The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-08-13
STRANGE TRIBE Of
INDIANS IN MEXICO.
Tarahumara Women Do Most
of the Work
SNAKES EATEN AS FOOD
The People Have Their Own Lam
suage and Their Dress Is Sur
prlsins-MarrIase and Di-
vorce-Rellglon.
SNAKES EATEN AS FOOD

practises of the Tarahumara Indians, a
savage tribe of that state. The inform
ant is Trinidad Pereyra, who spent some
time among the Indians. commissioned by
Governor Cree1 to study the most appro-
pirate means to civilize them.
The Tarahumara Indians. says the Mex
lean Herald, are descendants of the Ma
hoas, who lived many years in the ST.
erras of Chihuahua According to the
lates census the tribe is composed Of
about 1900 individuals
At the home of Tarahumara the wom-
an works more than the man, who does
almost nothing. The women spin the
wool and cotton, make thread, cloth,
zarapes, hats, baskets. etc. At night all
members of tho family sleep on the floor,
grouped together around a big fire If 1t
is cold
The Tarahumara men, with few excep-
tions, wear long hair which they braid
into cues as do the Chinese.
During the rainy season corn and
beans are planted, but on a small scale.
Only what is needed for the family con-
sumption is raised When the crops are
ing and drinking "tezguino," a kind of
aguardiente which they make of corn.
and the women do the work. They do not
cultivate wheat, but after the crops are
gathered in the neighboring districts they
pick up what is left by the reapers. All
members of a family go together to the
Hidalgo district, and pick up sometimes
as much as 200 pounds,
Children are taught to take care of
sheep. They have no cattle and live on
sheep milk, pinole, tortillas, frijoles birds.
rates, mice and snakes The pinole is
cooked corn mixed with sugar or pilon-
clio and pounded into powder. When
the pinole is mixed with water or milk
and boiled 1t is called champurrado. Birds.
rats. snakes and the other animals used
for food are hunted by the children, who
early are taught to use the bow and ar
row. Some of them are very good marks
men.
Few Speak Spanish Well.
The Tarahumaras have their own Ian
guage and only a few of them speak Span
ish well. Their dress is something that
surprises one who has never seen a tribe
of savage Indians. Only very few men,
not more than per cent, wear cotton
breeches; the balance wear breech clouts.
None of them wears a shirt or shoes
and there are many who have no hats.
When there is a fiesta, a funeral or such
occasion the gala attire consists Of
breaches shirt. hat and huaraches. The
women wear blouses and skirts and some
times a rebozo. These are homespun.
The women also make zarapes for their
husbands and brothers. to be used during
the cold season. Children are naked
until the age of four or five, when they
begin to wear breech clouts.
The Tarahumaras have their own gov
eminent and legislature although these
are appointed by and subject to the Mex
lean authorities of the neighboring towns.
In each Tarahumara town there Is a
"gobernadorcillo," or little governor. and
chief of police. All gobernadorcillos and
chiefs of police are subject to a captain
general of superior jefe, who is also ap-
pointed by the Mexican authorities. 1t is
only seldom that the latter have occasion
to intervene, as the Tarahumaras have
become rather law abiding. The most fire.
quent crime committed within their ter
ritory is drunkenness and an occasional
murder. Drunkenness Is not punished
severely.
Tarahumaras like and admire civiliza-
ton. They believe that the Mexican gov
eminent is good because 1t protects them.
This refers only to those who live near
towns of civilized people. Those who live
In the heart of the mountains do not know
any other rulers than their gobernador-
clio and captain-genera1. and they be-
lieve that all the country is just like the
country where they live.
Property is highly respected among the
Tarahumaras. and robbery is seriously
punished Offenders of all kinds are tried
and sentenced by the gobernadorcillos,
who usually take advice from the Oldest
man of the town. Marriages are also per-
u
a man gets tired of a wife all he has to
do, says Pereyra. is to drive her from the
house and to bring in another. Some mar
riageS, however, are performed by the
Mexican authorities Tarahumaras usually
marry when still very young, between Is
and 20 years. When a young Tarahumara
wants to marry woman he locates the
hut, jacal cave where she lives with
her family and drops his CULVER at the
entrance. If the girls parents come and
pick It up. 1t Is a sign that they APP
prove the marriage: IL they do not. and
the CULVER is left where It was, or IL
thrown away, 1t is sign that the suit
is rejected. Very often, however, when
a CULVER is thrown away the girl follows
her lover That is. they have a sort OF
elopment.
Women Work Hard.
The Tarahumara women are treated by
their husbands in much the same manner
that the North American Indian used
to treat his squaw. They have all the
hard work to do while the men loaf.
They shear the sheep and spin the wool
to make thread and cloth or zarapes.
They also cut palms and make mats and
petates All this Is done during the
hours left free by the meal getting. A
Tarahumara woman generally gets up at
o'clock in the morning, mikes the sheep
and begins to pound the corn for the tor