Wichita eagle., 1889-02-23
los PENITENTEO."
Weird Rites in the Land Of the
MOntezumaa
Passion Week Penance in Portions of Old
1Iexico-The Mimic Cruci1xion That
Is Not Always Mimicry-An In
teresting Description.
fCor. Omaha Bee.1


read of a sect who, though at this day less
powerful than in generations gone by, still
exert mighty influence, private and pub
Lie, social. political and religious, in the
until lately little known country of south
west ernN orth America. During a somewhat
eventful and checkered career the writer
has been thrown in with many strange
nations of the earth, but among no one
has as many and interesting subjects been
found as among the remnants of the former
rulers of Mexico. 1t must be remembered
that the Mexico of to- day is not the Mex
leo of the past, only as it is known In
legend and tradition, with here and there
Q few fading monuments OF its former
power and glory.
A gentleman high to-day in the civil
and military circles Of that country
whose friendship and acquaintance the
writer is proud to claim, suggested that a
visit to the scene of penitentiaI self-tor-
ture during Holy week (santa semana)
would be interesting and instructive, and
at once he, Senator Salazar, and the writer
prepared for the journey. The plaza of
San Rafael was chosen for the visit, and
the hour midnight Under the deep blue
canopy vaulted as the sky Ger no other
country is vaulted, when the world seemed
in peaceful slumber and the little adobe
town was wrapped in mantle of dark
ness that was buttoned with single star,
the party silently entered the walls of
sun-dried brick and were received by the
hospitable head man of the village
who was not of the mysterious
10 po m "a
SILENT not only for policy, but for safety
Throwing about the head and upper body
dark serape blanket OF shawl) the visi-
tors moved stealthily through the sage
brush across the prairie near to lonely
adobe house, beside the dark flowing Rio
Grande. Arriving there each one con-
cealed himself in the thicket and watched.
Within the house were heard solemn dirge-
like songs, chorused by mournful signs and
groans of pain. Then all would be silent
until broken by the creaking sound OF an
opening door, hung upon dry wooden
hinges (even these luxury in that lani),
and then the low spoken words "Quien
esta: adone viene?" (Who are you?
whence came youO would tell Of the
stealthy arrival of some brother" cher
mano) stained with sin and laden with
the weight of wrong doing. He would be
admitted in silence, and again would the
weird chanting begin. Close beside the
curious visitors noise like the step of a
cat-footed animal would be heard; it was
the moccasin tread of the sentinel VINO
kept guard against the Intrusion of stran-
gers and infdels like the visitors who were
sQuatting almost breathless amid the sage
brush. Near the doorway were laid, one
upon another, great wooden crosses made
OF pine logs weighing hundreds of pounds,
and presenting the appearance In the dim
starlight Of some black mass pilei against
the grayish walls of the worship temple.
At intervals between the chanting and
groans, a noise of some one flashing some
object with "a bundle of twigs was heard.
Again and again would the creaking
door be opened and closed; some
times to admit a travelling brother
from afar, sometimes to let out
a penitent whose devotions had almost
overcome his physical power of endurance.
Again the door would open in obedience to
the sentry's low call. LAS hermanas
vienen" (the sisters are coming), and then
some one of the society would go out, ad-
vance, and speak with some of the females,
who stepped singly to the penitent and
muttering, 81 give this for the glory of
God" would hand an earthen water ves-
Sci (tina ja) filed with bitter drink (agua
armagosa) to give to father, husband, son,
brother, or lover strength and comfort in
the trying hours yet before him.
Thus the night was passed; many COM
ing, none but the comfort bringing women
going away. The same groans, the same
chanting, the same sentinel step, the same
thrashing sound, as il made by bundle of
timber willow branches, broke the silence.
At length morning came The hidden
visitors cautiously peeped and peered
through the brush, when, along with these
sounds, there met the wondering eye
strange sights. The lodge was temper
arily dissolved, and in the early rays of
blushing morning the penitentes stood out
side the building in groups of two, per-
haps more. Over the head and face of
each was a black veil completely conceal
ing each ones identity; upon the body
was no vestige of clothing except thin,
white drawers, all stained and soaked
with blood from waist to heels; upon the
feet were sheep or deer-skin moccasns,
and in the hands was q wicked thong or
bundle of what seemed cruel cords, but
were in fact stems and stalks of cactus,
with its prickly thorns, or amole stalks,
wrapped and woven into q bundle with
which the penitent whipped and cut and
lacerated his back and shoulders, until the
flesh and muscles quivered at each blow.
Thus for moment they stood.
Presently tbs leader broke the silence
with the command, "HarkI let us CO."
and pointed up the hill that ran along the
great dividing river. The eyes of the sin
fdel" watchers followed the direction of |
his finger, and there up that steep rising |
ground upon bare, stony spot stood /
great grim appearing cross
At the instant the leader sooke the men /
fell into line with their fas es to the sum
rise, thus presenting their sides to the
spot where the cross was erected. In the
same instant a tall man, robei in a long
black gown and masked, save as to mouth.
with black veil or mantle, began to play
upon an instrument resembling an old
army fife, the most mournful, weird.
dirge-like air that ever fell on human ear
outside the dark, deep dungeons of the
damned.
But not sll these worshiping penitentes
fell into line to whip and scourge them
selves; because for some there was q /
worse, though to them higher and holi-
er, task. Three stepped with Bonded .
forms toward the pile of great pine logs
made into crosses. There they each knelt
and four or SIX brothers slipped from the
line, laid aside their thong OF thorny cac-