24 A NATURALIST IN MEXICO. 



rather difficult; and, indeed, had we shot any of the birds 

 we would not have been able to get them, as we had no 

 boat and did not dare to wade in after them. Photographs 

 were taken of both cenotes, together with several of the trees 

 about. 



We returned to Sitilpech to spend the night. During 

 the evening we had the pleasure of witnessing a native 

 dance. As we approached we heard the noise of a drum, 

 and, upon entering the enclosure, found the men seated on 

 one side, and the women on the other. For some time there 

 was no dancing; but, after a while, a young man stood up in 

 the middle of the floor. Another, with a handkerchief in 

 his hand having a knot tied in one end, walked along the 

 line of women and threw the handkerchief at one, after 

 doing which he returned to his seat. This was considered 

 a challenge, and the woman rose, and, slowly taking her 

 shawl from her head, placed herself opposite the young 

 man, at a distance of about eight feet, and commenced danc- 

 ing. The dance was called the toros, or the bull. The 

 performers occasionally changed places; when the tune 

 ended, the woman walked off. The master of ceremonies, 

 called the bastanero, again walked along the line, and 

 touched another woman in the same way, and she also 

 danced with the young man for a time; and in this way 

 they continued, the dancing man being always the same, 

 and the partner being always provided for him. 



Early next morning the party divided, two members 

 going north to visit Silam, and the balance, with the volan, 

 continuing toward the east, Tunkas being our objective 

 point, a village six leagues east of Sitilpech. The road 

 for the first two miles was straight, level, stony, and unin- 

 teresting. On both sides were low, thick woods, so that 

 there was no view except that of the road before us. This, 

 however, soon changed, and the next few miles brought us 



