| Pages:
1
2
3
4 |
bajalera
Super Nomad
Posts: 1875
Registered: 10-15-2003
Location: Santa Maria CA
Member Is Offline
|
|
Baja Indians: Sharing & Caring
The Indians who lived in what is now Baja California during earlier centuries were described by explorers, pearl fishermen, priests and pirates--all
of whom noted that these natives had not progressed very far up civilization's ladder.
One of the best-known accounts is that of Jesuit John Jakob Baegert, who spent some seventeen years as a peninsula missionary. This book, which has
been translated from his native German into both English and Spanish, is available at many libraries and sometimes at bookstores.
Baegert says that among the peninsula's Indians it was Every-Man-for-Himself--and likewise for the women and children: "As far as food for their
support is concerned, the husband does not provide for his wife, nor the wife for her husband, nor either for their children beyond infancy. Both
parents eat whatever they have or find, each one for himself, without being concerned about the other or about their offspring."
And later, " Each native did as he pleased, asking nobody, caring for nobody."
George Shelvocke, an English sea captain who dropped anchor off Cabo San Lucas in 1721, didn't view the natives as being all that selfish. He said,
"when any of us gave any thing that was eatable to any one of them in particular, he always divided it into as many shares as theere were persons
about him, and commonly reserv'd the least for himself . . ."
Another English seaman, Capt. Woodes Rogers, also described sharing: " . . . they seem to have all things in common, for when they exchang'd Fish with
us for old Knives--of which we had plenty--they gave the Knives to any [Indian] that stood next, and after they had enough we could get no Fish from
them. . . .We gave one of the Natives a Shirt, but he soon tore it in pieces and gave it to the rest of his Company to put the Seeds in, which they
use for Bread."
Evidence that the peninsula's natives did care for one another's welfare has been reported, but is sometimes so subtle that it is overlooked. Baegert
himself says that some natives were in their eighties, and he once met a seventy-year-old blind man. Elderly blind people were also seen by Francisco
de Ulloa on the Pacific Coast in 1539.
Relatives and/or friends had not only provided disabled people with food and other needs, but had also taken them from placd to place on a rancheria's
frequent moves to new campsites. Guiding or carrying blind people over steep rock-strewn trails, through thickets of thorny plants, would have
required significant effort.
Jesuit Wenceslaus Linck's report that he met a man of seventy who had been blind since birth is particularly significant. Infanticide is mentioned by
several Jesuit missionaries, and in recent times this has sometimes been taken to mean that the peninsula's Indians casually killed their young
children.
Miguel del Barco, who spent nearly thirty years as a peninsular missionary, says that after the Jesuits learned that infants were killed when no food
was available, they began issuing double rations to recently delivered mothers.
When an expected source of food failed, mothers were unable to produce milk because they were starving. A camp might have several infants wailing
nonstop, and the chances of their mothers being able to "bond" with them would be zilch.
Ending the misery of the little ones, instead of letting them starve slowly and inevitably, could be considered a humanitarian act--at least by other
members of the rancheria, who for lack of food were probably pretty grouchy themselves.
Sick people, Baegert reports, were mostly ignored.
Or maybe not. The padre occasionally displays his suble mastery of the Mixed Message. On page 65 he says, " . . . the healthy ones care little for the
sick and hardly trouble themselves about them (even if these should happen to be husbands, wives, or other close relations) . . ."
Earlier, however, Baegert revealed--in a negative sort of way--that sick people were sometimes given special care: "If the Indians make a shelter for
a sick person as a protection against heat or cold, the entrance to this shelter is, as a rule, so low that it is necessary to crawl into it on hands
and knees."
Here the padre describes a typical Baja Indian shelter made of brush--the kind he sometimes had to enter to administer Sacraments to the sick.
Squeezing himself into a dinky little hut was apparently unplesant for this missionary, who was described in an official Spanish document as
"corpulent."
Baegert also puts a reverse spin on another act that could be viewed as a good deed: "To transport a sick person from one place to another, they bind
him to a ladder made of crooked pieces of wood, and two carriers bear this stretcher on their heads. This is truly a bed of torture for any person who
lacks Indian bones."
