Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1920-10-22

Mazatecas Is one of the most inter.
esting and difficult problems. ! find
that, for instance, this nation when
closely questioned says that in old
en- times they came from the North.
but they were unable to tell from what
part of the great North they first
marched. They have legends which
are TO the effect that they passed over
the Colorado river, and when they
came to Mexico they settled first In
the state of Vera Cruz, where they
had repeated battles with the Aztecs,
the founders of Mexico City. In these
battles the Mazatecas were driven
over toward the eastern coast, In the
state of Vera Cruz. This country has
been held by the once powerful ma
ton until this day. The people are
decidedly interesting to study.
up until few years ago they had
kings, but Of recent years they are
without ruler. The nation numbers
% 900 people. They are getting to be
a wandering people, inasmuch as they
travel to many parts of the isthmus,
lions. During the times that they are
employed on plantations many of
their towns and villages are entirely
deserted.
Suspect All Strangers.
II learned from their history that
they were very warlike nation. 1t
Is difficult for stranger to travel
through their country, owing to their
extremely suspicious and superstitiOus
ideas. They worship idols. but these
they keep buried and new ones are
made each year. This nation In par
ticular has one odd custom In cOnnec-
ton with its idols. The shell Of an
egg is taken and being broken into
seven pieces 1t Is wrapped I'm seven
pieces Of cotton cloth. Along with
| this are seven pieces of bark, red and
blue feathers and seven grains Of corn.
These charms, bound together are
placed. one at each corner of every
/ persons tract of land This will as
sure a bountiful harvest and will also
secure the Indians from injury from
| their personal enemies. / am not sure
| If all the nations have the same gods,
as / know only 100000 of the tribe.
"There are seven gods worshiped
and the eagle, the tiger, crocodile, par
rot and serpent are among them. The
| live animals are wOrshiped, and the
images made are buried, as the peo-
| pie of the tribe are ashamed TO have
strangers know of this form of wor-
ship.
Village Has Special God.
81 was shown a number Of the al
tars upon which sacrifices to the seven
gods were offered. Every village has
the seven gods, but each village has
in addition one as a special god. 1t
is said in Chichotla that in the church
there is a trained serpent and this is
the chief god of the village. The peO-
pie who constitute the nation have a
reverence for the serpent which Is
not shown toward any Of the other
gods.
another thing which I found was
Of especial interest, and this is the
| fact that every family must have a
| black dog. The reason for this Gus
tom, given by the tribe, is very
curious one. 1t Is the belief Of the
people Of this nation that when they
die, to reach the promised land they
must first pass through large river.
A person of his own accord cannot
get across unaided. The legend Is
that only black Dog has the power
TO pull the member Of the family
across the river and then II Is neces-
sary for the person to hold tight to
the dog's all.
"Along with this foregoing peculiar
notion there is another, which Is a
firm belief and custom as well among
this nation. practlced on the birth of
child At this time the father
strews ashes all around the house and
the first animal that passes over the
ashes will be the protector Of the
child. When the animal dies the child
also will die"