In Indian Mexico | Page 2

the jefes of the districts to be visited. From the jefes, I received
stringent orders upon the local governments; these orders entered into
no detail, but stated that I had come, recommended by the superior
authorities, for scientific investigations; that the local authorities should
furnish the necessaries of life at just prices, and that they should supply
such help as was necessary for my investigations. In addition to the
orders from the jefes to the town authorities, I carried a general letter
from the governor of the state to officials of every grade within its
limits. This was done in case I should at any time reach towns in
districts where I had been unable to see the jefe politico. It was
desirable, when possible, that the jefe should be seen before serious
work was undertaken. As Governor Gonzales of Oaxaca once remarked,
when furnishing me a general letter: "You should always see the jefe

politico of the district first. These Indians know nothing of me, and
often will not recognize my name; but the jefe of their district they
know, and his orders they will obey." In using these official orders, I
adopted whatever methods were best calculated to gain my ends;
success depended largely on my taking matters into my own hands.
Each official practically unloaded me upon the next below him, with
the expectation that I should gain my ends, if possible, but at the same
time he felt, and I knew, that his responsibility had ended. In case of
serious difficulty, I could not actually count upon the backing of any
one above the official with whom I then was dealing.
Upon the Guatemala expedition, which took place in January-March,
1896, my only companion was Mr. Ernst Lux, whose knowledge of the
language, the country, and the people was of the utmost value. As the
result of that journey, my vacations through a period of four years were
devoted to this field of research. The first field expedition covered the
period from November, 1897, to the end of March, 1898; the plan of
work included the visiting of a dozen or more tribes, with interpreter,
photographer, and plaster-worker; the success of the plan depended
upon others. Dr. W.D. Powell was to serve as interpreter, Mr. Bedros
Tatarian as photographer; at the last moment the plans regarding the
plaster-worker failed; arrived in the field, Dr. Powell was unable to
carry out his contract; the photographic work disintegrated, and failure
stared us in the face. Reorganization took place. Rev. D.A. Wilson was
secured as interpreter, two Mexican plaster-workers, Anselmo Pacheco
of Puebla and Ramon Godinez of Guadalajara, were discovered, and
work was actually carried through upon four tribes. The second field
expedition covered the period of January-March, 1899; eight tribes
were visited, and a most successful season's work was done; Charles B.
Lang was photographer, Anselmo Pacheco plaster-worker, and Manuel
Gonzales general helper. The third field season, January-March, 1900,
was in every way successful, six populations being visited; my force
consisted of Louis Grabic photographer, Ramon Godinez
plaster-worker, and Manuel Gonzales general assistant. The work was
brought to a conclusion in January-March, 1901, during which period
six tribes were visited; the party was the same as the preceding year.
"In Indian Mexico" claims to be only a narrative of travel and of work.
It is intended for the general public. The scientific results of our

expeditions have been published under the following titles:
1. The Indians of Southern Mexico: an Ethnographic Album. Chicago,
1899. Cloth; oblong 4to; pp. 32. 141 full-page plates.
2. Notes upon the Ethnography of Southern Mexico. 1900. 8vo, pp. 98.
72 cuts, maps, etc. Proc. Dav. Acad. Nat. Sci., Vol. VIII.
3. Notes on the Ethnography of Southern Mexico,
Part II. 1902. 8vo, pp.
109. 52 cuts, map, etc. Proc. Dav. Acad. Nat. Sci., Vol. IX.
4. The Physical Characters of the Indians of Southern Mexico. 4to, 59
pp. Sketch map, color diagram, and 30 double cuts. Decennial
Publications, University of Chicago, 1902.
5. The Mapa de Cuauhtlantzinco or Codice Campos. 1898. 8vo, pp. 38.
46 engravings. University of Chicago Press.
6. Recent Mexican Study of the Native Languages of Mexico. 1900.
8vo, pp. 19. 7 portraits.
7. Picture of Otomi woman beating bark paper. Printed on sheet of the
original paper; mounted.
8. The Mapa of Huilotepec. Reproduction; single sheet, mounted.
9. The Mapa of Huauhtla. Reproduction; single sheet, mounted.
10. Survivals of Paganism in Mexico. The Open Court. 1899.
11. Mexican Paper. American Antiquarian. 1900.
12. The Sacral Spot in Maya Indians. Science. 1903.
Naturally, in a work of such extent we have been under obligation to
many parties. It is impossible to acknowledge, in detail, such
obligations. We must, however, express our indebtedness, for
assistance rendered, to the Mexican Central Railroad, the Mexican