Weekly graphic. [volume] (Kirksville, Adair Co., Missouri) 1880-1949, 1889-06-21
See mes and Passtimes in Patzcuara.
PATZCUARA,
STATE OF MIcHl AoAN, MEX,
May s, 1889.

STATE OF MICH AoAN, MEX,
May s, 1889. J
Since our last we have travelled
across the States of Oaxaca, Pu-
ebIa, Gusnejuate, Mexico, and are
now in the famous lake town of
Puebla, in the above State. The
most remarkable thing about this
town is the smallness of the place
for the greatness Of its age. 1t Is
said to have had over three hum
dred thousand inhabitants long
before the Spanish conquest, but
now it has only about five thou
sand population; they are here.
however, scattered far and near in
the many forgotten graves that
mark the country in the form of
mounds OF the mound builders
and caves where white earth
patches below the suaface tell of
ancient dead. The scenery frcm
the neighboiing hills is one of the
most beautiful we have ever seen
either in North or Central Ameri.
ca. With new found friend we
assembled small elevation, from
which, by the aid of our long range
spy-glasses, we were able to be-
hold leagues of otherwise hidden
beauties. A great lake lay before
us with scores of islands green
with semi-tropical virdure, and in
habited by the ancient Tarasco
Indians, with an occasional mod
ern home, just as if to more sharp
ly mark the contrast of races and
the progress Of time. Beyond,
rose an extinct volcano, at the
base of which green gardens adorn
the scene, and wheat fields turn
ing yellow extended far away in
the distance. A lake steamer, one
of the very few seen in Mexico, Is
nearing the shore and the evening
tain is winding around the noun
tains; now it dashes in view and
again is lost to sight. Many In
dian villages are seen with their
great white churches and mlsera-
ble mud or adobe houses. The
Indian and burrc, each yet used as
beasts of burden, are seen pl0d-
ding on by the side of the railroad,
and the dugout is seen by the side
of the wheeler, and at night the
pine knot is seen to smoke in the
path of the engines headlight.
Thus the old and the new, the coarse
and the cultured are beheld at one
view. Nearer by we look down
upon the old Calvary church, to
which daily pilgrimages are made.
1t has the marks of time and Is re-
garded as one of the many holy
shrines. Within are paintings
mouldy with age and defaced by
moses and insects; yet many are
supposed to have supernatural
power, and around them we find
tokens of deyotees in gratitude of
miracles done by the supposed
images and pictures. Here, too,
are paintings representing the de-
scent from the cross and the suffer-
|ings of martyrs, the temptations
| of devils and delivery of men by
saints and angels. One martyr is
being tortured on the rack, another
pressed into g square, another
stoned, pierced with the spear,
and ANOTHER is being skinned
alive. The scene depicted in these
agonies is enough to make the
heart sick or deaden the sense of
the horrid and the awful.
Hence it is not surprising that
the natives delight to see man
gored to death at 3 bull fight, or
what is worse. sec half e dozen Old
horses, after life Of service. gored
to death, only for popular amuse-
ment. Turning from these sacred
pictures and old Calvary church,
we look down upon the ancient
town witn its deep worn side
walks, tail cL+reh towers and its
blanket covered population.
Among these we see many double
robed, smooth shaved natives
passing in the street. They look
solemn, end try to appear pious
while the Indian takes off his hat
or bo ys low as they PASS. These
are the native Indian priests Of
the place; they serve at the altar
as Of old, and offer burnt offerings,
Icomposed of gum and sweet in
cense. They represent a religion
that is cross between christianity
| and the ancient Indian worship.
They eqt tie most of the hair off
of the tops OF thetr heads, leaving
often only enough to seem He a
halo, and delight to be seen by
men for their great seeming piety.
In places they exact the tenth part
Of the products of their possess
sions in kind, and are bitterly op-
posed to all innovations of foreign
ers. Among the great buildings
is al old monastery, where priests,
a few nuns, md e long train of at
tendants live in the &pcint etyle.
In our visit to this place we saw
the market place where crosses,