Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 14.djvu/834

* OATH. 708 OAXACA. swear or aflirm. False testimony in either case amounts to perjury. An extra-judicial oath is said to be bindiuf; only i« foro co)is<-ii iilitr — that is. niurally; but it is not legally binding upon the person taking it. An e.aniple of suih an oath, is the common one to abstain from the use of in- toxicating liquors. The statutes of each State prescribe the various ofticers who shall administer oaths for different purposes. Judges, clerks of courts, referees, justices of the peace, and coroners usually ad- minister oaths to witnesses, and nolaues and commissioners of deeds comiiKinly take oaths outside of court for use in jiulicial proceedings, or to authenticate legal instruments. A person authorized to admiiuster oaths cannot delegate his powers, exccjit that where an olUcer. such as a sheritf. is authorized to appoint a deputy, it is usually lield that the dejiuty represents his principal for all purposes including the admin- istration of oaths. An oath should be adminis- tered strictly in the form prescribed by statute and by a comjietent olficer. For example, it has been iicld. where a statute prescribed the form of an oath which ended with the words, "so help me God," thi-.t the omission of su'h words would invalidate it. The oath administered to a per- son subscribing and swearing to an alTulavit is usually in the following form: '"Vou do solennily swear that the contents of this athdavit by you subscribed are true, so help you (iod." Hebrews are often sworn on the Pentateuch, keeping on their hats, and their oath ends with the words, "so help nie Jehovah." A Mohammedan is sworn on the Koran; a Chinese witness in the Western ■States is sometimes sworn by his kneeling, break- ing a saucer, and ittering an imprecation that his "soul may be broken into as many pieces as the saucer" if he does not tell the truth. The tendency at present is to consi<ler that the stat- utes against ])crjury and false swearing have a more potent effect than religious fears in deter- ring a witness from making ifalse statements, and accordingly it is not considered of as great importance whether a witness swears or affirms that his testimony will be true. See Affidavit; EvinKxcE; Not.ry Public; Per.iiry; Witness. Consult the authorities referred to under Evi- UE.NCE; PBOCEIHBE; t'HIMl.NAL LaW. OATHS, MiLiTAKY. Article 2 of the Articles of W;ir. I'liiled States Army, prescribes that every enlisted man shall, within six days after his enlistment, take oath or alfirmation in the following form: "I. A. B.. do solenmly swear (or allirm) that 1 will bear true faith and alle- giance to the I'niled States of America; that I will serve them honestly and faithfully against all their enemies whomsoever: and that I will obey the orders of the Presiilent of the Tnited Stales and the orders of the officers apjiointpd over me. according to the rules and articles of war." In Knglainl all soldiers take a similar oath, swearing fealty, allegiance, and obedience to the King, his heirs, and those placed in au- thority under him. The most impressive cere- mony is that nrrange<l by the (Jernian Emperor Willini'n II.. who follows the custom of the ancient armies, and swears in the recruits of the guards regiments en masse. OfTicers sitting on f'oiirtsiiiurlial and witnesses testifying are re- Cjuired to take oath or make nfTirmation. This latter is a rule in all armies throughout the world. OAXACA, wa-Ha'ka, or OAJACA. . Pacif- ic State of Mexico, bounded by the .'stulcs of I'uebia and 'era L'ruz on the north, Chiaiias on the east, the Pacific Ocean on the soutli. and Guerrero on the west (Map: Mexico, L 9). Its area is 35,382 square miles. The whole State, with the exception of a low, sandy belt along the coast, is covered with the numerous southern ramifications of the Sierra Madre, inclosing many fertile and beautiful valleys. The slopes are covered with abundant timlier, and the State is watered by a multitude of streams. The <'limate is for the most part temperate and healthful. The soil is very fertile and yields abundant criips of sugar, coffee, cacao, tobacco, cotton, and other tropical and semi-tropical products. Stock-rais- ing is also an important industry, but the min- eral deposits, though very rich, are but little worked. The State is traversed by two rail- way lines and has good roads. There is also steamship comnumicatiun through the ports of Salina Cruz and Puerto Angel. Population. i:i I'JOO, ;)47.!UO. The capital is Oaxaca (q.v.). OAXACA, Oa.jaca, or Oaxaca de Jitabez. The capital of the State of Oaxaca, Mexico. It is situated in a beautiful valley in the centre of the State. 82 miles from the l^acific coast and 225 miles southeast of ilexico City (Map: Mexico, Iv 0). It is the chief centre of po|)ulation in Southern Mexico, the terminus of the Mexican Southern Railroad, and is well built, with large squares and pidjlie parks. The notable buildings and institutions are the Government building, the Cathedral, the Institute of Arts and Sciences, the piiblic library, and the Museum of Antiquities ;ind Xatural History. Owing to its isohitcd |iosition, it is not one of the important imlustrial cities of the Kepublic, but it has some thriving local indus- tries, especially the spinning and weaving of the pita fibre. A United States consular agency is located here. Po[)ulation, in 1805, .32.(141. Oaxaca was founded by the Zapotecs in 1480, imder the name of lluaxyacac, and was occupied in 1522 by the Spaniards, who named it Antequera. .luarez was born here. OAXACA, PiiiNs OF. Enormous works of the
 * iiiiiiiit .Mexicans near the city of Oaxaca. The

whole range of ilonle .Mlian as seen in profile gives evidence of artificial modification. On as- cending the summits cme is ama/.eil at the display of pyramids, terraces, quadrangles, and mounds covering every availallle sp.ice, and one finds that the whole mountain has been remodeled by the hand of man at cost of immense labor. The great- est of these works is locateil on the summit of .Monte .lban at 1000 feet elevation, and covers an area of 3400 by 1200 feet, sculptured into a vast series of level courts, inclosed by successive ter- races anil bordered by pyramids. The quadrangles are fianked at the corners by iiyraniids. and in the centre is a mound, the ruins )nobably of a temple. One of these pyramids is 400 feet square and rises 40 feet to the summit, which is 300 feet .si|uare. . other court, or plaza, is a level, sunken field 000 feet wide and 1000 feet long, inclosed by pyramids and terraces .nnd having a line of four pyramids ranged along its centre. It has been found (bat these constructions, no mat- ter how situated with regard to the mounlnin profile, are accurately oriented, as arc the ruins