The Opelousas courier., 1899-04-29
wHIrE-HAIREp oRAoIa-
1A over q Tribe That IL Centuries
Behind the Ttmes.

''uies over a Tribe That IL Centuries
Behind the Times.
from the Two Republics: Az IL wei,
hnown to all who have looked into the
Lnatser carefully-for instance, such
men as LumhoTtx, Starr and Seville
tnere are in remote parts OF Mexico
loaay to be found portions Of tribes
OF indians who are practically as much
gwen to idolatry. superstition and
"lecncraft as were their forbears In the
'anlshed years when the cleaning ban
her OF CASTLE and Aragon glanced amid
me peaks and valleys Of Mexico, an
Hoonclng he advent Of a stronger ace
ind more victorious faith. The other
lay while making a little trip we the
tnteroceanic, that runs through 80
iany picturesque Indian towns, I zap
'ehea TO meet in one Of these vii
ages q very intelligent Indian, who
old me the following. Whether it is
rue or not I do not know-"I tell the
ale as twas told to me-" He said
nat on the northern slope of Popo-
cateptl, near the foot, there is a large
ave 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 n
Of the netghboring towns. This little
trloe mas never been conquered either
by the SpaniarQs 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 wisest
man OF the tribe. He Is looked upon
with sthe 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" sem home to
Spain; idols of gold and silver and
copper and stone, pearl necklaces from
the far-of Gulf of California, and
strange robes of feather work, 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
II this strange people, Of whom this
old man is the high priest. Once 8
month a commission Of the oldest men
Of the tribe visits the ave and takes
with 1t, in the name OF the people, Of
ferings of fruit and flowers and eat
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
those of the Modes and the P%ersians.
I asked whether 1t would be possible
visit him or not and was told no
one, not even members Of the same
tribe, outside the aforementioned
commission" had ever cen the inside
OF that strange and mysterious cave.
NV informant told me that al a certain
point all persons are stopped by a
guard and told that they can proceed
no further upon pain Of death. And
this Is not a tale Of 400 years ago. but
OF today. The tribe and the a v r
at the north side Of Popocateptl and ev-
cry Saturday in Atlixco members OF
this tribe are at the market to buy and
sell their simple necessities Of life. II
is enough to see them to realize at
once the great difference between them
and the other Mexican Indians who are
to be seen there at that time. Not only
is their style of clothing very different.
vt also their language.