The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1899-03-11
wHlrE-HAlREp ORACLE.
Rules Over a Tribe That IL Centuriet
Behind the Times.

D0ulnu bhO
From the Two Republics: AS is well
known to all who have looked into the
matter carefully-for instance, such
men as Lumholtz, Starr and SoVille-
there are In remote parts OF Mexico
today to be found portions Of tribes
Of Indians who are practically as much
given to idolatry, superstition and
witchcraft as were their forbears In the
vanished years when the cleaning BAN
1er Of CASTLE and Aragon glanced amid
he peaks and valleys Of Mexico, an
bouncing the advent Of stronger race
and more victorious faith. The other
day, while making a little trip over the
Tnteroceanic, that runs through so
many picturesque Indian towns, nap
2ened to meet in one Of these VII
ages q very intelligent Indian VINO
old me the following Whether 1t Is
rue or not do not KNOW tell the
ale as twas told to me-" He said
that on the northern slope OF Popo-
cateptl, near the foot, there Is a large
cave almost unknown to the OUTSIDE
world. In this cave lives an old Wnlte-
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 spaniaras or by the church, or
by the modern government OF the re-
public. The Indians have preserved
all their old customs and traditions I'M
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 Wises'
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 Il
Spain, idols Of gold and silver anc
copper and stone, pearl necklaces from
the far-off Gulf OF California, ant
strange robes of feather works of which
but very few examples are known to
day outside the pages Of Sabagun, Pres
colt or Clavigero. There are als'
ranged in fitting order the ancient god
Of this strange people, Of whom thi
old man is the high priest. Once
month a commission Of the oldest mel
of the tribe visits the cave and take
with 1t, in the name Of the people, of
ferings of fruit and flowers and eat
ables and incense in honor Of the god
and their oracle. Upon all affairs Q
importance to the tribe this old ma
ia consulted, and his judgments ar
as those Of the Modes and the Persian!
I asked whether it would be pOssibl
to visit him or not and was told n
one, not even members Of the sam
tribe, outside the before-mentione
commission" had ever seen the insid
of that strange and mysterious cav
My informant told me that at a certai
point all persons are stopped by
guard and told that they can procee
no further upon pain Of death. An
this is not q tale Of 400 years ago, br
of today. The tribe and the cave al
at the north side Of Popocateptl and eN
cry Saturday in Atlixco members
this tribe are at the market to buy an
sell their simple necessities Of life.
is enough to see them to realize
once the great difference between the
and the other Mexican Indians who al
to be seen there at that time. Not on
is their style Of clothing very differen
ut also their language.