News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1921-03-30
Tribe Numbering 10000 Is Sale
t( Be Descended From n.
the Germans.
OPPOSITE TRUE, SAY NATIVES
They Tell Berlin EthnoIogist That the
Germans Are Descended From 3
Them-Worship Old Gods and 20
Offer Up Sacrifices.

llOu VI dDOuL ZU,UUU peOple III heAlC'
who are said to be descendants of th'
| Germans. According to the legends
of these aborignes, 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 Nnd 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 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 shaver crown and as
long as possible on the sides. 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
disagreeable to hear.
"Some Of these people are fair
haired and have 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 Misecs.4
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. / visited several places
where I found the remains of sacri-
fees, such as fowls, small dogs, bread,
chocolate, eggs and fruit. Certain viii
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
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
.elligent. They live in small straw
huts, each having one room.
eff ANY nation of Indians in Mexico
1as d social and political future it
will be the nation of Zapotecas. Be-
tito Juarez, the famous Mexican re-
,ormer, was a ZapOtecan and was born
n ZuelOtao, near Italian, in the noun
aims of OaXaca.
'FThe question of the Mazatecas tribe. |
S one of the most interesting and diff !
icult problems. find that, for in
stance, when questioned, they say that |
n olden times they came from the !
Worth, but they were unable to tell |
rom what part of the great North they |
lrst marched. They have legends |
which are to the effect that they
assed over the Colorado river and
Vhen they came to Mexico City they
ettled first in the state of Vera Cruz,
7here they had repeated battles with
he Aztecs, the founders of Mexico
'ity. In these battles the Mazatecas
yere driven over toward the eastern
cast in the state of Vera Cruz. This
ountry has been held by the once
owerfnl nation until this day.
They Are Wary of Strangers.
at is difficult for 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 cid custom in connec-
on with its idols. The shell of an
yg is taken and, being broken into
wen pieces, it is wrapped in seven
eces of cotton cloth. Along with
hS al Z SCNtAA DiCISS VI DdIh, feu anu |
ne feathers, and seven grains of
'rn. These charms, bound together,
e placed one at each corner of ev- !
v PERSONS tract of land. This will
sure a bountiful harvest and will
so secure the Indians from injury
ON personal enemies. 1
There are seven gods worshiped
Id the eagle, tiger, crocodile, parrot,
i'd serpent are among them. The
re animals are worshiped, and the
lages made are buried, as the peo-'i
g of the tribe are ashamed to have
rangers know of this form of wor-
ip. / was shown number of the
tars upon which sacrifices to the
ven gods were offered Every village
s the seven gods, but each village
s in addition one as a special god.
is. said in Chichotla that in the
urch there is a trained serpent and
Is is the chief god of THE village.
Ie people who constitute the nation II
We a reverence for the serpent.
itch is not shown toward any of the
Ter gods" tt u