The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-12-16
DURANGo:

DURANGO:
1:2--- - Kit .-s.s.>-
Where Coffee Crews Wild and Iron
- Comes by The Mountain.
.sDurano state, scene of Mexico's
most recent, revolution. and Tepe-
huantes, where the rebel leader
AEurgia, was executed. form the
subject of the following bulletin
from the Washington, D. c.. head
quarters Of the National Geographic.
Society: - -
..sAttesition was focused upon
Durango in 1915 by the march into
that state OF General Pershing's
expeditionary force. Then, and
to- this day, the finding OF worn
and weather beaten carretas, OR
clumsy carts. with their solid
wooden wheels, and built without
nails or spikes, recalls the very
early communication between Du-
range City and New York. In those
days it took year to transport
freight between those points.
"The state of Durango has an
area about equal to that Of Yir-
ginia, and a population estimated
at about that of New Hampshire.
In normal mining times more than
1000 mining properties were ope-
ated in Durango, number ex-
ceeded only in Chihuahua, to the
north, and in Sonora, to the north
east across a strip of chihuhua
and Sinaloa. Most of the Du-
range mines were closed in 1915.
When 500 Whites Beat $4,000 In
dams.
1.-The name of the. little settle
ment, Tepehuantes, recalls one Of
the earliest events ia Durange,s
recorded History It was the tribe
which gave the; name to the village
which, with the TarahumaFes, arose
against the Spanish settlers four
years before Plymouth Colony was
founded: In that, year some 25,t
coo Indians efs.these TIVE tribes
marched on Durango City. They
killed missionaries and burned
down churches as they moved. Not
more than 900 white. people with.
stood this siege and even allow
ing for an exaggeration in their
estimate Of. $1,000 Of their enemy
killed, the white mans victory was
ia terrible lesson to their assail&
ants.
Remnants of these tive tribes
now sprinkle the edges of the
Sierra Madre range which cuts
across the northwest corner Of
Durango.
"a recenls theory that ctaaper.
ones make for greater liberty
among the young. on the same
principle that policemen give cit
izens the freedom. Of city streets
by night, finds interesting exempt.
feation among these tribes. They
are homogeneous and jealous of the
virtue of their girls.
..Two Days, Penalty for Chat.
ut is expressly forbidden for a
woman to talk to any man., other
than members of her family, OUT
side her own home. At the tribal
dances a maid who speaks to a
swain incurs a penalty Of two days
in prison, as does her admirer:
"Infide1ity is punished publicly.
by placing the offending couple in
stocks. and having an .executioner,
administer a ce1.ain nflmber OF
lashes daily for two or three weeks.
Each Of the victims had to watch
/ the others punishment, and short
ly before the time for its admin
sistering couriers were sent through
the village to summon the inhabi-
tants that they might profit by the
object lesson.
'Mescal, pulaue and aguardiente
are Mexican drinks Of wide reputa-
ton but these tribes had a bever-
age, tesyino, peculiar to them.
Tesyino is beer, Of milk and wa-
ter hue. tastes like kumyss, made
from maish cora and grass seed.
Tes--:::so STAFF of Life.
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