The state herald., 1891-02-13
MEXICAN PEON SLAVES.
THE CURIOUS SYSTEM sI
WHICH THEY ARE HELD.
The Chsmulas and Ten-Jspss OF tho statc Of
chiapn and Their Historic Dread Of
the spaulards- Strange Foley
Of NOn.Intcrrourke.

The little town OF Tuxtla Is situated
In the State OF Chiapas. which Is ono
OF the extreme southwestern countries
OF Mexico. Tho country is inhabited
by tribes OF pure blood Indians. Each
tribe speaks separate language and
all are entirely different in habits
and dress. These nborigines refuse to
associate with tho descendants OF tho
Spaniards or with tho people OF any
other nationality who have settled in
this section. They even go so far. in
order to maintain their identity. us to
rotuse to marry into other tribes. md
have strictly adhered to endogamy for
more than three hundred years. Tho
principal tribes In the state OF CHA
pas are the Chamulas and Tcnejupas.
1t is stated in history that Cortez
captured beautiful Tnbascan girl,
who was tho princess OF hor tribe, and
made her his concubino and interpre-
tor. An account Of this action OF the
conqueror OF Mexico has been handed
doEF from generation to generation
by the members OF tho Indian tribes
in this and adjoining countries, and it
Is said 10 10 tho cause OF tho excecd-
ingly great caution exercised by tho
Indians hero In dealing with the Span
'nrds even to the present day, Tuxtla
is supplied with wood and products OF
lhe farms, gardens and orchards by
the 1ndiars, but tho latter Is dealing
with the Spaniards hero pretend to DO
unacquaintcd with the Casiilian lam
guagc. 1t is said that all the tribes
can speak Spanish fluently, but that
they claim TO DO ignorant OF the Ian
gnagc for fear that they will be cap
turcd and forced into slavery.
The fear that these lndiai enter
tain for the Spaniards IL 10 strong
that they will cross TO the other side
oil tho street to avoid meeting ,hom.
such instances ara seen here every
day. The Mexican government has
attempted TO educate and civilize these
savagos aud number OF schools havo
been established In their midst, bnt
the Indians refuse TO send their child
rcn to school and father has often
been known To puy the schoolmaster Il
liberal sum In order to be given tho
privilege OF keeping his children at
home. In this country schoolmaster
Is an important parsonage. He is ap-
pointed by the governor OF the state
and is vested with judicial power, 1t
being one OF his duties to decide Nil
questions OF difference among the
people.
A system Of paonagc or SLAYER, Is
extensively carried on In Chaps. and
Il, workings nrc novel and interesting.
The slaves nearly all come from 'hc
middle class Of Sp,niards, and are not
Indians. ms is generally supposed The
usunl custom Is for II family who may
nave boy or girl 10 or II years OF
age TO take tho child to some planta-
ton owner or family Of the first class
and propose that II shall take n posi-
ton AS servant on condition TINT nu
advance OF ten or fifteen dollars II
made 10 tho parents. Tho conitnc,
also generally stipula,cs that the child
shall receive certain amount MS
wages and that the sum shull be placed
to its credit until the money advanced
has been paid, when tho child will
again be free. As the child grows
older and becomes ablo TO earn moro
money It's parents, 80 II happens In
nearly every cusc, apply for more
money. thus piling up the debt When
the child becomes q ngc II generally
asks for money for It's own personal
use. aud thus bound to It's master I,
must continue in slavery until tho debt
Is paid.
A pcon cannot change masters nj
his will. but he must have written
statement OF his debts from his first
owner which Ia accepted by his new
master. should one DO found who is
willing TO advance the amount II
any attempt TO escape paying this
debt Is mndo by the slave, no is car
ried TO jail and punished until no Is
willing to tsko up the yoke again.
This system Of slavery Is contrary TO
the statute law OF tho country. but IL
has been In operation 80 long that In
this part OF tho republic II is carried
On without molostatlon.