The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1921-02-17
FIND CURIOUS
RACE IN MEXICO
Tribe Numbering 10000 Is Said
tt Be Descended From
the Germans.
OPPOSITE TRUE, SAY NATIVES
They Tell Berlin Ethnologst That the
Germans Are Descended From
Them-Worship Old Gods and
Offer Up Sacrifices.

Monterey, Next is a fact no
generally known even to many eth
nologists that there Is a tribe or ma
ton of about 10000 people in Mexic'
who are said to be descendants of thu
Germans. According to the legends
Of these aborigines, however, the Ger
m2nS are descendants of the Misses
which Is the name Of the tribe. The,
inhablt several districts of the 18th
mus Of Tehuantepec. An investiga
ton OF the Misses was made some
PEARS ago by Or. William Bauer, 4 no
ted ethnologist Of Berlin. He livet
for several years among the different
their history, habits and customs.
1.-THE Mlsecs are rather low In stat
IRE, and besides this they are some
what deformed," said Doctor Bauer
on the occasion Of his recent visit to
Monterey. '4The 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 They
are conservative In their customs,
manners Of living, and, above all, their
language. This II sim extraordinarily
pure. although very hard TO learn and
disagreeable to hear.
"Some Of these people are fair
haired and have light skin. For this
reason they wero said to be the de-
scendants Of the Germans. In nearly
every Mexican history Is found this
tale, but when asked them OF their
origin, they said that they were abo-
rhymes Of this country. Several OF
the more intelligent said that, on the
contrary, the Germans were descend
ants Of the Misses.
Worship Their Old Coda.
Like all other tribes they are 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 / found the remains Of sacri-
fees, such as fowls, small dogs, bread,
chocolate. eggs and fruit. Certain vii
lagos have their idols hidden in places
tribe.
But the most interesting Of the
tribes In Mexico are the ZapOtecas,
who are at present situated In nearly
the whole south OF the country and
in the State OF OaxAca.
They number about 100000 people.
These people are strong, OF large pro-
portions physically, are very hand
some, generally good laborers, and In
telligent. They live in small straw
huts, each having one room.
IF any nation Of Indians In Mexico
has a social and political future 1t |
will be the nation of Zapotecas. Be-
nito Juarez, the famous Mexican re-
former, was Zapotecan and was born |
IN Zuelotao, near Italian. in the noun
.ains of Oaxaca.
1.-The question Of the Mazatecas tribe |
. one of the most interesting and diff
tcult problems. I find that, for In
Itance, when questioned, they say that
n olden times they came from the
WI Iii Jul tACy NOiO dhdOiO W tCAA |
rom what part Of the great North they
irst marched They have legends
which are to the effect that they
'assed over the Colorado river and
ghen they came to Mexico City they
ettled first in the state of Vera Cruz
There they had repeated battles with
he Aztecs, the founders Of Mexico
nv Tn hof |
rere driven over toward the eastern
cast In the state of Vera Cruz. This
ountry has been held by the once
owerful nation until this day.
They Are Wary of Strangers.
at is difficult for a stranger to trav-
through their country owing to their
superstitious and suspicious
leas. They worship idols, but these
ley keep buried, and new ones are
ade each year. This nation in par
cular has one old custom In connec-
on with its idols. The shell Of an
q is taken and. being broken into
ven pieces, 1t Is wrapped In seven
eces Of cotton cloth. Along with
is are seven pieces OF bark, red and
ne feathers. and seven grains Of
m. These charms, bound together, {
9 placed one at each corner Of ~
, persons tract Of land. This Will :
sure a bountiful harvest and will
70 secure the Indians from injury
I'm personal enemies.
There are seven gods worshiped,
d the eagle, tiger, crocodile, parrot. :
d serpent are among them. The :.
9 animals are worshiped, and the :
ages made are buried, as the peo- :,
, Of the tribe are ashamed to have :,
Anglers know Of this form Of wor- :,
D. / was shown a number Of the !.
ars upon which sacrifices to tho =
zen gods we're offered Every village :.
! the seven gods, but each village
, In addition one as a special god. :,
is said In Chichotla that In the -
lrch there is a trained serpent and Z,
5 10 the chief god of the village
. people who constitute the nation -
re a reverence for the serpent, =.
Ich Is not shown toward any Of the