New-York tribune., 1906-05-20
INDIANS OF MEXICO.
Characteristics of Different Tribes
Described bu DR.. Bamer.

Mexico city. March CspeciaD-No one. per-
haps has a more thorough knowledge Of the IN
aians Of Mexico than Dr. William Bauer, a scien-
tist and educator OF Berlin, Germany. He has
spent more than four years among the different
tribes which iahabit remote regions of this coun-
try. lie can speak the language Of several OF
The tribes. He described his travels and studies
as follows:
i have visited Chiapas. oaxaca, Guerrero.
Vera Cruz and other states, and have studied
the nations called Misec Zapoteca. Misetcia.
Mazateca. Mazahua and othomi The most I'm
teresting OF these. however, and perhaps OF all
the Indian races OF Mexico, are the Zapotecas
who are at present situated in nearly the whole
south Of the country. and especially In the state
OF oaXaca- They number about 100000 The
Zapotecas are strong people. OF large proper
lions, handsome physically generally good Ia
borers and intelligent They live in small straw
huts and houses, each having only one room,
nd although some Of the people are wealthy
or their sphere, all follow the same rules in
wing and in their labors. The boys are Obliged
, 90 hard farm work at early age and they
re made TO carry great loads Of fruit on their
heads from the time they are six and seven
years Old. This is said to be necessary in order
that they may become strong and healthy and
so they can do the work Of men when they are
grown.
This nation Of Indians still speaks its native
and ancient language. IN some ten or twelve
ainerent dialects. The language is soft and
pleasant and agreeable TO the ear and is easy
70 learn I studied the language with my SER
ant a zapotecan from Tabaa, in the district
d VIVA Alta. oaxaca. II any nation Of Indians
n this republic is 70 have social and political
,uture. IL viii be the Zapotecas. Benito Juarez
ae famous Mexican reforrner was Zapotecan
nd was born IN Zuelatao. near Tatlan. in the
fountains OF oaxaca.
The question OF the origin Of the Mazatecas
one OF the most interesting and difficult prob
ems find that. for instance. when closely
uesaohed' they say that IN olden times
-ney came from the north. but they were unable
TO tell from what part OF the great north they
first marched. They have legends TO the efHecr
that they passed over the Colorado River and
when they camo to Mexico they settled first in
the State OF Vera Cruz. where they had repeated
battles with the Aztecs, the founders Of Mexico
In these battles thu Mazatecas were driven over
toward the eastern border Of the State Of Vera
Cruz. This country has been held bv this once
powerful nation until this day The people are
decidedly interesting to study. Up TO a few
years ago they had kings but OF recent years
they are without ruler. The nation numbers
twenty-five thousand people. They are getting
20 he a wandering people, inasmuch as they
ere employed by planters on coffee and sugar
plantations. During the times that they are en-
ployed on plantations many OF their towns and
villages are entirely deserted
learn from their history that they were a
warlike nation. but now they are most peaceful.
II is difficult for a stranger TO travel through
ihelr country. owing to their extremely suspicious
and superstitious ideas. They worship idols
but these are kept buried and new ones are made
ch rT7ks
custom in connection with its idols The shell
Of an egg is taken, and, being broken into seven
pieces is wrapped in seven pieces Of cotton cloth
Along with this seven pieces of bark red
and blue feathers. and seven grains OF iron
These charms. bound together. are placed one
at each corner Of every persons tract Of land
This Is believed to assure bountiful harvest
and also TO secure the Indians from injury from
thelr personal enemies. I am not sure if all the
nations have the same gods, as I knew only ten
thousand Of the tribe. There are seven gods
"orshlpped. and the eagle. tiger crocodile
parrot and serpent are among them Live ami
mails are worshipped. and images made are
buried. as the people Of the tribe are ashamed TO
nave strangers know of their form of worshin
saw number of the affairs upon which sacri-
nces to the seven gods were offered Every VIII
age has the seven gods. but each village has in
addition one special god. II is said in Chill
Clot-a mat IN the church there is trained ser
pent and this is chief god Of the village The
people have q reverence for the serpent which
* not shown toward any Of the other gods.
another thing I found Of especial in
terest- and this is the fact that every family
10 80 nave black dog. The reason for this
T-5.o.t' :. gwen by the tribe, is a curious one
- IS the belief Of the people of this nation that
N1el t-'ey Gle. 10 reach the promised land thev
.'-1sl l-Fst go through large river. A person Of
his own accord cannot get across unaided The
.eeehd Is that only a black dog has the power
- pun me member of the family across the
!lVer, and then il is necessary for the person to
Lod tightly 10 the dogs tail.
Along with this peculiar notion is another
|:ich is practsed the birth of q child At
us tfle the e ther streEs ashes all around the
Lo4se and the first animal that passes over the
IsAes VIII be the protector Of the child. When
ne animal dies the child also will die
ms 91lsecs, a nation of about twenty thou
@}o -lye n the Zapotecas districts. villa Alta
-i-odpa.l' san Carlos, Yautepec and Tehuante-
Tr' -Aey are Of an entirely different appear
nee ana character from the Zapotecas They
- La..-er -er low n stature and besides this they
.-S somewhat dsfOrned Their hips are broad
-ces nat, ana movements awkward Their hair
D-sch' falling over their shoulders The men
80 ot -i-e-I halr as did the Spanish priests-witb
go So ~, - own ana as long as possible on the
ne Allsecs are fond Of roaming about,
-, -, d. d.lhcLsh they often 60 TO the Gulf coast,
~lies always return to their poor villages More
80 80 lAelr nelghbors, they are conservative in
- customs. manners Of living and above all
u lHelr language. This is still extraordinarily
o hear a''0 u'S0eioO'9
some Of these people are fair haired and have
4 llsht complexion For this reaeon 4be,- are
&c 10 De the descen nSants of C-erroaDs In
- very Mexican history is found this tale
lhey mem OF tnelr origin and they said that
Icy aIe aborgines Of the country Several of
- -.-oSL lLteIllgent people said that on the con-
81 mans were the descendants of the
,I.S5cs Inc Joke was not bad However the