The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1903-01-09


[ am Gods authoriz ed agent" bat he
did not scare those who held diff
f.rent opinion to himself. Your
scribe glories in the steadfastness of
his opponents in this matter.
THE MEXICANs OF THE BEND.
Well next will be the Mexicans.
They are very scarce on this side of
the river during the winter and early
spring, there being only few FAM
lies who stay in the Bend all the
time, but south of the river and up
the river three or four miles there
is quite a large settlement of them,
but they do not adapt themselves to
the American ideas or ways of living
very readily, they hold to their
ancient ideas almost universally. 1t
will be- remembered that they are
not Spanish race but they are "a
Mongrel race, having descended from
the original American Indians and
the early Spanish settlers. They
are from several tribes of Indians.
The readers will remember that some
of the Indians are very dark in color
while others are of q copper color.
Well just so with these Mexicans,
there are some very light, even much
lighter'than full blood Indian and
there are others that are as black as
u fall blood Kansas or Sackinfox
Indian. These Mexicans have many
of the traits of the Indians also many
Of the Spanish, but they never, under
any consideration, want to be cllssed
as Indians or their Indian resem-
blance spoken of, They consider the
Spanish far superior to other people
and their glory and pride is their
Spanish blood. They possess one
characteristic which is prevalent in,
both theSpanish and Indian character
namely, that of treachery, though
they do not seem to be more than
either of their ancestors. They hold
themselves aloof from all ather hu-
manity. They take it as the highest
insult to be classed with a negro
though some of them are as black
as any negro you could find, yet their
hair is always straight, coarse and
usually black as jet, 1t is very
strange sight to see a lot of them
together where some are as black as
negco and some are very white.
Isaw some with blue. eyes and light
hair with rosy cheeks. Light hair,
blue eyes and rosy cheeks are very
grave disgrace to any of their peo-
Pile though they can still be one
with them if they adhere to all their
theories, doctrines and rules but to
have kinky hair is disgaace which
they will not tolerate at all and all
who are parties to such a disgrace
are Immediately ostracized forever
from their communion. They are
all strict Roman Catholics and have
nothing to do with any one else ex
cept as matter of business. They
come over in the Bend in great
numbers during the fall of the year
when wages are good. Each one
carries his whole outfit for living,
cooking and sleeping, though often
there is a dozen or more in a gang
aud all occupy one or two rooms yet
each cooks for himself alone. Some
times there are women with the
gang and they are respected just
the same as the men and no more.
They seem to bevery agreeable among
themselves and can live on almost
as little as Chinamsn. If one of
their gang is net treated right every
one will pack up and all leave in "A
body. l shall have to wait until
next time to tell you Of the burial
of a Mexican.
With best wishes to THE TIMES
and all its readers.
w. G.. BAILEY.