APPENDIX C.
THE INDIAN TRIBES OF MEXICO.—THEIR ACTUAL CONDITION, SOCIAL AND SPIRITUAL.
Mr. James Pascoe, an English Wesleyan, for many years residing in Toluca, now doing admirable service in the Presbyterian Church, gives in this article in the monthly Missionary Journal of that Church an excellent view of the past and present of the Indian.
"The Indians form three-fourths of the entire population of Mexico, and are divided into three distinct classes: 1st, the subjugated tribes; 2d, the Pinto Indians of the Tierras Calientes; 3d, the untamed Comanches, Apaches, and others. At present, I will speak only of the subjugated tribes, as being most numerous, most important, and as those who are likely to be first brought under Gospel influence. These Indians are the broken-down and despised remnants of the old Aztec, Texcucan, Tlascaltecan, and other nations, who, only three hundred years ago, were the ruling powers in Mexico. Three centuries of the withering influence of Romanism have sufficed to degrade these noble tribes to the level of beasts of burden; stamping out almost every spark of liberty or virtue, and steeping them in superstition, ignorance, and fanaticism of the grossest kind. These tribes still retain their ancient dialects, although, in many cases, corrupted and mixed with many Spanish words; but still they are so distinct that an Indian of one tribe can not understand the dialect of another; and the gulf that separates the Spanish-speaking Mexican from the Mexican or Otomi, or Mazahua-speaking Indian, is as great as that which divides the English and Chinese.
"As a rule, the Indians have their towns apart from the Mexicans, and the lands belong to the whole community, each man having a right to cut fire-wood or boards, etc., and to sell them, or to till any part he pleases; but no one can sell land without the consent of the whole town. Also, each man is obliged to render general services, gratuitously when required, and the expenses of religious festivals are defrayed from a general fund, to which all contribute. The Mexican Government has endeavored to break down this system of clanship; but the Indians, generally, have been shrewd enough to evade the laws and remain in their old ways.
"These towns are not grouped in any order. Here will be a town of Indians, speaking Mazahua; close by may be another of Spanish-speaking Mexicans; a
