New-York tribune., 1901-02-03

OF young bucks who volunteer their flesh for the
elevation Of their people. In each community
one is selected, who. garbed only in a breech-
clout leads procession composed Of every in
habitant of the village. and he seldom returns
alive The Indians arm themselves with cactus
and each in turn pricks the "penitente' The
more cruel the nature of the torture the more
nearly have the people Of the community been
forgiven by the Supreme Being for their sins
during the year. The suffering subject bleeding
and generally dying, is then carried back To the
faqul church where prolonged and weird cere-
monies are conducted. but medical and surgical
attention is omitted until the conclusion Of the
ceremonies, when an undertaken medicine
man IS permitted To figure in the disposition Of
the sacrifice
HUMAN OFFERINGS.
This is a human Offering. which is followed
by the Ma achina.' the principal dance. OF four
days duration The dancer prances about
much in the same manner as a baboon trips
about in a cage, until from sheer exhaustion
he sinks 70 the ground. Another Immediately
takes his place and the never varying move
ment, accompanied by the continuous rattle Of
the SourdS, continues undated through the four
days. At the conclusion Of the cer,Snonies tha
faquis heave mighty sshs of relief. for they
have performed their duty. they have been for
given for their tranSgressions. ana they begin a
new year with unsullied records. The past 80
Deeh entirely forgotten, and when a member .
the tribe dies during the next year he is puY
ished only for tho sins committed during ~
period toIloWlng the last atonement ceremonies 5
The young Indians offered for sacrifice who
escape the orgies with their lives are awarded
a place in heaven second in glory only to that
Of the deluded subjects who sucC urnb to the
cruel Irickings Of cactus.
The "3Iatachina" is a ceremonial dance pro-
duccd only on occasions Of great joy. IL is sup
posed that after a buck has been cruelty sacri-
iic, d the Indians should be unusually happy. and
their baa' is in the nature Of Irish wake.
The same ceremonies. devoid of the torture
scenes take place frequently during the month
Of December. ending on Christmas Day, when
the eliminating and most severe of the dances
Of the month takes place.
.. y. Lloyd. who accompanied the Yaqui dane
ers from Mexico 70 Phanix. spent nine years
among the people Before that n served at
on man of war. and. encircling the globe
eral times came in contact with all descriptions
II people and phases OF humanity, mingled with
various kinds IF saVHgcS and half civilized Peo-
pie. bGt declares that he never met more agree
last nine years H. has been millwrighting among
. them. and recently was employed a foreman
by the : nora and Snaloa Irrigation Company
which employs Aaqus IN the construction ot
mamroth canal in the heart of the Yaqui coun-
try l>h miles south If Guaymas. Mexico. The
Naqui territory extends from that point fouI
hundred miles south. and in an easterly dircc
tion six hundred miles Along the eastern boun
dari-s the Indians and MeXcans have mixed
their blood. Mexico claims sovereignty over the
entire Yaqui country but the Indians DO not
recognize that form II government, and each
tribe legis.ates o. suit itself
HosPITABI.E AND HONEST.
The Yaquis are the most hospitable and hon.
st savaE,@7 have ever mingled with" saii
Lloyd. There two things which Americans
going into that country should be- warned OF.
They should not mix in Eaqui politics and Re-
Esion Tn" TWO about the same thing.
the Indians Incorporate into their religion then
hatred u the Mexican. who, they believe with-
out just cause. is attempting To deprive them OF
their choice farming lands and put them under
oppressive yoke. They will always be at
with Mexico. Their politics relates only t0
their antIIathy for Mexico. they really have
few laws even customs for governing them
selves. They don't need them. The Yaquis are
peace loving people, and their close observance
Of the Golden Rule, which they adhered t0 even
before they were aware Of the Christian religion
almost preSludes the necessity Of adopting laws
for the prevention punishment of crime
am sorry for them They simple children of
nature Attempts have been made their
education. but children who have spent several
years il schoo! return To their reservations and
live as the balance of the tribe. in few years
forgetting all they learned in school. don't
know that | should be- sorry for them. for they
are ConJentvd and seem To think that ii is folly
To be wise. for by their ignorance they are
haTpy.
When an American goes among them and
conducts himself properly ne need have fear
of bodily harm lie may carry his watch and
Valuahlcs into the heart of the Yaqui country.
and unless he Injuries the Indians or makes light
of the religious OhScrVanccS he will return with
them ana unharmed. The pure Mexicans Of
Spanish extraction as | have found them
through Mexico. also honest but il is the
hAifbrrcd the mixture Of Mexican blood with
that of the Yaqui which produces the treacher-
Gus AMI bloodthirsty offspring. The Yaduis are
have protected them several occasions 10 my
uWledSe.
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