The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-03-04

your heart good image OF the Quincas."
With such an irrevocable custom of hos
ptality II IL fortunate for these peculiar
people that they dwell far away from civil
tied communities and in land where a
wheeled vehicle never has been seen. The
narrow trail which crosses the oloudcap-
ped, snow-covered Sierra Madres at this
point IL practicable only FOR mountaineers
and sure-footed burros. and, consequently.
II is seldom that n traveller takes this route,
Quincas would have TO change their cus-
toms or the whole population would have
TO devote every hour OF their time TO min
ing gold.
When Charles Nordhofr first wrote that
this same custom of offering a dish of gold
to travellers was practiced by the early
Spanish settlers OF California his readers
did not believe It. II, nevertheless was
true and there are many old people yet
living in Los Angeles who can bear witness
to the fact.
The strangest OF all their possessions,
and the one that distinguishes them as a
peculiar people, are countless nocks of
tame birds and aquatic fowls. In the even
ing, when their swarm OF pigeons begin
to flock 10 the village to roost. the scene
reminds ono OF stories that the old pioneers
used 10 tell about the clouds OF wild pig
cons that frequently passed over the West
ern states In the early years of the CEN
fury. The tondness Of this tribe for birds
Is not limited to pigeons. for the town Is
simply one vast open-air aviary. Every
house Is full Of birds Of every color while
the trees in the streets ana the PIAZZA
fairly simmer with plumage cf varlegated
hues, and the air is laden with the melody
OF song II is serious offense In Guinea
Ma 60 KIN or MAIN bird OF any kind ~
cept for food, and even then the priest
has to be consulted The hirds-or. at
- tall 80 -
ed as sacred messengers. Thoy have some
idea OF tho old theory % transmiEra don
OF souls. and they either believe that The
spirits Of the departed assume the forms
81 birds, or they regard them a. Watchers
inspired hy angels Tho beautiful quozai.
% royal alumage regarded hv the "a
AEiscs as sacred. makes iis home under
tho porches Of the Temple ~ the sun. An
ornithologist could hnd no better place on
earth 20 gain Information than the plaza
and streets 81 Guinea Ma
The people are as fond % flowers as
they are ~ birds. and every little yarf
and garden seems 70 he "a crowded flower
bed. No woman ever appears ln the pub
I Nc street without her headdress az low
crs. while the Young girls and chldrcn
always wear great gNriands % roses
about their necks. Evcr unmarried GIRLS
whole costume Is made up OF the piumage
~ birds.
The Quincas ARE puzzle 20 an ethnoi-
osists. They are ~ no klnship TO their
neighhors. and their skin r. too white Cor
them 20 claim descent from the Old
Mavss Of Central America. One ~ their
strange customs has lea some jnyesUgat-
ors TO think that they arr of Semitic erl-
sin In front 81 their temple stands a
/ pole about twenty feet hieh. about which
/ t. wound great serpent carved ir wool
Whenever q guinea iH bitten hy a rep
( Tie. De runs Immediately 70 tbs rolc and
rrastrates himself on the ground 81 its
/ base White the priests are offering sac
/ ri'ccs inside ~ the temple tho people
( Tatacr ahost the stricken person chant
I ms mournfA appeal 90 the Eoss Tor
I BIS recovery, and tho medicine woman
7 administers 70 him q liquid which Is pos
aialS an eTcctual remedy. Tor the victim
I frequently recovcrs The Ola missionary
( priests saw something In THIS ceremony
which reminded them ~ Moses raising M
( The braxsu serpent in the wilderness. ana
J they az once jumped 60 the conclusion
I that the Qu,ucas were the descendants -
( tho shirwvocked crew 81 ono OF Solonon's
vessels either outward or houieW A.d
bound from the land ~ Ophir.
IT au acute observer should spend a sew
/ months with ,hesr people. he might barn
something thai would throw "a Ittla usht
upon thc early history - the native races
| of Mexico. and raise a corner Of the cloud
( 81 gloomy mystery that overhanEs so
/ much that Is Interesting