Page:Mexico of the Mexicans.djvu/203

Rh The Huichol Indians, the immediate neighbours of the Cora, are extremely primitive people. Their clothing is, indeed, their most elaborate mark of civilization, and is lavishly decorated with embroidery. The men wear a shirt which has invariably a small pouch in front of it, which gives the dress somewhat the appearance of a kilt and sporran, and both sexes wear heavy necklaces of beads. These people are pagans, and in their methods of worship the remains of the old aboriginal faith can be traced. They keep their idols in sacred caves in the mountains. Nearly one-fourth of the male population are shamans or witch-doctors, and from this circumstance they take their name of Vishalika, corrupted by the Mexicans into Huicholes (pronounced "Veetcholes"), and which means "doctors" or "healers." They are racially related to the Aztecs, whom they resemble physically, but they have never adopted civilisation; and such churches as have been built within their territory are now in ruins. The country they inhabit is mountainous and difficult of access. They are clever and intelligent, but cunning and of thievish propensity, and notorious pervertors of the truth. They are, however, kind-hearted and hospitable, if inordinately proud of their nationality. They are by no means courageous, and their morals are rather loose. The Huichols have a remarkable talent for music, and are deeply and sincerely religious in their own way. Their houses are circular for the most part (an early type of dwelling), built roughly of stone and covered with thatched roofs. They never consist of more than a single apartment. Expert hunters, the Huichols snare wild animals by means of traps of cunning construction, and sometimes pursue the "chase" in large companies, these hunts having a religious significance. Excitable to a degree, these people grow almost hysterical under stress of anger or emotion, especially if under the influence of the native brandy.

The Tarahumare Indians of the Northern State of