Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-08-15

is always Dareneaueu, uer lIOWsy uldCh
hair braided with white strings, the latter
braided together at the ends
The male Aymara wears very wide trou-
sers of black wooden, slit long way up
the leg, either at the back or the outer
side, and underneath full drawers of coarse
white cotton, which flop about his ankles
as he walks. On his feet are rawhide san
dals: on his head knitted cap of brilliant
colors cone-shaped, with ear-laps. and a
long point which bangles gracefully over
his nose or hobs about gayly when the
wearer is on his usual dog-trot. Their
women universally wear dresses of dark
blue flannel, quite short and beautifully
shirred from the waist down over the hips.
The bodice, made separate from the skirt,
is sort of Tyrolean jacket of the same
coarse blue flannel, woven by themselves,
very short, low-necked and barely coming
together at the bosom, showing all around
the white chemise beneath. They are COM
monty barefooted, and the ponchos of both
men and women are black, pathetic sign
of mourning, it is said, worn by every
member of the tribe, through all genera
lions ever since their beloved Atahualpa,
the last of the Incas, was basely murdered
ny Liz WOllCn ondWio I'll z 1857
ened at the breast with huge pin of brass
or silver, shaped Ike spoon. Their hats
are the oldest, generally made of black
velvet or blue flannel put on curtain-fash-
toned over wide platform of pasteboard
extending out from the head all around
like an umbrella.
There is considerable difference in the
dress and habits of portions of the same
tribe who dwell in different pueblos. For
example, while many of them, both men
and women, wear their long hair carefully
braided in many small strands which hang
straight down the back, others merely tie
their locks together at the nape of the
neck without braiding; others cut the
back hair but cultivate a heavy shock
which falls over the eyes like 'bang;;"
and others let it grow as nature wills,
without the aid of comb or scissors. There
is an infinite variety of hats, too, all of
most peculiar shape.
Though all these Indians are intensely
Roman Catholic in religion, many of their
customs and superstitions show traces of
the ancient faith of their fathers. To cite
few OF them: In the days of 1ncas, when
ever poor Indian had climbed hill, at
the top of it he laid down his load, bowed
low toward the east, invoked the name of
Pachacamac, one of their principal del
ties, who was supposed to be the judge of
the human race, repeating three times the
word Apachicta, the abbrevlation of SEN
tence signifying 81 give thanks unto him
who has enabled me to endure thus far"
at the same time presenting to Pachaca-
mac an offering consisting of hair pulled
from the eye-lash, some chewed coca,
small stone or handful of earth.
To-day the traveller observes on all the
roads near the summit of the cordilleras
many mounds of stones or earth, the re-
suit of these offerings and every modern
Indian leaves thereon a similar tribute
though perhaps its Specification may have
changed, or the deity to whom it is ad-
dressed may bear another name
They also have a superstition that in
order to return by the same route in safety,
it is necessary to smear any prominent
the tallow of the llama, and to throw
against it cuds of chewed coca. If they
have no tallow they mutter an extra
prayer or two, hoping that the mysteri-
Gus power will excuse their poverty; but
no Indian is so poor that he cannot spare
little coca. Both Quichuas and Ayma-
raes observe this custom, and the latter set
up endways pieces of slate or small stones
in every crevice of the rocks on the road
to prevent the exit of evil spirits.
In crossing any ridge they cast a stone
upon the heap that is always to be found
there, and murmur a few words, whose
Specification no white man understands.
These cairns, called apachetas, are gener-
ally topped by huge cross, and may be
found at the summit of every hill all over
the land. Not an Indian, drunk or sober,
will pass one without uncovering his head
and saying PRAYER while making his
offering; but the secret of it has never
been disclosed, even TO in4uisitive priests
at the confessional. There are other cairns
still more ancient, whose purport and his
tory nobody knows. They are set exactly
on the apex of the hills-square mounds
each about six feet high and hollow inside
built of stones, well set and plastered
over. Many of them have been taken
down by curious people in the hope of
finding buried treasure inside, funeral rel
les, or other traces of lAeir original use,
but nothing has ever been discovered.
Besides the gods of heaven, the ancient
South Americans seem to have had a great
many terrestrial deities, all of whom re-
ceived sacrifices, and some we're wor-
shipped in temples. A remnant Of the old
faith may be found among the Indians of
TO day, who at harvest time offer to the
earth "Mama-Pacha') an oblation of
chicha and ground corn, imploring her to
give them an abundant yield. After a
field has been planted, eairn or altar of
stones is erected in the middle, on top of
which is secured sheaf of wheat or shock
Of corn.
The sea, also (''Mama- Cocha") comes in
for share of worship, and is piously in
voked by those Indians who dwell near it.
They believe, not without reason, that
many of those diseases which are rife be- |
tween the coast and the sierras come out
of the ocean on the wings OF mist and
vapor, and they implore Mama-Cocha to
send them health instead.
On the banks of rivers a ceremony is |
still performed much like that called may
uchdIia in the Inca worship. None of the |
mountain Indians can be coaxed or driven |
across stream, large or small, until they |
have first taken little water into the |
HOllON Vi the uduu anu luNOhcu the you |
of the river to permit them to pass in |
safety; then, having drank the water, |
they throw little corn or coca into the |
stream. 1t must be remembered that |
there are few bridges in the country, and |
during portion of every year the rivers
that are now easily forded become danger
Gus torrents.
From time out of mind these tribes of
the southern continent have regarded |
coca with extreme reverence, worshiping |
the shrub itself, and using its leaves in
their religious ceremonies. The Inca
priests chewed it during divine service,
and it was believed that unless those
worthless were well supplied with
coca the favor of the gods could not be
During the $50 years that
have interviewed, Christianity has not been
able to eradicate this deep-rooted idolatry.
To this day IL is the general belief that |