INHABITANTS. 
219 
that have marked their condition since the days of the Con- 
quest, still exhibit distinctive characteristics sufficient to iden- 
tify the sources from which they originally sprung. Among these 
are the Aztecs, Agualulcos, Mijes, Zoques, Zajpotecos, and Huaves. 
These are distributed over the country in a manner which cor- 
responds somewhat with its peculiar topographical divisions. 
On the northern part of the Isthmus, within the intenclancy 
of Vera Cruz, and extending as far south as Mt. Encantada 
(beyond which, to the Rio Sarabia, a broad belt of uninhabited 
country intervenes), are found the Aztecs and Agualulcos. The 
latter, however, are confined to the country east of the Coatza- 
coalcos, in the towns of Ishuatlan, Moloacan, Sanapa, Tecomino- 
acan, and Mecatepec, with their neighboring ranchos. It is said 
that the Indians residing at Tesistepec, and in the villages in 
the vicinity of the sea-coast near San Martin, speak a language 
somewhat different from those mentioned above ; but as their 
main characteristics are identical, it seems scarcely necessary to 
make a distinction. Indeed, whatever peculiarities may have 
existed in the idiomatic structure of the native languages of the 
Isthmus, it is certain that they are now little else than mere ill- 
spoken dialects, replete with corrupt and broken sentences of 
Spanish. Within a comparatively few years the priests have 
ceased to perform the offices of the church in the native tongue ; 
and to this cause, together with that of the introduction of 
Christian names, of foreign habits, and of animals and plants 
not indigenous to the Isthmus (for which no corresponding 
terms were substituted), must be attributed the countless inno- 
vations that have been made. 
In their persons the Indians are somewhat below the medium 
stature, but squarely built, and of great muscular strength, being 
often able to support a weight of from one hundred and fifty to 
two hundred and fifty pounds on their shoulders for several 
hours, exposed to the rays of the hottest summer sun. They 
are copper-colored, with smooth, coarse hair, small beard, dimin- 
utive eyes, prominent cheek-bones, low, narrow forehead, aqui- 
line features, white teeth, thick lips, and a gentle expression of 
mouth, strongly contracted with a melancholic and severe look. 
The women, on the other hand, are less strongly built, and in 
