Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1923-07-11
cruoiform Grave Near Militia, Tehuantepec

lance by the banks of the Rio de Tehu-
antepec, then cutting off across coun-
try to Salina Cruz, the Pacific port.
Here the little Indian village Of
years ago has given place to a new
town, built on higher ground and
dotted here and there with comfortable
bungalows, the homes of English res
| idents.
Fierce 'northers" rage on the 18TH
mus the greater part of the year, and
the long swell Of the Pacific causes a
heavy surf. AS no natural shelter ex-
lists, it was found necessary to build
one-an outer refuge harbor, and an
inner harbor with dry-dock and
! WharVeS.
The country through which the rail-
way runs is in many respects of great
interest The tropical nature the many
| different tribes Of Indians living along
the rivers and in the hills, their pc
culiar customs and picturesque garb
| furnish an interesting study.
The different Indians today inhabit-
| ing the isthmus, descendants of once
| powerful tribes, still show enough dis
tinctive characteristics to enable one
to judge of their ancestors. The
Agualulcos, AZtecs, Huaves, Mics,
Zapotecos and Zoques are among these.
The Agualulcos and Aztecs dwell in
the northern part of the isthmus
Though outwardly conforming to the
| Catholic religion, they still retain many
of their old customs and superstitions
Among these Indians the memory Of
Dona Marina, or Malinche, as the In
dians called her, is still revered. AL
though acting as interpreter and guide
! to CorteZ, she seems to have been
! greatly beloved by the Indians.
The Mics live in the mountains to
! the west, in the town of San Juan
! Guichicovi. They are exceedingly ig-
norant, bold, and rather repulsive in
appearance History classes them as
having been at one time the most bru-
tai and idolatrous of all the isthmus
| tribes.
The Miles Covet Mules.
The greatest ambition of Mile is to
possess more mules than his neighbor.
Just why is hard to understand, as
they prefer to carry their burdens on
their own backs.
They get good crops Of maize, beans,
and rice from their milpas, which are
we'll taken care of, but they work fitful-
ly, are great drunkards, and very dis
| honest.
The Zoques, who live in the noun
tains between the Chichijapa valley
and the Rio del Corte, are, like the
Mics, very fond of tequila, the ma
tive alcohol, but more Industrious and
of a more pleasing appearance.
The Huave tribe, now dwindled to
a thousand or two live in a few towns
on the Pacific coast. They are very
! different from the other tribes, and
claim to be descended from a power
full tribe in Peru.
The Zapotecos. who inhablt the
greater part of the southern division
! of the isthmus, are hard working, gen.
tie. and intelligent, and at one time
were a highly cultured nation.
The various Indian languages are
now little else than ill-spoken dialects
pieced out with Spanish words and
sentences.
Somewhat below medium height, the
Indians possess unusual muscular
strength. They are often able to car
/ nv for several hours on their shoulders,
under the rays of the tropical sun, car
goes weighing from 100 to 200 pounds.
The women are gracefully built, and
! in some tribes remarkably Deautlful'
1his is especially true of the Tehuana
women. Their stately carriage, regu-
lar features, and beautiful soft brown
eyes, added to their fascinating cos
Tunes. mark them with distinction ana
irresistible charm. They wear aae
usual Indian corte, or enagua derollaoa
| frolled skirt), which is nothing more
or less than a straight piece OF cotton
cloth. generally one meter vide ana
two meters long, dyed red, blue, pur-
ple or a checked red and white;
short chemise, or cotton, sleeveless and
i with a low neck, coming just TO the
/ waistline. 1t is made of cotton ma
| terial in different colors or OF viewer,
and shows to great advantage tbs
tawny. perfectly formed arms and
shoulders. The browning touch, how
ever. is their headdress. Shaped some
! somewhat like q short Japanese
kimono. with q wide founce OF
starched and plated white cotton lace,
it is thrown over the head so that the
| stiffened lacey flounce stands out about
the face like a fan-shaped frame. The
rest of the garment, alas! hangs igno-
miniously down the back.