The Dickinson press. (Dickinson, Stark County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1927, 1888-10-06
A CURIOUS BELIEF.
suPERsTiTloNs OF THE ToToNac
INDIANS OF VERA CRUZ
Stories of the "Nahual," or Double.
Guarding Children Against Evil Intlu.
cnccs- Few Tales OF the Marvellous.
The Would be Bitter Bitten.

cnccs Few Tales OF the Marvellous
The Would be Bitter Bitten.
Meanwhile th' friends and kindred gather
up the ashes which for weeks past have been
collected from the household fireplace for the
purpose. and at a little distance from the
house they distribute these ashes in n circle
lncloSlnS the cabin, the ring being perhaps
foot wide and several inches thick This rim.
remains during the night of the child's birth
and the next unornlns it is carefully in
Spected. with the view to discovering tho
tracks OF any animal which may have crossed
1t during the night Whatever it may be
that has left Its imprint in the circle. tina,
animal Is the MANUAL of the new born i'll
fant 1t Is not quite easy to explain tlt
meaning of the "ord na!lt!.l Other self
guardian spirit, wrath, token. all these have
somewhat OF lis force, vet none is exactly tn.
definition Ii the nahunl hc a deer, for in
stance, the babe. become man las under
exceptional condition., the power Of e.. c,i;,,,l-
ing hls CORPORAL beng at will from that of
man to that of a deer Thus it goes without
saying that the child. rs he arrives ut the
period OF intelligence, is carefully taught
what animal is his MANUAL, and 1t Is held
sacred accordingly
against evil influences, so she pucks tutt
OF the hair like scarlet feathers that grow n,
the root of the canoe s,oi's" rhc tolcarn
md t,>tens them ,4l the crown of III" infants
head with ccra de can,ec..c,a q very tenaclo,,>
wax gathered by insects Ii She NEE, a
white one" that Is to say. 4 Caucasian, Size
hastily covers the iac" tt..,: head oi her bat,y
~ avert the ills which ,n;y betali II, for ii
the stranger gaze upon the CHILD the look
means mal de ojo the evil cycl.
With increasing Years the tie between th.,
man and the Individual animal INTO which
he transforms tl!nS.t becomes stronger and
stronger until al last t!c Death of tine one
snaps the cord @! life OF the other Take. for
Instance, the story Of !, death which occurrc,
~ the night ot the birth OF a woman of the
Potomac race, who III her advanced years was
prodigy of knowledge Gul Il very notable
person. 1t may be sad, cM i,assant, that th,,
telling OF this story in detail develops MANY
features OF interest in the daily life of ti!,.
Indians. 1t was the night of birth of the
laughter, and some hours aftcl that event
indeed about dayllSht when Francisco S.
and his wife awoke to tho fact that TIN.
stranger WAS crying Justify from some lhysi
cal discomfort. The husband arosa To str
the fire INTO q blaze, for fifty years ago
matches aud candles were nQ in use in Nj
santla and the freight served for all pur
poses OF Illumination. But the Indian scrv
Ing woman had crcpt away to the straw
mat that was Ecr only bed and the tire
had died down past rcklndling, 50 that
the man had to seek for a torch at the hut
Ut a uelghbor who was already asir and
eating his simple breakfast of tortlllas, u
thin, unleavencd corncake, dipped in n sop
II rcd Chile peppers, ground up with water
IN preparation FOR beginning his work al
tayhsAt Returning home with the brand.
Francisco was relating to his wife that his
.nvy and admiration had been moved bv
the gusto and hearty appetite Of the nc,gh
Dor when that ueighbor's wife came rui
ing to the door crying and calling "CG.ce
CHICO! Come quick to help mel Maria,o /,
iy!ng!" And, truly enough, when Fraicl-cu
reached the spot the man he had So latr,l
ieit eating with .s.st and vigor Was past Tia.
Htst agony, whether from apoploxy, lt,'uit
!.sease or what not these simple feemle
~, ie had no ,neaus OF verifying Eat the
yii;s!i.t!on was for them simple caon. ..a
.na. Il few days later. word c;i.la IN tru.
ruatia that at the veri hour OF the -.
,i death party y humt4ls 1T that ,,l:.,..
IA! hlled lion unounsain lion, which a.u
nal was the ahuai OF the dead man
The bad iadians ARE rather inclined h.
'naAe capital with the stIpei st:tlols If t!ieli
tcL!t iluf:cs>. uut it sometimes results ll
ii.i~ matter. as IL! others. that the woull Ia.
.jter is bitten, as "itness tic following ,,,,i
,.,.s There was an idle fellow, Jose WHO
l,i- about Nis,int!a. itvln., on the egrulllu,
ii hls wife. who ground corn and ui;,,!.. tp.
..ii> for u" peIghoors The wife di,d ;lal