intently into it,
as if seeking something. One after another, the five crystals were
carefully examined. Finally, laying the last aside, he shook his head.
He could see nothing, nothing whatever, that interested the gentleman,
unless indeed sickness; this he pointed out in one of the little balls;
redness, fever. Being urged to try again, after an interval he got down
to real business; he took the _aguardiente_, dipped the crystals into
the liquor, repeating formulas as he did so, and again made the test,
but with no better result. He could see nothing, absolutely nothing, of
stolen property; there was nothing in the crystal of interest to the
gentleman, except fever; that there was, he was certain. This practice
of divining by means of crystals is a survival from the old pagan days.
It is probable that there is no indian town of any size in Yucatan where
some _h'men_ does not make use of it.

We had now finished our work with Maya Indians, except the measurement
of a few women and the making of a single bust. Upon rather strong
representation to the _jefe_, a desperate effort was made by the
policemen and the women were secured. Among the village police-force,
one man had attracted our particular attention, as representing a
type of face, quite common among the Mayas, which we have called the
serpent-face. It is round and broad, with retreating chin and receding
forehead, and with curious, widely-separated, expressionless eyes. We
had already measured and photographed the subject, but, because he was
a policeman and had been useful, we thought we would not subject him to
the operation of bust-making. Seeing, however, that no other equally
good subject had presented itself, we decided to make his bust, and told
him so. To our surprise he refused. The _jefe_, for once, acted promptly
and without hesitation issued an absolute order that the man's bust
should be made. The order had no effect. The officials scolded,
threatened, but Modesto Kan was immovable. The _jefe_ ordered that he
should be thrown into jail, which order was promptly obeyed, but all to
no purpose. Our subject said we might whip him, fine him, keep him in
jail, or kill him, but he would not have his bust made. Hours passed,
and neither remonstrance nor threats on the part of the _jefe_ or
ourselves were of the least avail. On my last interview with him, I
found him lying on a mat with so high a fever that I dared not urge the
matter further, and we desis