Indian bones were probably uncomfortable as well. But those primitive gurneys brought sick people to a rancheria's next campsite, where they could be
cared for. They were not left behind to die a lonely death, or buried while still living.
Capt. Shelvocke, like other Europeans who came to Baja California in early days, noticed that native technology was still in the stone age. But he
also thought that a visitor's first impression of the natives was not necessaryily a valid one:
"From what I have been relating of their personal appearance, my Reader may reasonably conclude that nothing can be more savage. But there is a wide
difference between what one would, upon first sight, expect to find from them, and what they really are.
"For by all that I could discern in their behaviour towards one another, and their deportment towards us, they are endued with all the humanity
imaginable.
**************
\"Very few things happen at the right time, and the rest never happen at all. The conscientious historian will correct these defects.\" -
Mark Twain
|
|
|
David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65304
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
|
|
This is wonderful reading Lera!!! Muchas gracias...
|
|
|
amir
Senior Nomad
Posts: 559
Registered: 5-4-2007
Location: Todos Santos, BCS
Member Is Offline
Mood: chiropractic
|
|
Early Baja Nomads were probably just like us today - a mixture of good and bad. Truth is in the eye of the beholder, or the reporter. Some early
reports were probably biased. Some historians are even biased today. Most humans are human; a few are inhumane. I don't believe that modern society is
more humane than ancient ones, and primitive societies had to share and care, or they would not have survived.
A problem with the early reports about the native Indians of Baja is that they generalized and stereotyped. That causes the same misconceptions today.
When I went to France I saw a one-legged man at the airport. Then I saw a one-legged man in the subway. Then I saw a one-leggen man under the Eiffel
Tower. My conclusion? French men make lousy soccer players.
--Amir
|
|
|
Osprey
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3694
Registered: 5-23-2004
Location: Baja Ca. Sur
Member Is Offline
|
|
One early priest painted the Pericue as filthy savages. Later he moderated his view of them:
"they eat without greed, live without shame, die without fear" -- that little dicho was burned in the pit post of my ramada til hurricane Juan took it
away with him.
One priest who stepped off the boat in Cabo San Lucas described the indians greeting the boat as having the features of the Flemish. I don't think
so.
|
|
|
MrBillM
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 21656
Registered: 8-20-2003
Location: Out and About
Member Is Offline
Mood: It's a Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah Day
|
|
Warm and Caring
Reading this enlightening and uplifting essay has given me a new appreciation for the Soul-Enriching essence of Simple communal living. The Land I
survey now seems richer, the Sea more brilliant and alive and the Sky filled with dazzling wonder.
Thanks to this wondrous psalm to the aboriginal ways, I have reached an epiphany of self-realization and now realize the error of my endlessly
obsessive enslavement to the Western Capitalist Regime.
As I sit here today engulfed in the constant accounting (and rendering onto Caesar) necessary to maintain this frivolous and burdensome lifestyle
while dividing my time among three computers simultaneously badgered by a variety of tasks at the same time I am fielding telephone problems while
watching incessant News coverage on Satellite TV, I realize how much happier I could be squatting under a makeshift shade, wearing rag-tag clothing
(or none at all) and munching on a piece of fish ( or filleted Padre ?) skewered on a stick and cooked over an open fire. The added attraction that I
could look forward to the very same thing day after day for the extent of my existence makes the thought even more endearing.
And, Then Again ......................................
[Edited on 6-1-2007 by MrBillM]
|
|
|
toneart
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4901
Registered: 7-23-2006
Member Is Offline
Mood: Skeptical
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by MrBillM
Reading this enlightening and uplifting essay has given me a new appreciation for the Soul-Enriching essence of Simple communal living. The Land I
survey now seems richer, the Sea more brilliant and alive and the Sky filled with dazzling wonder.
Thanks to this wondrous psalm to the aboriginal ways, I have reached an epiphany of self-realization and now realize the error of my endlessly
obsessive enslavement to the Western Capitalist Regime.
As I sit here today engulfed in the constant accounting (and rendering onto Caesar) necessary to maintain this frivolous and burdensome lifestyle
while dividing my time among three computers simultaneously badgered by a variety of tasks at the same time I am fielding telephone problems while
watching incessent News coverage on Satellite TV, I realize how much happier I could be squatting under a makeshift shade, wearing rag-tag clothing
(or none at all) and munching on a piece of fish ( or filleted Padre ?) skewered on a stick and cooked over an open fire. The added attraction that I
could look forward to the very same thing day after day for the extent of my existence makes the thought even more endearing.
