose friendship aud aoquaintanes the
wr.taE Is proud 70 claim, suggested that
visit 70 TIA, scene Of poniteatial seIf-tor-
tire during Holy week santa semana)
~oa.d ts Interesting and instructive, and
at oacs DC, Senator Salazar, and the writer
prepared Eor The Journey The plaza or
s4a kafaei was chosen for the visit aud
the hour midnight Under the deep blue
canopy vaul ed as the sky o'er no other
country IS vaultsd, when the world seemed
IN peaceful slumber and the little adobe
town was wrapped IN mantle of dark
ness that was buttoned with q single star.
the party silently entered the walls of
.un-iried brick and were received by the
hospitabls head man OF the village.
who was not OF the mysterious
band he warned each one 70 be
silent, not only for policy, but for safety
Throwing about the head and upper body
dark serapo (blanket or shawl) the visi-
tors moved stealthily through the sage
brush across the prairie near to-a lonely
adobe house, beside the dark flowing Rio
Grande Arriving there each one con-
ceaied himself ia the thicket and watched.
W thin the house were heard solemn dIrge-
ike songs. chorus d by mournful signs and
sroans Of pain. Then all would be silent
IN Il broken by the creaking sound OF an
opening door. hung upon dry wooden
hinges (even these a luxury in that land),
and then the low spoken words "Quien
sstaf adOue yiene!" who are you?
whence came your would tell Of the
steaithy arrival Of some brother" (her
manO) stained with sin and laden with
the weight Of wrong doing. He would lie
admitted in silence, and again would the
weird chanting begin. Close beside the
curious visitors noise like the step Of a
cat -toored animal would be heard; IL was
tn moccasin tread Of the sentinel who
kept -uRrd against the lntrus on of stran-
gers and iuhdv;s like the visitors who were
squatt.ng almost breatAless amid the sage
brush. Near the doorway were laid, one
Gp0u another, great wooden crosses made
o. pine los weighing huBdr -ds Of pounds,
and presenting he appearance In the dim
starts ght OF SOms black mass pile against
the gruyish wa4s OF the worship temple.
A. intervals between the chanting and
groans, a nose OF some one lashing some
object with "A bundle of twigs as heard.
Again and a. ain would the creaking
door DO opene1 ani closed; some-
Inns 70 admit a travelling brother
from alar, sometimes 70 let out
zen tent whose devotions had almost
overcome his ply ysical power OF endurance
Again the door would open in obedience 10
the sentry's low call Las hermanas
vienen" (the sisters are coming), and then
some one Of the society would go out, al
vance, and speak with some OF the females
who stepped singly to the penitent and
mutteriug, Il give this for the glory Of
9 81" would hand an earthen water ves-
ssi &c najal filed with bitter drink (agua
aru4a1osal TO give to father, husband, son,
brother, or lover strength and comfort in
the trying hours yet before him.
Thus he night was passed; many COM
INK. none bui the conf 1rt- bringing women
going away The same groans. tho same
chanting. the same sentinel step. the same
thrashing sound, as II made by a bundle Il
lumber willow branches broke the Hence.
At l,ugth morning came. The hidden
vis tors cautiously pseped and peerei
through the brush, when, along with these
sounds there met the wondering eye
strange sights The lodge was tempor-
arily dissolved. aud ia the early rays Of
blgshing mornin- the penitentes stood OUT
side the building in groups Of two, per-
baps more over the head and face -
each was black veil completely conceal
iug each ones Identity, upon the body
vas no vestlgs Of clothing except thin,
white drawers. al stained ana soaked
with blood rom waist 20 hee.s; upon the
fee, we're sheep or deer-sx m0ccasins,
AMI n the IA lds was a wicked thong OF
bundle II what seemed cruel cords. but
were n fact stems aud stalks Of cactus.
with = prickly thorls. OF amOla stalks,
wrap rel and woven into a bundle, with
wlieh be penite.t whipped aud cut and
lacerated n : back and shoulders, until the
desh and muscles guivered At each blow.
Tnus for a moment they stood
Presently ths leader broke the silence
With the command. "Hars. let Us 60"
and pointed up the bill that ran along De
great dividing river. Toe eyes o. the "io-
fdelf watchers followed the direction of
hs finger. and there up that steep rising
ground upon a bare. stony spo stood
F great grim appearing cross.
At he Instant the leader spoke the men
( fell nto line with sh ir faces 20 the sun-
rse thus presenting their sides % tue
T sfiot where The cross was erected In he
same iustaot tail msn. robei in = long
black gown and maskesi, save as % mouth,
N'th e black veii or ma tle. began 70 play
% an instruments resembling al cd
srnv 6le. ne most moarufui weird.
T dirga-ike ar that ever fell on human ear
outside the darS. deep dungeons Of ths
damned.
T Bur not al these wCrshiping peni-enses
T fsi into line - ~b 70 and scourge thsm-
selves. because for some thers was a