emonies of the mass, which she herself performed, and stoned to death
the priests whom they caught.

Of course, her attempt against the power of Spain was hopeless. It
failed after a bitter and protracted conquest, characterized by the
utmost inhumanity on both sides. But when her followers were scattered
and killed, when the victorious whites had again in their hands all the
power and resources of the country, not their most diligent search, nor
the temptation of any reward, enabled them to capture Maria Candelaria,
the heroine of the bloody drama. With a few trusty followers she escaped
to the forest, and was never again heard of.[36-*]

More unfortunate were her friends and lieutenants, the priestesses of
Guistiupan and Yajalon, who had valiantly seconded Maria in her
patriotic endeavors. Seized by the Spaniards, they met the fate which we
can easily imagine, though the historian has mercifully thrown a veil on
its details.[36-[+]]

=23.= Of just such a youthful prophetess did Mr. E. G. Squier hear during
his travels in Central America, a "_sukia_ woman," as she was called by
the coast Indians, one who lived alone mid the ruins of an old Mayan
temple, a sorceress of twenty years, loved and feared, holding death and
life in her hands.[36-[++]] Perhaps his account is somewhat fanciful;
it is so, indeed; but it is grounded on the unshaken beliefs and ancient
traditions of the natives of those climes, and on customs well known to
those who reside there.

The late distinguished Americanist, the Abbe Brasseur de Bourbourg,
during his long travels in Mexico and Central America, had occasion more
than once to come in contact with this trait of the ancient faith of the
Nagualists, still alive in their descendants. Among the Zapotecs of the
Isthmus of Tehuantepec he saw one of the queens of the mystic
fraternity, and he describes her with a warmth which proves that he had
not lost his eye for the beautiful.

"She wore a piece of light-green stuff loosely folded around her
form at the hips, and falling to a little distance above the ankle;
a jacket of red silk gauze with short sleeves and embroidered with
gold, clothed the upper part of her person, veiling her bosom, upon
which lay a chain of heavy gold pieces, pierced and strung on a
cord. Her rich black hair was divided on the forehead, and drawn
back in two splendid tresses fastened with blue ribbons, while a
white muslin kerchi