have been beautiful. On presenting our
credentials to the officials, an order was given, and all the pure-blood
indians, one hundred at least, were lined up before us for inspection.
There were Tzotzils from Chamula, and Tzendals from Tenejapa, and among
them many excellent faces, showing the pure types, finely developed.
Having made our inspection, and indicated those whom we should use, we
looked about the prison. The prisoners were housed in the old rooms of
the monastery, each of which was large enough for six or eight persons.
In these rooms, each prisoner had his personal possessions--good
clothing, tools, cherished articles, instruments of music. Those who
cared to do so, were permitted to work at such things as they could do,
and the product of their labor was sold for their benefit. Some braided
palm into long strips, to make up into hats; others plaited straw into
elaborate, decorative cords or bands for hats; some wove _pita_ into
pouches; some dressed leather. Almost all were busily employed. Freedom
of conversation and visiting was permitted, and there was no particular
hardship in the matter of imprisonment, except the inability to go
outside. We were impressed with the fact that, in appearance and manner,
few, if any, of these indian prisoners, particularly the Chamulas,
showed any signs of criminal tendencies. In fact, they were as clean,
as frank, as docile, as intelligent, as any persons we might find in
Mexico. A little curious to know the charges on which they had been
committed, we inquired, and discovered that some had fifteen or twenty
points against them, among which were such trifling charges as murder,
manslaughter, arson, rape, and highway robbery. We thought best not to
inquire too closely, but it is doubtful, whether any of the subjects
here incarcerated under these long and dreadful lists of charges, are
guilty of anything except insurrection--a final struggle for freedom.

[Illustration: POSITION OF REST; TZENDALS, TENEJAPA]

[Illustration: TZOTZILS FROM HUIXTAN]

There were various signs of the approach of Holy Week, and the landlady
at our hotel, and her various helpers, were busy manufacturing incense
for that occasion. This was made in sticks, as thick as the thumb, and
six or eight inches in length, of a black color. Besides copal, leaves
and other materials from various kinds of odorous plants were employed
in its fabrication; the incense thus made is really fragrant, and it
would