Evening star., 1897-04-03

MhS\N@ enacted every year
in a supposed civil
lied community, and
the actors are citizens of the United States.
This Passion Play is performed in San
Ysidro, Cerrillas, Garcia and a score or
rrore different localities in New Mexico and
Arizona. 1t is said that ten years ago these
ceremonies could be seen in every town In
southern Colorado, New Mexico Arizona
and some parts Of California, but since the
advance of civilization have been confined
TO places remote from railroads or to those
communities only sparsely settled by Amer
leans.
The Jemez Canon Of New Mexico, seven
ty-five miles ortheaSt from Santa he and
sixty miles fro m the nearest railroad. is the
scene during the Lenten season of one OF
the most dreadful dramas, prompted by
savage fanaticiSm, ever witnessed In a civ
ilized country. The canon is located in the
heart of a wide and extensive range of
mountains and is elevated 6,4W feet above
the rough and narrow road winds
along the side of the mountain, passing
over precipitous lodges of limestone, and
down through the little villages, which are
dotted here and there over the whole ex-
tent of the canon. The houses are one
story in height, very plain in construction
and built of adobe, which is composition
of clay and straw baked in the sun. They
are inhabited by Mexicans of indolent
and lazy nature, whose customs as
ago, and whose language is beautiful, So
norous and flexible
| 1t Is these men and women that at this
very time are carrying on this most dread
| full drama. Unlike US, who, at this parlic-
ular season of the year, make amends for
our sins by prayer, worship and fasting,
| they, not content with such mild pen
| nance, inflict injuries and physical pain
upon themselves. 1t is the general under
| standing among them that the more in
tense the physical suffering they endure
the more prosperous they will be during
| the year, and their prospects of inheriting
the kingdom of heaven are far more GER
| tain. These penitent brothers CLos Her.
manos Penitentes) are not the most up
| right and best citizens. one would sup
! pose, but, on the contrary. are the least
| honest and conscientious, being cut-throats
| and horse thieves; in fact. they form he
| worst element of that country. At one time
! this brotherhood was quite extensive, but
| the influx of the 'tenderfoot' has been in
| imical to them; consequently the order is
! growing smaller at each repetition Of the
| ceremony.
Procession of Penitents.
With Ash Wednesday and on every Fri
day and two or three saint days during
| Lent members Of the brotherhood meet in
secret at midnight in one of the moradas,
or praying adobes. and there all join in self
| torture They are perfectly nude, save for
a piece of cloth about their lons or an
|
crucifix hung about their necks; their heads
and faces are completely covered with a
sort of cap made with several folds of cot
ton cloth. Upon the arrival Of the chief
brother. Lo Hermano, the oldest of the
Sect they all march in single file to the
iglesia, dilapdated little adobe church
which is some distance from the morado
Those who are not of the penitente broth
erhood keep within doors or in secluded
places out Of sight of the performers. The
fiuter (pitofero) heads the procession play.
ing upon a rude flute producing a shril
and weird sound. and is followed by the
crucifix bearer. who holds in his right hand
| a small image OF Christ on the cross anC
| swings in his left a font of holy water
Then next to the crucifix bearer come those
| who are doing penance The first of these
| supports huge cross made of rough tim
| bers, which is SO heavy that he can scarce
| ly bear up under it. His hands, arms ant
back lashed to the cross-piece witt
strips of cowhide. Closely following is
| brother who is no doubt suffering NOR,
than any. but from whom murmur is no
heard. On his back is bound with thongs
| of leather a large bundle of cacti, and 81
tightly is it drawn that the iigaments sinl
into the flesh until 1t becomes black anC
| swollen, while down his back and legs th
blood flows profusely. caused by the thou
: sands of nettles that pierce the skin. b.
the side Of the line, bearing lighted torch
| walks very tall brother with a long flow
ing robe, draped gracefully over one shoul
der and trailing the ground. Lastly COM
) the common penitentes in single file, and a
each emerges from the little adobe hut h
/. begins lashing himself with whips of leath
: er, resembling cat-o-nine-tails, while other
use cudgelS of interviewer cactus stalks
The scourging is so severe that it can b
: heard distinctly half a mile distant, bu
unmndful of this and Of the blood whic
trickes down their backs in little streams
they keep up the fogging until they fal
PROSTATE under their own lash.
Within the Church.
Just before reaching the entrance to tn
iglesia, the pitofero ceases blowing hi
, | flute and the procession halts. The cruel
fix bearer passes down the side carryin
the holy water. into which each penitent
dips his instrument of torture, and whic
by the time the end of the line is reached j
crimson with blood. The unearthly musi
fstarts up again. and the doleful train enter
| the church. During the whole time the VIC
men follow along the side. calling tn
e people to repent and singing lugubriou
d chants. Their wild notes, mingled with tn
a murmuring prayers of the penitentes, max
= | a sound peculiarly weird and demoniaca
y Up the aisle of the church and before eac
bench are strewn cactI, broken bits of glas
e and jagged stone They are Obliged in OF
= der to reach the altar. to walk over thi
. | with their bare feet, which become terribl
~ cut and lacerated; but they never vince Q
III give the slightest sign of pain One woul
It really suppose that they enjoyed this sol
r Of thing.
!. After going through many incantatior
+ and the swinging of the censer of hol
e perfume by. the Hermano. the man bearin
a the huge cross and the one carrying tt
!. bundle of cacti. PROSTATE themselves b.
h fore the wooden image of some saint an
v remain perfectly motionless, while IL
q others kneel upon broken glass and ston
" with their bloody backs bowed and shinin
in the dim light Of the glimmering candle
l., during long service Of prayer. After a
" hour or SO OF this indescribable sufferiu
8 the Pitofero sounds g note and simults
= 4 neously all arise. save the two who ha,
a prostrated themselves before the alta
. Four or five Of their brethren assist the
! to semi-erect posture, and with anoth,
4 blow. from his flute the piper leads Il
II procession back to the praying hut. II
: pathway, like the aisle OF the little churc
Il IL strewn with broken lashes. pieces
glass, stone. cacu, etc, and many are see
:. to crawl, with their knees barred. on q
4 | fours like a dog, to show how humble al
e penitent they are. Cases have been citt
= where some Of these poor creatures ha,
" died from the tortures inflicted and Il
o poisoning by the cactus needles.
Upon the Cross.
The horrible fanaticisms increase In the
!. severity a. Lent progresses and culmina
n ON Good Friday. On this day u the a