The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-08-10
CITY NEWS.
SAW THE AzTECS
FEED THEIR DEAD
F. w. PAGES RARE EXPERIENCE
IN OLD MEXICO.
Picturesque Ceremony of Tribe Iso-
lated in Wild Region Seldom Wis.,
tied by White Men-Nlr. Page Tells
of His Adventures in the Land Of
the Correns.

Amid the descendants of the ancient
Aztecs, in the land of the once
powerful Montezumas, F. w. Page, an
intrepid American, is seeking his for
tune. Mr.. Page is a guest at the
Rogers hotel on his way back to
MEXICO after inspecting some of his
mining properties in the western
states.
For several years he has been in
Mexico, a good hundred miles from
the nearest railroad, and far deeper
in the interior than any white man
heretofore has dared to make his resi-
dence. There, in native mines that
Indian lore says have not been
operated for $50 years. he is trying to
secure a. sufficient amount of the
precious metals to make himself in
dependently rich, but living in daily
fear that these modern Aztecs may
some day resent his taking wealth
from the mines of their forefathers,
and cause him-like a score Of others
who have sought the riches of these
strange people-to become "myster1-
ously missing"
So far, however, Mr.. Page says the
natives are very friendly. He finds
that fair treatment and courteous &C
ton toward them win reciprocal con-
duct Another secret Of his success
lies in the fact that he Is satisfying
himself with using the lower-grade
ores that the natives have thrown to
one side, and from which, because or
their crude methods, they are unable
to extract the values. These mining
operations he is carrying on in a dis
trict known as Navivad.
Mr. Page is Of a venturesome dis
position, and recently before starting
on his present trip to the states, =
made journey still deeper into UNI
known Mexico, to the borderlands Of
To1i wi
Correns, who are considered the pur-
est descendants of the olden Aztecs
as we'll as the most isolated tribe in
Mexico. On learning that the white
man was not after gold or silver, the
Correns consented to let him remain
in their country one day, but at the
same time kept. him continually sur
rounded by armed men. ..a~
TN that one day." said Mr.. Page
st witnessed ceremony which white
men have seldom If ever seen before
1t was the opening ceremony OF the
native harvest festival-the feeding o.
the dead. The Correns assembled II
hundreds from all parts Of their land
Each delegation was gayly att1red II
O. costume representative of the espe
cial products Of it's respective district
One costume I had opportunity tt
examine closely. This garment wa
made of skins over which were sewet
kernels Oh corn 80 CloSCly do ~ SoNC
the skins completely. A crown wa
the headpiece made Of skillfull,
woven cornhusks decorated with corr
tassels.
1.-THE receptacles for the dead wer
clay and stone tombs built in tiers
The high priest conducted the cere
mony standing on a pedestal, aroun
which, on a lower platform, were hi
assistants A hundred women an
children acted as ,mourners. CONSTANT
wailingl and weeping. 10 The, o. priest
kept up q continual chant, aided by
chorus. The chant was monotonou'
but rather tuneful. Each grave wa
visited and food placed in cows horn
and clay dishes for the departe
spirits.
"Following this feeding Of the dea
came a procession. Gay banners {
! all colors, grains and fruits were cor
I spicuously displayed. The ceremon
! for the day finally ended with the ne
! ttves all circling around their priest
] then in unison falling on one kne
4 pointing the right arm towards TT
! zenith, and emitting final wall whic
awoke the echoes thruout the su
rounding hills
Mr. Page was then notified by II
, high priest that he must leave tt
hand; that his presence attracted tt