ietly observing his proceedings and
reflecting upon the strange situation in which I found myself. My
companion, for sometime paid no attention whatever to me; divesting
himself of his robes and ornaments, he enveloped himself in a sort of
tunic made from the skin of some wild beast; to what particular kind of
animal it had once belonged I was unable to form an idea, as the hair
had been removed and the surface painted in many colors, with curious
designs; it was without sleeves, showing his muscular arms bared to the
shoulder, and with bracelets of roughly beaten gold upon the wrists.
Taking a piece of wood, shaped something like a paddle, he commenced
stirring the contents of the cauldrons and tasting the mixture,
occasionally adding small portions of a transparent liquid of a pale
yellow color, which he poured from a small earthen vessel. For some time
he continued his employment while I watched and meditated, but at length
he ceased his labors and beckoned me to approach him. Taking a portion
of bark from the table he placed it in one of the stone basins, and
seizing a stone utensil, similar in shape to a large gourd, began
crushing the bark, motioning me meantime to watch him, and working with
great energy. He continued in this manner for some minutes, until he
appeared to conclude that I had become sufficiently familiar with the
process, and then directed me by gestures to take his place, and I soon
found myself busily engaged reducing the bark to powder. At first the
change from my hitherto enforced idleness was a pleasant relief, but I
soon found that it was hard and exhausting labor; the perspiration
rolled down my face in streams, and I felt a strong inclination to cease
operations. My new master, however, plainly looked with disfavor upon
such an intention, for the moment that I slackened in my toil, he would
shake his head gravely and motion me to continue, and to work more
rapidly, and I had no alternative but to obey.

Of one thing I was satisfied, my new occupation was likely to be no
sinecure; there was evidently work enough to keep me constantly
employed, and WAKOMETKLA would no doubt see to it that I wasted
no time. For the remainder of the day I was kept hard at it, with the
exception of the brief period allowed me for partaking of my food. So
far as quantity was concerned, I had no reason to complain of the fair
supplied me, but its quality was not so satisfactory, it was a species
of _tasajo_, or dr