And, Then Again ...................................... |
....and after being so inspired by the new warm and caring Mr.Bill's epiphany, I have decided to reveal to you all that I have gone native. My avatar
is actually a real photo of me Naked! (You just can't see me.
|
|
|
Wingnut
Nomad
Posts: 171
Registered: 5-5-2007
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Member Is Offline
Mood: Baja Pensive
|
|
Toneart,
Many thanks for the warning!
|
|
|
CaboRon
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3401
Registered: 3-24-2007
Location: The Valley of the Moon
Member Is Offline
Mood: Peacefull
|
|
Native Cultures
What a wonderful story. It really shows that the vanquished have little say in the way they are presented in history. This is another exemple of
the incredable hubris of the (submit Name) of organized religion. Remember these are the persons who administered the Inquisition. Let us never
forget...........................Ron
|
|
|
Iflyfish
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3747
Registered: 10-17-2006
Member Is Offline
|
|
To those who have not read it I would recommend the book Aztec. It is a fictionalized account of Pre Columbian Mexico. Also the tales of Cabeza de
Vacca, who was shipwrecked in the new world pre Cortez. Bernal's Conquest of Mexico also makes a good read, as he was a Sargent in Cortez's army.
I appreciate this post and would love to read more on this subject.
Thanks,
Iflyfish
|
|
|
Baja Bernie
`Normal` Nomad Correspondent
Posts: 2962
Registered: 8-31-2003
Location: Sunset Beach
Member Is Offline
Mood: Just dancing through life
|
|
Iflyfish
AZTEC by Gary Jennings
Quote from the forward of the book........" You tell me then I must perish like the flowers that I cherish. Nothing remaing of my name, nothing
remembered of my fame? But the gardens I planted still are young--the songs I sang will still be sung!"
HUEXOTZIN
Prince of Texcoco
CA. 1484
Heck of a book.
Oh! I might add that the lady who started this post is a well recognized authority on the Baja Indians.
I agree that all historians are biased, perhaps that is why I like to write about history, anyway......Now I believe I know why she has basically
stopped posting her stuff here.
I guess that some folks are just authorities on 'everything.'
My smidgen of a claim to fame is that I have had so many really good friends. By Bernie Swaim December 2007
|
|
|
longlegsinlapaz
Super Nomad
Posts: 1685
Registered: 11-18-2005
Location: La Paz
Member Is Offline
|
|
Lee, very interesting! Thanks for posting this! 
|
|
|
John M
Super Nomad
Posts: 1924
Registered: 9-3-2003
Location: California High Desert
Member Is Offline
|
|
Bernie - which Aztec?
Bernie - I did a search on one of the titles you suggested.
I found three titles by Jennings listed: Aztec, Aztec Autumn, and Aztec Blood - Are these all the same with different sub-titles or...???
John M
|
|
|
amir
Senior Nomad
Posts: 559
Registered: 5-4-2007
Location: Todos Santos, BCS
Member Is Offline
Mood: chiropractic
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by Baja Bernie
......Now I believe I know why she has basically stopped posting her stuff here. |
Too bad she's not posting more. I for one would like to know more. Could you please forward me some links to some of her other articles. Thanks.
[edited to include quote]
[Edited on 6-6-2007 by amir]
|
|
|
bajalera
Super Nomad
Posts: 1875
Registered: 10-15-2003
Location: Santa Maria CA
Member Is Offline
|
|
Bernie, the reason I don't enter long posts very often is not that criticism offends me, it's that I'm too busy. [If I had a thin skin, the teen-age
bully-boys would have driven me away from Off-Topics long ago.]
The sarcastic political spin that BM imposed on the accounts of Europeans who actually saw peninsula Indians indicates that he either never enrolled
in Anthropology 101, or took this course and flunked out.
For the vast majority of time that humans have existed on earth, they have been hunters-and-gatherers who had to share with, and care for, each other
to survive. Surpluses that allowed for sedentary communities and the amassing of wealth were not possible until the advent of agriculture.
