Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-06-29

houses are circular and they are made OF
stone with matched roofs The idols ara
kept In caves in the hills.
These people make beautiful blankets
and they co fine embroidery. They have
many queer customs MARRIAGES are
made by the parents. The babies do not
creep but they crawl about on all foUrs
like a monkey until they are able 10
stand.
Not far from the Huicholes live the
Coras. OF whom only about 800 remain.
These Indians claim 10 have come from
the east and they look not unlike Ko-
reans. They have features much like
the Anglo-SaNoEs and they consider
themselves better than the other tribes
about.
The Coras marry at fifteen and the
women keep their beauty long time.
although their lives are very insanitary.
Their houses have no ventilation and
they bury their dead in caves.
Frederick Starr estimates that thrr"
are still quarter OF million or pure
Tarascan Indians in Mexico. MANY of
these people are found about Lake PATTI
cuaro. in the state Of Michoacan. whore
was once situated Tzuntzinzoon. great
Tarascan city. The name sounds Ike
Chinese. This town was visited by tie
Spaniards in 1a22, and they wrote of its
civilization an darts. They told OF the
wonderful feather work. for which the
people are noted today; OF their mother
of-pearl and bone carvings. and OF their
skill in enameling.
a
the Mexican Indian and the Chinese. IN
southern China Is produced kind or
bird wing enamel In which the wings OF
the bluejay and hummng bird are
ployed. The Tarascans do much I'll"
same work, getting their materials from
the humming birds of Mexico, of which
there are fifty different kinds, having
feathers OF every shape and color. run
ming from sea green to emerald and from
straw color to q fiery red.
The Tarascans have a tradition which
corresponds to our deluge. Their Noah
was called Tespi, and when the floods
came he made a great boat and 1llled IL
with animals and birds. As the waters
subsidized he sent forth a yulture but
it remained away feeding on the dead
bodies which then covered the highlands.
Finally a humming bird was sent forth.
and Ii came back with a leaf in its
mouth.
/ am told that most of the Tarascans
still worship idols. and that every farm
err has orr buried in each field, with the
idea that II will keep the birds AID other
thieves away from the crops. Others OF
the Indians are Catholics. and they make
long pilgrimages to the various shrines.
Many of them come to Guadalupe 10 wor-
snip. According TO lNeT Oiu TellsiOu lNtt
prayed to the southern cross, and looked
upon the sun as their father Today they
object to doing business after sunset and
are terrified at the time of an eclipse.
which, they say, will give one the hare
lip.
The Tarascans believe In the evil eye.
and they carry charms to ward off its
effects. They do not like to be photo
graphed, and would rather have strangers
say evil things about their children than
good things The same is true of some of
the people of Palestine.
l hear strange stories about the mar
rage customs of these Indians. They are
said to believe in love charms. and think
the dried little finger of a dead man will
surely bring luck. 1t takes the place OF
the rabbit foot of the south. Near Lake
PatZcuaro the chief place of coErtship, Is
at the spring, and the lover watches for
his sweetheart to go there to bring water.
When he sees her he catches hold of her
rebosa or shawl and refuses to let 60
until she says yes II she does so. he
smashes the jar Of water which she has
on her head, SO that Ii falls over her.
and her girl friends thereupon give her
a new Jar with which she can carry the
water home. The next day the man takes
q load of wood to the door of his sweet
match is complete. She then comes TO his
house, and he gives her a bouquet of
yellow flowers. which color is supposed
to bring luck.
FRANK G. CARPENTER.