Page:Journal of American Folklore vol. 12.djvu/632

 2S4 Journal of American Folk-Lore.

tion of the Wyandots of Seneca, Mo. Much of the material has already appeared in the Journal of American Folk-Lore and the "Report of the Provincial Archaeological Museum of Ontario." The author promises in the near future a much more elaborate treat- ment of the subject.

Juavan. The Juaves, discussed by Professor Starr (pp. 63-67 of paper titled below), who dwell on the Pacific shore of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, speak a language, classed by Brinton and others as of independent stock. Dress, net-making, canoes, commerce, supersti- tions are noted. The dress of these Indians is very primitive, and they have the general reputation of going naked. Net-making is here a work of the men, and "as they walk, or sit talking, men are always busy at their nets." The alligators of the lagoons are consid- ered naguals, and are always treated well by fishermen, who throw back into the water some of the fish they have caught.

Mixtec-Zapotecan. Mixtec. Pages 37-41 of Professor Starr's essay titled below, deal with the Mixtecs of Oaxaca, Puebla, and Guerrero, their houses, dress, pottery-making, funerals, etc. At Tilantongo, where Spanish influence has been greatest, " none of the men and few of the women retain native dress." The tenates, or palm-strip mats, made at Yodocono, etc., are famous ; likewise the pottery of Cuquila. Cairns are not uncommon in the Mixtecan coun- try, and "each Indian passer-by usually adds his contribution," the belief prevailing that " foot-weariness may be removed by rubbing the foot with one of these pebbles." — Zapotccan (pp. 45-52). Houses, dress, arts and industries (cotton-weaving, shoemaking, pottery, etc.), superstitions, etc., are discussed. These Indians appear to be intelligent, industrious, acquisitive, and progressive, and they have produced "men eminent as political leaders, soldiers, and scholars, — Juarez was a full-blood Zapotec." In the Tehuantepec region " the women appear to have more energy and quicker intelligence than their husbands." The legend concerning Tehuantepec, "the hill of the man-eaters (pumas) " is very curious. Beliefs about naguals, evil eye, etc., and ex-voto cairns abound. It is also believed that " deformities like harelip and defective members are due to the eclipsed moon," and women about to give birth to children are advised to " bind a key or any piece of iron next their body, under the belt, to protect against this misfortune." — Triqui. The Triquis (pp. 41-45) of the high mountains of Tlaxiaco and Juxtlahuaca, speak a language considered by some authorities to belong to the Mixtec- Zapotecan family, but which is perhaps independent. House, dress, and industries are described. The carrying-cloths for tortillas have sometimes designs worked in " highly formal and conventionalized human figures." — Cuicatecs. To the same family belongs the Ian-

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