If the people referred to collectively as Early Man had followed the policies promoted by BM and his ultracon ilk--"Ive-got-mine, and screw you"--homo
sapiens would not be around to put posts on the Nomad Board today.
\"Very few things happen at the right time, and the rest never happen at all. The conscientious historian will correct these defects.\" -
Mark Twain
|
|
|
Cypress
Elite Nomad
Posts: 7641
Registered: 3-12-2006
Location: on the bayou
Member Is Offline
Mood: undecided
|
|
They were all related; brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, cousins.  One big
family. How is it that with more and more people in this world, the family
gets smaller?
|
|
|
MrBillM
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 21656
Registered: 8-20-2003
Location: Out and About
Member Is Offline
Mood: It's a Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah Day
|
|
Make up One of your Minds
OK, either I just don't understand the Wholesome, Loving, Caring and uncluttered life of the Aborigines because of my woeful lack of "State" education
OR I'm an uncaring, sarcastic, uncouth (probably unclean) Ultra-Conservative who just DOESN'T CARE and is, therefore, unworthy of
equal status among the Marxist Elitist Thinkers.
Make up your mind.
I'll give you a hint.
Although I found Anthropology interesting, I didn't come away with a fond, reverential feeling for those early savages. On the contrary, studying the
early history of mankind, I came away with a deep appreciation of the intellectual and Technical successes of some races and groups as opposed to
others. The early Egyptians, Greeks, Romans and Chinese among others, created great civilizations during the same time period that others (notably on
the American continent) remained suspended in a primitive slow-changing animistic state of life. You are Absolutely correct if you
think that I have a cynical un-appreciation of the accomplishments of those savages.
I've never FLUNKED a course in my life. However, it might not come as a surprise to you that, back in the days (even through High School) when they
would assign those E - S - U values for "Citizenship" and "Work Habits", there was more than one instance when I received an A-U-U. I always argued
that my "Work Habits" couldn't be bad if I Aced the class, but it never did me any good. At least in College and Military/Corporate Technical
Courses, they didn't bother with that nonsensical BS. I could be my normal cynical, iconoclastic, sarcastic self as long as my test scores held up.
We agree on one point, however. The Liberal Elitists such as yourself always tend to dismiss those on the opposite side as lacking in knowledge or
education. I feel the same way about Liberals. I just don't understand how anyone could be that dumb.
Enjoy your reverence for those simple savages. I'll reserve mine for those who were achievers.
|
|
|
Eli
Super Nomad
Posts: 1471
Registered: 8-26-2003
Location: L.B. Baja Sur
Member Is Offline
Mood: Some times Observing, sometimes Oblivious.
|
|
Leara, Thank You, thank you, thank you.....I have been waiting to read this since we met and you mentioned that you were working on it. Now, of
course, I want more, more, more...........
|
|
|
bajalera
Super Nomad
Posts: 1875
Registered: 10-15-2003
Location: Santa Maria CA
Member Is Offline
|
|
BM, imposing your Neanderthal social and economic convictions on a non-political subject--the behavior of peninsula indians during the 1700s--would be
appropriate on Off-Topics, but doesn't fly on this forum.
Slither back! Slither back!
Slither back to where your whines belong.
\"Very few things happen at the right time, and the rest never happen at all. The conscientious historian will correct these defects.\" -
Mark Twain
|
|
|
CaboRon
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3401
Registered: 3-24-2007
Location: The Valley of the Moon
Member Is Offline
Mood: Peacefull
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by bajalera
BM, imposing your Neanderthal social and economic convictions on a non-political subject--the behavior of peninsula indians during the 1700s--would be
appropriate on Off-Topics, but doesn't fly on this forum.
Slither back! Slither back!
Slither back to where your whines belong. |
Thankyou for steping up here. I think we know who the
savages are .......
|
|
|
DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
Member Is Offline
|
|
Hey there, CaboRon
Why don't you engage MrBill in a one-on-one discussion? You seem to know what's happening in our confused world.
Give'm a try.
I'm all in on Bill.
|
|
|
| Pages:
1
2
3
4 |
![[*]](images/xmbforum/default_icon.gif){kind=icon}
