The National tribune., 1910-12-01

The following from the New Inter
national CycIOpa edia is 4 jIst and in
telligent description Of the great body
OF MeSicans:
The population OF Mexico at the
present day is largely Indian. and in
many parts-Of the country ancient Gus
toms. supersttions and languages hold
sway. 1T is impossible t0 estimate the
,XlcU proportion Of pure -bloodcd In
dams and a somewhat larger number
Of uegtiZCS. DR.. Leon. the most recent
student of the linguistic families of
Mexico, has divided them into IT fam
lies and $50 dialects. and Is of the
opinion that future studies and inyes-
legations will resolve this number of
families to three mother tongues, which
will he the Gtomi, Maya Quiche and
the Nahua. In many parts of Mexico
the tribes occur in masses, while in
other parts people speaking different
languages are strangely intermingled
In the same town. separated by a single
street. we may find two different Ian
guagcs spoken, while in one town Starr
reports AZtecs. Otomi, Tepehuas and
TOntonaCS, each group preserving it's
independence in language, dress, GUS
toms and supcrstitions, and occupying
its own distinct quarter Of the town.
Most of the Mexican Indians have
been converted to Christianity; some are
their knowledge of ancient traditions
and religion. These are superstitious
to n degree, and believe in Omens,
witchcraft and diyination. Among the
HuichOleS. whose habits customs. re-
ligion and symbolism have been eX-
haustively studied by Lunholtz, and
the Mixes. who have been briefly in
vestieated by Starr and Belmar, we
find greater adherence to primitive
ideas than among any other Mexican
people.
IAN over Mexico the commerce of
the people is carried on in very much
the same manner as before the Spanish
conquest, and their periodic markets,
the 'tianguis. are held weekly, as In
former times They also carry mer-
chandise for long distances, to attend
annual festivals Of certain saints, whose
modern shrines are built on the sites
of ancient temples. The Indians are
principally agriculturists. tho certain
aboriginal trades still prevail, such as
weaving. basket and mat making, and
the manufacture of pottery; and the
products of these Industries, for which
certain villages are noted, are scatter
ed thruout extended areas. Their mode
of living, habitations and clothing have
changed but little under white infu-
ence Their food consists mainly OF
corn, beans and chill peppers. The
or thin mush called possole. Their
food is prepared as before tho con-
quest, altho to a certain extent cooking
vessels of tin and iron are used as
well as those of clay. Their great vice
lies in the use of alcoholic stimulants
They make many native drinks, as in
former times, and on every possible
occasion they indulge in their USE
Brief History.
A brief resume of the history of the
couhtry may help to understand it.
AS FAR as can be learned by eXhaus-
tive study of the confusing legends and
traditions Mexico was long ago peo-
pied by 4 number of different races of
Indians, each holding a separate exist
ence in the valleys and shut off from
their neighbors by the high surround
ing mountains. Upon these first came
the Toltecs. a people capable of high
probably related to or part of the
Pueblo Indians of Arizona and New
Mexico. They had a genius for build
ing large cities with great constructions
of stone, the ruins of which fill the
country. For this reason they are some
times called the builders" About
1000 years ago there descended upon
these people a powerful northern tribe
called the Chichimecans. who subdued
the Toltecs and possibly drove the bet |
ter part of them southwark into Yucca
tan and Honduras. These Chichime- |
cans have legends which carry their |
history hack $500 years Next came |
the Aztecs, apparently q tribe akin to |
the Apaches, who came from the North, |
Arizona and New Mexico, and estab-