The Pioche record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1908-1925, 1920-10-08
Tribe on Tehuantepec Isthmus
Is Of Teuton Origin, Say
the Mexicans.
HAIR and SKINS ARE FAIR
Berlin Ethnologist, Who Lived Among
These People Several Years, De-
scribes Their Appearance and
Habits and Their Language.

MOnterey.-It Is not generally known
even to many ethnologists that there
Is tribe or nation of about 10000
people In Mexico who are said to be
descendants of Germans.
According to the legends Of these
abOrigines, however, the Germans are
descendants of the Misses, which Is
the name Of the tribe. They inhabit
several districts of the Isthmus of
Tehuantepec. An investigation Of the
Misses was made some years ago by
Or. William Bauer. a noted ethnolOgist
of Berlin. He lived for several years
among Indian tribes of Mexico and
studied their history, habits and Gus
toms. On the occasion of his last visit
to this country he spoke Of the Misses
as follows:
"They are rather low In stature,
and besides this they are somewhat
defOrmed. The hips are broad. the
faces fiat, and their movements are
very awkward. Their hair Is black,
falling over their shoulders. The men
| wear their hair as did tho Spanish
priests-with shaven crown and as
long as possible on the sides.
! Always Return Home.
"The Misses are very fond of roam
Ing about, but, although they often
20 to the gulf coast. they always re-
turn to their poor villages. More than
their neighbors, they are conservative
ir their customs, manners of living,
and above ALL their language. This
Is still extraordinarily pure. although
very hard to learn and very disagree
able to hear. During three months OF
1902 l studied this language and wrote
1t at the same time, as nearly correct
as possible.
"Soms of these people are fail
haired and have light skin. Fol-
this reason they were said to he de
I ycendants Of the Germans. In nearl,
: every Mexican history is found thi!
: tale. l asked them Of their origin
a and they said that they We're abo
4 rhymes Of this country. Several Of tn,
e more intelligent said that. on the con
trary. the Germans were descendant
! Of the Misses. The Joke was not bad
a However. the Misses form evidentl
! very particular race worthy of
!, large amount of study.
! ''They are famous for thei
strength. They carry easily from 81
:. to eight arrobas (from $50 to 20
. pounds) for many miles. and over Il,
steepest hills.
: Need Ballast In Walking,
% ut Is said that the Misses, on the
o return from carrying load to som
"a point, pack a load of stones, as the
le find II difficult work to walk witho,
If some sort of ballast.
e, "This nation, like all the oth'
is tl,bes, Is very superstitious. The
still worship their old gods and Off
"a them up to this day sacrifices in Il
fields. on the hills and on the river
= | visited several places where I foul
y, the remains of sacrifices. such
- fowls, small dogs. bread. chocolat
eggs and fruit. Certain villages ha'
- their idols hidden In places know
: only to the Oldest men of the tribe"
~ Another strange fact brought
~ light by DR.. Bauer was that the gre;
- est nation Of Indians In Mexico IS z
Zapotecas, and 1t is from them, he I
en- lieves, that the future greatness of I
nd country viii come. He said:
u.s. II have visited Chlapas. Oaxat
cd Guerrero, Vera Cruz and other stat
mt and have studied the nations call
re- Misses, Zapoteca, Misetcia. Mazate'
Mazahua and the Othumi. The mi
interesting Of all those, however, a
u perhaps Of all the Indian races
~ Mexico are the zapotecas, who are
- present situated In nearly the VIII
y. south Of the country, and especia
NJ h the state Of Oaxaca. They numt
o. ,hout 10000 persons.
- sThe zApotscas are . strsns y