36 MEXICO AND CENTRAL AMERICA 



The Pima, Seri, Tarahumare, Tepehuane, and other 

 tribes of the extreme north and northwest of Mexico 

 have until recent times been comparatively unmodified 

 by Spanish influences. Basketry, textiles, and pottery 

 have been maintained by them as well as many religious 

 ceremonies. Farther south among the Cora and 

 Huichol there is also considerable purity in this regard. 

 The woven fabrics of these Indians are very beautiful 

 but introduced ideas are frequently seen. For instance, 

 a very common motive in Huichol textile art is the two- 

 headed Austrian eagle evidently taken from the coins 

 of Charles V. Crowns similar to those worn by the two- 

 headed eagle are often shown on the heads of rampant 

 animals. But the greater number of the motives are 

 doubtless of native origin. 



Among the Huichol and Tarahumare the curious 

 peyote, or hikule worship may be studied. A small 

 variety of cactus is eaten, which induces ecstasy or 

 stupor accompanied by color visions and peculiar 

 dreams. Associated with the eating and gathering of 

 this plant there are elaborate ceremonies. The religious 

 cult of the peyote has swept over a large portion of the 

 Great Plains Area of the United States and is known 

 even to Indians in the neighborhood of the Great Lakes. 

 There can be no doubt that the narcotic action of the 

 peyote was known to the Aztecs, who made a ceremo- 

 nial use of it under the name teonanacatl. An intoxi- 

 cating drink called teswin is commonly made in north- 

 ern Mexico from the heart of the mescal plant. It takes 

 the place of the famous pulque, the ancient beverage 

 of the Mexican highlands. Hunting dances in which are 

 employed regalia and ceremonial objects of great inter- 

 est occur among the Huichol and neighboring tribes. 

 The so-called " god's eyes" made of yarn strung spider- 

 web fashion over crossed sticks are practically identical 



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