Evening Republican, Volume 23, Number 175, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 July 1920 — INDIAN RUINS of OAXACA [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

INDIAN RUINS of OAXACA

IN HUNDREDS of places throughout the state of Oaxaca, Mexico, are to be found what they call "Pueblos Viejos” (old villages), some close to the, site of the new villages and others Im the wild country, far away from all habitations, (n these ruins traces can be seen of liouses. temples, fortresses and tombs. In some places graves only are seen to mark the place of a former civilization, and these consist of mounds, some of which are built to a considerable height, writes a correspondent of the Christian Science Monitor. Among the ruins well known on account of their state of preservation and Importance can be mentioned the ruins of Mitla, at Monte Alban, at Guiengula and at Achiutla. The famous ruins of Mitla are the best preserved on account of the dry climate of the country in which they are situated. They are among the most elaborately ornamented ruins in Mexico, and on the walls are found about fifteen different designs made with mosaics known as grecques. The Bgures are all geometrical and are found mostly in panels on both inside and outside of the walls of the rooms. Features of Mitla Ruins.

The original name of these ruins was Lyobaa, and they were later on called by the Mexicans “Mlctlan” which means “the place of the dead.” The place is now In the center of the Zapotec country, and the Zapotec language is spoken by the inhabitants of the village close to the ruins. One of the chambers contains six huge monoliths, each being about 12 feet high and 7 feet in circumference, which have no carvings. The most beautiful room is known as the Hall of Mosaics. Its four sides are covered with designs. Paintings were found on some of the walls, but these have mostly disappeared. Close to the ruins a pyramidal mound is to be seen and about two miles distant is a fort of great interest. The grecques or arabesques found at Mitla give it a distinctive character. and in no other part of the republic are there any ruins like them. When the Spaniards conquered Mexico, Mitla was still an important place. The ruins of Monte Alban are situated on the outskirts of the city of Oaxaca and seem to belong to a much older civilization than those of Mitla. In fact, Monte Alban was in ruins when Mitla was at its height of prosperity. The ruins cover an area of about two, miles in length by a third of a mile in width. On every side are remains of tetaples, foundations, terraces, .walls, and graves, but these places have not been explored and are covered with debris. Some fine stones with carvings are still standing and many have been removed to the National Museum of Mexico City. The sculptures the Maya civilization must have extended to this part of the country. Fort at Guiengula.

The ruins of Gulengula on the Isthmus of Tehuantepec show the existence of a big fort which was used in the battles between the Mexicans and the Zapotecs. This fort was built on the top of a mountain, and contains two pyramids of stones, having stairways leading up to the tops. Remains of temples, chambers, trenches, and terraces can also be distinguished. The ruins at Achiutla consist of courts, walls, mounds, and terraces. Achiutla was the sacred city of the great Mixtec nation, their country being called Mixtecapam before the Spaniards arrived in Mexico,. An extraordinary number of pieces of pottery is found everywhere in this village, which is still inhabited by the Mixtec Indians, or Mixtecos. In the graves that have been opened in these different ruins have been found a great variety of stone and clay idols, ornaments made of gold, copper, jade, shell, obsidian, and stone. Beautiful specimens of painted pottery have also been found, and some of the finest samples of Mexican ceramic art come from the tombs of Oaxaca. The Indian tribes Inhabiting the state of Oaxaca are the Zapotecs, Mixtecs. Mijes, Cuicatecs, Mazatecs, Mexicans, Amusgos, Triques, Chatlnos, Chinantecs. Huaves, Zoques and Chontales. Of these the Zapotecs and Mixtecs were the most important and they resisted the Spaniards long after the rest of the country had been conquered. The Huaves, Amusgos and

Triques have nearly all disappeared. Each Tribe Has Its Dress. The Indians still use, in their native villages, a peculiar dress in each tribe, the most picturesque being that worn by the Tehuantepec (Zapotec) women. The Mazatec and Chinantec dresses are made with elaborate designs in red. The Indians weave their own cloth and use vegetable dyes and cochineal for coloring. In the mountain villages they still observe many of their ancient customs and they are very superstitious. The Mije Indians belong to one of the wildest tribes found in Mexico and few people enter their rugged country. When the Spaniards came to Mexico the Zapotecs had their own government; Zaachila was their capital and Cosijoeza their king. They had been at war with ttie Mexicans for many years, and with the aid of the Mixtecs had been able to resist the invasion of the Mexicans. The conquest of these tribes was mostly due to the influence of the-. Spanish monks, who went to the most remote parts of the country and lived with the Indians many years, learned their language and preached the Gospel to them. On market days and feast days in the city of Oaxaca many types of Indians can still be seen, with their own peculiar ■ dresses, and many of them speak nothing but the language of their own tribes. In few parts of the republic can so many different types be seen together.

Sculpture at Monte Alban, Oaxaca.