Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1920-10-08
Tribe on Tehuantepec Isthmus
Is of Teuton Origin, Say
the MexicanS.
HAIR and SKINS ARE FAIR
Berlin EthnoIoeist, 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 ethnologlsts 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 inhahit
several districts Of the Isthmus of
Tehuantepec. An Investigation of the
Misses was made some years age by
DR.. William Bauer. a noted ethnologlst
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 lie 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 shapen crown aud as
long as possible on the sides.
Always Return Home.
1.-THE Misses are very fond OF roam
Ing about, but although they often
so TO the gulf coast, they always re-
turn 70 their poor villages. More than
their neighbors. they are conservative
in their customs, manners of living
aud. 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 studied this language and wrote
II at the same time. as nearly correct
as possible
"Some on these people are fair
haired and have light skin. For
this reason they were said TO be- de-
scendants of the Germans. In nearly
] every Mexican history is found this
tale. asked them of their origin.
ana they said that they were aho.
rhymes of this country. Several Of the
more intelligent said that, on the con-
trary the Germans were descendants
of the Misses. The joke was not bad.
However the Misses form evidently
varr particular race worthy of d
large amou-t of study.
They ara famous for their
strength. The> carry easily from six
10 eight arrobas (from $50 to 20o
poumds) for many miles. aud over tie
steepess hills
Need Ballast In Walking
ct is said that the Misses, on theil
return from carrying u load 10 som,
iolnt, pack load OF stones, as the.
find II difficult work. to walk without
some sort of ballast
"rhis nation. like an. the other
tribes is very superstltious The,
still Worship ,aeir old gods and Offer
them up To this day sacrifices ia IN,
fields on the hills and on the rivers
| visited several places where found
The remains OF sacrifices. such as
fowls. small dogs, bread chocolate.
eges and fruit Certain Villages have
! their Idols hidden in places known
only TO the oldest men Of the tribe"
Another strange fact brought 10
light by Dr Bauer was tfat the .reat-
esi nation ~ Indians ia Mexico IS the
ZapotecaS, and Il is from them. be be-
lieyes, that the future greatness Of the
country will come. He said:
u have visited Chlapas. Oaxnca.
Guerrro. vere Cruz aud Other states
ana have studied the nations called
| Misses. Zapoyeca MiSetcia. Afazateca,
| Maz0hua and the Othumi. The most
interesting Of All these, however, and
| perhaps of aii DE Indian races Of
Mexico, are the Zapotecas. who are al
present situated in nearly the Whole
south OF the country. AND especially
IN the state OF Oaxaca. They humber
about 100000 persons.
''Ihs ZapOteeaS are strong PEG