Cavalier County farmers press. (Langdon, N.D.) 1920-1921, 1921-04-07
Tribe Numbering 10000 Is Said
tt Be Descended From
the Germans.
OPPOSITE TRUE, SAY NATIVES
They Tell Berlin EthnoIogist That the
Germans Are Descended From
Them-Worship Old Gods and
Offer Up Sacrifices.

6SASA nAoWA SNSh " A1NA -
nologists that there is a tribe or ma
ton Of about 10000 people in Mexico
who are said to be descendants Of the
Germans. According to the legends
Of these aborigines, however, the Ger
mans are descendants Of the Misses,
which is the name Of the tribe. They
inhabit several districts of the 18th
mus of Tehuantepec. An investiga-
tion Of the Misses was made some
years ago by DR.. William Bauer, a no
ted ethnologist Of Berlin. He lived
for several years among the different
Indian tribes Of Mexico and studied
their history, habits and customs.
"The Misses are rather low in stat
ure, and besides this they are some
what deformed," said Doctor Bauer
on the occasion of his recent visit to
Monterey. "The hips + broad, the
faces flat and their movements are
very awkward. Their hair is black,
falling yer their shoulders. The men
wear their hair as did the Spanish
priests, with shaver crown and as
long as possible on the sides. They
r conservative in their customs,
manners of living, and, above all, their
language. This is still extraordinarily
pure. although very hard to learn and
disagreeable to hear.
"Some Of these people are fair
haired and have a light skin. For this
reason they were said to be the de-
scendants Of the Germans. In nearly
every Mexican history is found this
tale, but when l 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 Gods.
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. l 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
known only to the Oldest men of the
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
especially 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.
eff any nation Of Indians in Mexico
has a social and political future it
Will be the nation of Zapotecas. Be-
nito Juarez, the famous Mexican re-
former, was a Zapotecan and was born
tains of Oaxaca.
'sIhe question of the Mazatecas tribe
is one of the most interesting and diff
fcult problems. I find that, for in
stance, when questioned, they say that
In O1den 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 City 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 vel toward the eastern
coast in the state of Vera Cruz. This
country has been held by the once
powerful nation until this day.
They Are Wary of Strangers.
"It is difficult for a stranger t trav-
ell through their country owing to their
extremely superstitious and suspicious
ideas. They worship idols, but these
they keep buried, and new ones are
made each year. This nation in par
hcular has n old custom in. connec-
ton with its idols. The shell of an
egg is taken and, being broken into
eve pieces, it Is wrapped in seven
pieces Of cotton cloth. Along with
tlllS are seven pieces OIL DARK, req ana
blue feathers, and seven grains Of
orn These charms, bound together,
IRE placed one at each corner of ev-
cry persons tract of land. This will
assure a bountiful harvest and will
also secure the Indians from injury
from personal enemies.
There are seven gods ~worshiped,
and the eagle, tiger, crocodile, parrot,
and serpent are among them. The
live animals are worshiped, and the
images made are buried, as the peo-
nile Of the tribe are ashamed to have
strangers know Of this form Of Mor-
ship. I was shown a number of the
affairs upon which sacrifices to the
seven gods were offered. Every village
has the seven gods, but each village
has in addition n as a special god.
It 10 said In Chichotla that In the
church there is a trained serpent and
this Is the chief god OF the village.
The people who constitute the nation
have d reverence for the serpent,
which Is not shown toward any OF the