The Tomahawk. [volume] (White Earth, Becker County, Minn.) 1903-192?, 1920-10-14
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.-1t is not generally known
even to many etllnologists that there
is a 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
MisecsI was made some years age by
DR.. William Bauer, 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 the 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
60 to the gulf coast, they always re-
turn to their poor villages. More than
their neighbors, they are conservative
in 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 I studied this language and wrote
It at the same time, as nearly correct
as possible.
"Some Of these people are fair
haired and have a light skin. For
this reason they were said to be de-
scendants Of the Germans. In nearly
every Mexican history is found this
tale. I asked them Of their. origin,
and they said that they were abo-
xigines of this country. Several of the
more intelligent said that, on the con-
Arary, the Germans were descendants
Of the Misses. The joke was not bad.
However, the Misses form evidently
a very particular race worthy of a
large amount Of study.
'oThey are famous for their
strength. They carry easily from six
to eight, arrobas ,(from $50 to 200
pounds) for many miles, and over the
steepest hills. @-s>~.~......, .....
Need Ballast in Walking.
4 ut is said that the Misses, on their
return from carrying a load to some
point, pack a load Of stones, as they
find it difficult work to walk without
some sort Of ballast.
"This nation, like all the other
tribes, is very superstitious. They
still worship their old gods and offer
them up to this day sacrifices in the
fields, on the hills and on the rivers.
visited several places where I found
the remains Of sacrifices, such as
fowls, small dogs, bread, chocolate,
eggs and fruit. Certain villages have
their idols hidden in places known
only to the Oldest men Of the tribe
Another strange fact brought to
light by Dr.. Bauer was that the great
est nation of Indians in Mexico Is the
Zapotecas, and it is from them, he be-
lieves, that the future greatness of the
country will come. He said:
II have visited Chiapas, Oaxaca,
Guerrero, Vera Cruz and other states
and have studied the nations called
Misses, Zapoteca, Misetcia, Mazateca,
Mazahua and the Othumi. The most
iateresting Of all 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 persons.
..The Zapotecas are q strong peo-