The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1894-11-30
MEXICAN INDIANS.

Written for Church and Farm.1
In speaking of the Indians of Mexico
we are apt to consider them as resem-
bling the North American tribes-as wild,
barbarous, delighting in war and sub
sistnS mainly by stealing, hunting and
hshlnG. But as regards the Mexican In
dian such ideas are all wrong. In Mex
leo the Indians are the bone and sinew
of the land; they are the farmers, me-
chanlcs, blacksmiths, I'otters, gunsmiths
and artisans of all industries; and along
the coasts of Sonora and Sinoloa own
and sail the ting vessels, proving
themselves good sailors. In the higher
professions, too many Indians have at
tanned great eminence; notably President
Benito JuareZ, MeXico's liberator, who,
until eleven years of age, herded sheep;
also the chief justice Of the supreme
court, who is the peer of any in the
United States in legal ability, and like
Juarez, is a pure blood Indian And Ca
Jeme pronounced C9-ha-rna) the grea
YaQui cnieftain killed by the NIexicans a
Few years ago, was highly educated
spoke Spanish, English, French and Ger
man fuendy, and was a sizilful military
engineer. In the war which finally re-
suited in his death, the Mexican officers
found on numerous occasions that his
defensive lines were laid out with con
summate skill. His men fought bravely,
and in one battle annihilated an entire
brigade of Mexican troops.
The cause of the war above referred to
is worthy of note. During the absence
of Caieme party of Mexican soldiers
came to his village and grossly outraged
his two wives and his daughters. When
| Cajeme learned what had been done he
natur2lly-as husband and father-sought
revenge and went 10 war. And to di-
gresS a moment, almost precisely iden-
few years ago in Arizona. When Co
chise, the Apache chief SO long and SO
bravely withstood the United States
troops. In the case of Cochise, while
prospectors or miners were the miscre-
ants who outraged his wives and daugh-
! ters and caused the death of so many
! hundreds of innocent people.
Governor Torres, of Sonora, said on
one occ2 sion that ''the Yaquis were the
| bone and the sineW Of S0nora-its work
ers-and the state could not get along
Arizona seeking work, and are highly es-
teemed as laborerS. A gunSmith in Will
cox, Arizona, said that when he took in
difficult job he gave it by preference
would be we'll done.
In religion the Mexican Indians are
Catholics, and entirely under the infiu-
ence of the priests, who seem to think
and after 300 years of oppression it is
no wonder they are SO. In 1882 an Indian
girl about 20 years of age created an
excitement in Sonora by her power of
healing the sick by prayer and the lay
ing on of hands, healing hundreds of In
dams brought TO her from every part of
the STATE. ouL InlS aroused the Jealousy
of the priests, who, having no power
themselves, said hers was from the
| devil, and caused her to be shot to
death1a fayorite style Of argument in
all ages.
The music of the Mexican Indian is
strange and Notwithstanding in very
long-draEFn notes at the end of each
/ line which 10 d listener seems a wall
of hopeless sorrow and despair; at least
il always so impressed me when listen
ing to 1t.
But what. a field for the gospel here
opens to view; Mexico has population
of about 12,e00.G9 eco; of whom 100000 are
pure blood Indians, about 4,5O0,O 900 of
mixed blood, mostly Spanish, and ! l5o9
And these millions are not of gentle
blood, but are of the pure blood of Jo--
the Father; and when their appointed
tine. shall arrive and their hearts be
then will a nation be born in a day and
the work of the Father receive a mighty
impetus. "
J. H MARTINEAU.
Mesa, Arizona, November, 1894.