OCR Text |
Show FORTY YEARS AMONG THE INDIANS. 371 villages situated in the Sierra Madre mountains, accessible only by very difficult pack- trails. At the time of the conquest these people occupied, not only these mountain villages, but many of the fertile valleys along the foothills. Many of the present towns of western Chihuahua bear the old Indian names and are inhabited by people descended from the ancient inhabitants. With a little foreign mixture, the pure bloods greatly predominate. In many of these towns there are bands of these people who keep up their old customs, name, and lan-guage, but are recognized as citizens. They submitted to Catholicism in form, but of late years have almost entirely lost respect for the padres; saying that they cared more for their coppers than they did for their souls. These people, both natives and mixed are very hos-pitable and industrious, and are more honest and virtuous than are the average Mexican. The villagers of the mountains are peculiar They seem to have a dread of mixing or associating much with anyone, even the Mexicans whose neighbors they are. It is their habit, when anyone approaches their village, for all the inhabitants to leave their houses and retire a short ways, leaving their doors open and everything exposed so that if anything is wanted by the travelers they can help themselves. But one thing must always be done. The pay for the article taken must be left in sight or without grace the party taking ever so small an article without pay, will be waylaid and will be very lucky if he escapes with his life. So positive are these rules that no one dare take the risk, and the people have commanded the utmost respect for ages by all who pass through their country. Unless imposed upon and insulted they molest no one. |