The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-05-25
STRANGE CEREMONIES.
QUEER FORMS OF WORSHIP o.
SERVED IN ARIZONA.

Practices Of tho Descendants OF Band
Of Spanish Adventurous
Tradition says that in 1871 few Jesuit
padres and Spanish Adventures pusf VI
their way northward through Mexico as
far as the Santa Rita mountains, which
are located in what is now known as
southern A.izona On the western slope
Of this great range just beneath the
shadow of Old Badly. majestic peak
which rises to the height of 10000 feet,
the settlement of Tumacacori was formed,
and the mission Of San Jose erected
The present inhabitants Of the Santa
Ritas are the descendants Of the Spanish
adven,urers with n strong intermiXture
Of Indian blood. and the principal settle
ment in the mountains is ut GreatervIlie
They are ignorant and superstitions, and
while they are nominaly Catholics, their
ideas are so crude, and they have forgot
ten or changed so much Of the teachings
C the old padres that they can hardly be
considered a Christian people. There is
no chu. oh in the mountains, and priest
has not been among the people for more
than hundred years. yet they keep track
Of many of the holy days and church
fcasts. which they observe very devoutly
in spite of the fact that most of the cero'
monies are conducted after then own
strange fashion. -
Every wear Sema,a Santa CIloly Week
Is observed ct Greatervile in the most ian
tastc manner, and people gather there
from ali parts of the mountains. large
adobe hut is put in order and prepared Tor
the occasion. Every devout person brings
to the improyised chapel such holy pic
mud gpf
fetal flowers as they may possess, and
with these the room is ornamented An
altar is made of empty boxes piled IN the
shape OF pyramid and covered with pam
cotton cloth. The images and candles
are ranged around this altar, ana large
cruciiX or picture of the Holy saviour
surmounts the whole No work is done
during Holy Week, and the people give
themselves up entirely TO their devotlons,
which ore kept up without ceasing both
day and night.
As there are no priests TO ofiiciate, there
con be no regular service in the chapel
and the only order observed seems TO be
that the older people lead in praying or
chanting. and the Younger ones follow
suit The prayers are short ana very lar
between. so the principal service is the
almost lnccS>dnt tutllt 4H'h N'AiNh
and children sing in unison, accompanied
by rude band consisting Of vollon'
accordion and guitar The people have
good voices, and the chanting is III a low
and melodious tone A strangely weird
and striking effect is produced as the sad.
sweet music from the little chapel floats
up the lonely gulch and is softly echoed
among the rugged cliffs.
Outside of the chapel a scene is con
slantly being enacted which differs widely
from the devotions within. Here are
gathered a number Of young men and
BOYS clad in fantastic garments and wear
inr lidcous masks Tie masks are gen
orally made from sbecpsliins, with the
wool on the outside. The holes for the
mouth. nose and eyes are burned with hot
irons. which gives them singed and dia
bolical appearance. and each head Is ornd
mented with horns or antlers. These peo.
pie are called "Judeas 1t is their duty
TO laugh and scoff at the devotions. and to
jeer al those who profess 10 believe. They
enter the chapel from time TO time, with
ont bowling before the altar, and while on
thu inside amuse themselves by pinching
or otherwise annoying those at prayer
If their pranks become too annoying, the
person praying makes the sign of the
cross, and the annoyer must then turn
away his face and apparently tremble
with fear.
At night the "Judeas" build great bon
fires and dance and howl around them
from dark until daylight They rush
around the blazing pile and jump through
the flames, trying to show which one pos
sesses the most devilish instincts They
are not representing devils. IT is true; but
they believe that all are inhabitants of
the internal regions. and that properly to
impersonate the character there must be
arutter disregard for fire.
During the week an eiiigy Of the Saviour
Is taken from the altar in the chapel. and
after being regularly cruciied is laid away
in sepulcher prepared for the occasion
The devout ones chant and pray and show
every evidence that they have some faint
idea of the solemnty with which the death
upon the cross should be commemoratcd
Meanwhile the "Judeas' are jubilant. and
howl and dance around their fires in
greater glee than ever.
On Easter morn every one assemblies in
front of the chapel, the men form in line,
and the women gather around the sepul.
cher The men bring with them any kind
VI iHtN may istN'f anu III WV INV
will be found all sorts of guns and pistols
At given signal the efligy is taken up
and returned to its place on the altar; and
volley after volley is fred by the men to
announce the fact that Christ has risen
from the dead
Then comes the climax. The "Judeas
who have been soothing and deriding dur
ing the week, while all of the devout
were praying, are going to receive the
punishment which has been in store for
them. Their masks are thrown aside and
they are Invested of all clothing above
their waists They Immediately set up a
wailing and make every outward demon.
stration of despair. A double row of
children, young men and young women
is now formed, and between these lines
the offenders must run the gauntlet
Each girl and child is dressed to represent
an angel. aud all are armed with switches
and leathcrn thongs. while Cnly the girls
carry lighted candles in their left hands
AS the offenders run up and down between
these lines they are numerically beaten
upon their naked backs until the blood
gushes out and the flesh is laid bare
There are many i'm instances in the mOuut