The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1899-04-29

Behind the Times.
From the Two Republics: As is wei
known to all who have looked into tn
matter carefully-for instance. sucl
men as Lumholtz, Starr and Soville-
there are In remote parts Of Mexict
today to be found portions Of tribe:
Of Indians who are practically as much
given to idolatry. superstition and
witchcraft as were their forbears In the
7 vanished years when the cleaning ban.
ner Of CASTLE and Aragon glanced amid
The peaks and valleys of Mexico, an.
aouncing the advent of a stronger race
and more victorious faith. The other
lay, while making little trip over the
Interoceanic. that runs through Sc
many picturesque Indian towns. nap
2ened to meet in one of these VII
ages q very Intelligent Indian, who
old me the following. Whether 1t is
rue or not do not know-I tell the
ale as twas told to me-" He said
that on the northern slope OK Popo-
cateptl, near the foot, there Is large
cave almost unknown to the outside
world. In this cave lives an old white
haired Indian who is the oracle of a
small tribe of Indians in that vicinity,
whose language is unlike that OF any
OF the neighboring towns. This little
tribe has never been conquered either
by the Spaniards or by the church, or
by the modern government OF the Se-
public. The Indians have preserved
all their old customs and traditions un-
til this day, and are practically as they
were 400 years ago. One of.the very
curious institutions among them is that
OF the oracle, or seer, who dwells In
the aforementioned cave all alone.
He Is always the Oldest and wisest
man of the tribe. He Is looked upon
with the same superstitious reverence
as were the oracles Of Dodona and
Delphos in the boyhood Of the world.
In that cave are preserved rare gems
of curiously carved emeralds, such as
the great "Malinche" sent home to
Spain; idols of gold and silver and
copper and stone, pearl necklaces from
the far-off Gulf of California, and
strange robes of feather worke of which
but very few examples are known to-
day outside the pages of Sabagun, Pres
colt or Clavigero. There are also
ranged in fitting order the ancient gods
If this strange people. Of whom this
old man is the high priest. Once q
month commission of the oldest men
Of the tribe visits the cave and takes
with 1t, in the name Of the people, Of
ferings of fruit and flowers and eat
ables and incense in honor of the gods
and their oracle. Upon all affairs of
Importance to the tribe this old man
is consulted, and his judgments are
as those Of the Modes and the Persians.
l asked whether it would be possible
to visit him or not and was told no
one, not even members of the same
tribe, outside the aforementioned
commission" had ever seen the inside
of that strange and mysterious cave.
My informant told me that at certain
point all persons are stopped by
guard and told that they can proceed
no further upon pain Of death And
this is not .sale of 400 years ago, but
Of today. The tribe and the cave are
At the north Ade Of Popocateptl and ev-
cry Saturday in Atlixco members OF
his tribe are at the market to buy and
saI1 th air elm MA pocoacitioc ~ liFo r.
IS enough toA see them to realize at
,nce the great difference between them
ind the other Mexican Indians who are
o be seen theRe at that time. Not only
s their style Ne clothing very different
ut also theit language.