Sacramento daily record-union., 1888-08-25

earthen floor, and roof thatched with
guano leaves. From the cross-poles hung
few hammocks, and in the middle of the
room upon rude bier made Of two boards
upheld by casks, lay the dead woman, with
q wee infant clasped in her arms. The
face of the mother, VINO could not have
been more than IA years old, was calm and
peaceful, but that of the baby was strangely
distorted, as if terrified by its brief look
on life. Fresh flowers were scattered upon
the scarlet blanket that partially covered
the still figures; lighted candles stood at
the head and feet, and near by sat
the sisters and parents of the dead
woman, silent and sad. Inquiring why
the husband and father was not among
the mourners, | was carelessly
informed, as though it were nothing to
cause remark, that Ia probraerta (the poor,
dear girl) had never been wedded-and as
for toe father-quien sabe?
A great crowd occupied the house of
mourning, laughing and jesting as though
the occasion were one of rejoicing rather
than sorrow Many were playing cards;
outside, under pomegranate tree, refresh
ments we're spread, and music, and uproar
resounded in startling incongruity with
VIC dieod III SteIy OF uedLn-
The ceremony Of E2 FeloriO is always
observed when there is & death in the fam
lily, and IS intended to keep up the spirits
of the relatives and prevent their thoughts
from dwelling on the sad side Of the occa-
sion. We are told that considerable diff
ference is made between the velorio Of a
grown person and thai of 4 child, because
the latter being comparatively without
sin, is sure to go straight to eternal hap
piness, and therefore its demise Is properly
a subject Of rejoicing. With adults it is
not so certain where the soul NAV have
been sent to do penance for the deeds Of
the body, and SO at their pel0rjo there is
less merriment and more card playing, the
object being merely to amuse the MOURN
ers-since the dead are Indifferent alike TO
smiles or tears.
With these simple-minded folk death is
looked upon without fear or terror as one
of the common accidents of life With
laugh upon his lips, the Indian lies down
to die, reInarSing cheerfIlly, roy desoa1l-
sGr, am going to rest"
Their superstirions are 5inEular,y mate-
rialistio. They believe that the sinful
soul reaches hell (mjc0da) after
long and painful journey A deep,
dark river interyenes, and to cross
it the aid of yellow dog is necessary,
with a string tied around his neck. which
is held by the corpse. Any dog but vel
low one would not do at all. A black one
would soy, 81 have been stained ;" a white
one, 81 have been washed" and neither
could fnd the only fordable place in the
river. Therefore, yellow dogs are reared
for that especial purpose, which may ac-
count for the host Of ours in and around
Santo Toribiro.
In crossing this Styx the poor corpse
looses all his clothes, after which the dog
leads him, naked, between two lofty noun
tains that are constantly clashiDg together
then over another which is covered with
stones sharp as needles; then over eight
hills, upon which sieet cuts his flesh
Ike knives, and on through eight deserts
where the sands are hot as burning
Goals, After all this, he IS led through
path where poisoned arrows are contin-
ually flying and-worst of all, fierce tigers
come and ea. out his heart, and he falls
into q foaming lagoon, filled with lizards
How he gets ost of it is not explained
but at length he appears before the King
of Mictlan, when his journey is ended and
his identity lost forever. No wonder that
people are inclined to be good in a land
where such beliefs prevail
Another superstition Is that Of the
Heavenly Milk Tree, for dead infants
which grows in a mansion, called Chihud-
clahco. From its twigs milk is constantly
ooging, and it is believed that babies thus
nourished will return TO earth after thou
sands of years, TO populate this world anew
when the present race has passed away.
When local marriages occur in this re-
gion, the parents Of the couple make all
the arrangements between themselves.
The tender passion takes early root in the
tropics, and it is not uncommon to see a
bride aad groom, both under Il years.
When the boy wants to get married, he tells
his mother all about it. She talks with
the father, and if both are willing to accept
the girl as their daughter they repair to
the house of her parents, taking with them
a chiquibuite of fowls, fruit, bread, ears of
dried corn, and striEgs Of peppers. They
organize sort OF procession, composed Of
their relatives and friends headed by
band of music, thus publically proclaiming
their intention.
1t is good form for the girls mother to
politely refuse the first request until she
has had time to consult the maiden as to
her wishes in the matter, and to find out
what her own friends may think of it.
She sends the procession home, comp
pletely in me dark as to the result of
their mission. If the answer be irrevoca-
by lafayoyahle, she simply sends back 10
the parents Of the wguid-be loyer, their
basket with contents untouched. If, on
the contrary, she is inclined to entertain
their proposal, in course of 4 week or two
she sends to them another ohigaiknite filled
with similar offerings.
FANNIE =. WARD
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