hem into the stripper. This consists of a round
table, into the inner, excavated, circular face of which a round knife
with dull edge fits closely, though at only one place at once; the
leaves, fed between the table and knife, are held firmly by them at
about one-third their length. The projecting two-thirds of the leaves
hang downward; as the table revolves the leaves thus held are carried to
a vertical revolving rasp which strips out the flesh, leaving the fibre
masses hanging. These taken out from between the table and the knife are
fed again to a second revolving table which holds the masses of fibre,
leaving the unstripped portion of the leaves exposed to a second rasp,
which strips it. The hanks of fibre are dropped from the second table
onto a horizontal wooden bar, where they are rapidly sorted over by
a man who throws inferior and spotted bunches to one side. The whole
operation is rapid and beautiful. The fresh fibre is then hung over
bars, in the southern wind, to dry, after which it is baled in presses
for shipment.

[Illustration: MAYA HOUSE; SAN JUAN]

We had no trouble in completing the measurement of subjects from the
indian hands on the place, and made portraits and photographs of native
dancers. In the afternoon the _h'men_ appeared. He was an extremely
clean and neat indian of forty-five, and carried at his side a little
sack, within which, carefully wrapped up in a handkerchief, were his
_sastuns_. There were five in all; three were small round balls of
glass, broken from the stoppers of perfume bottles; one was somewhat
barrel-shaped and of bluish color, while the other, the largest of all,
was rather long, fancifully formed, and with facets ground out upon it;
it was yellowish in tint. The two latter were apparently from toilet
bottles. Telling him that I was anxious to learn about something which
had been stolen from me, I asked what was necessary in the way of
preparation. He demanded a candle and _aguardiente_. A great taper of
yellow wax and a bottle of spirits were supplied. Taking these in his
hand, he entered the little chapel of the _hacienda_, considering it a
good place for conjuring. He piously kissed the altar tables and the
bases of the crucifixes and saints; then picking out a dark corner he
opened his cloth, took out his glasses, lighted the candle and squatted
for his operation. Taking one of the crystal balls between his fingers,
he held it between the flame and his eye and looked