Forty Years Among the Indians: A true yet thrilling narrative of the author's experiences among the nativesJones, Daniel W. (Daniel Webster)
History
Forty Years Among the Indians: A true yet thrilling narrative of the author's experiences among the natives
Jones, Daniel W. (Daniel Webster)
Frontier and pioneer life -- West (U.S.); Indians of North America; Latter Day Saint pioneers -- Biography
About the worst element in Mexico can be found in Paso del Norte, or
El Paso. Padre Borajo (pronounced, borah-ho) officiated. After the
usual services of tingling bells, kneeling before the cross and various
performances common in a Mexican Catholic church, services were over.
The padre who was quite old and lean (something very unusual for a
priest; most of them being rather corpulent) mounted the stand, and in
a very impressive manner, commenced to warn the people against us.
These were his words in substance:
"The world's history gives an account of great plagues that have
visited the world from time to time. Mankind has been subjected to
great calamities, such as wars, storms, cholera, small pox, great
drouth and floods. We of this land have been subjected to many plagues.
The murderous Apaches have made war upon us for many years. We have had
our ditches and dams destroyed by floods, so that some seasons we have
had to suffer hunger.
"We have had many revolutions and thousands have been killed. Lately
we have had the grasshoppers come and destroy every green herb and
product. But all these things have made war only on the body of the
man. None have had a tendency to destroy the soul.
"Now of all the plagues that ever visited the earth to curse and
destroy mankind we have the worst just come to us and there stand the
representatives of this plague. Look at them. Their faces show what
they are.
"Thanks to God we have been warned in time by the Holy Pope that false
prophets and teachers would come among us.
"These men," pointing to us, "represent all that is low and depraved.
They have destroyed the morals of their own people, and have now come
here to pollute the people of this place." (I thought if that was so we
had a hard job on hand.) "They have no virtue. They all have from six
to one dozen wives. Now they have come here to extend the practice into
Mexico. _I denounce them_. Yes, here in the presence of the image of
the Virgin Mary, I denounce them as barbarians. * * And I want you all to
get their books and fetch them to me and I will burn them."
As Brother Tenney was not present, I was the only one of our party who
perfectly understood his words. I began to feel as though it would be
best for us to get out of the crowd before the spirit got too high, as
some fanatic might be tempted to slip a sharp knife in among our ribs.
We managed to work ourselves gradually out of the crowd which filled
the door yard for several feet. When clear we walked straight way to
our quarters, where I translated all that had been said. It was taken
down at the time and to the best of my memory was about as here given.
We could not help but be amused at the old fellow's vehemence, and our
first introduction to Mexico.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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