Briuton] ♦J^ [Jan. 5, 



Similar instances are recorded by Jacinto de la Serna. He 

 adds that not only did the Masters prescribe sacrifices to the 

 Fire in order to annul the effects of extreme unction, but they 

 delighted to caricature the Eucharist, dividing among their con- 

 gregation a narcotic yellow mushroom for the bread, and the 

 inebriating pulque for the wine. Sometimes they adroitly con- 

 cealed in the pyx, alongside the hoi}' wafer, some little idol of 

 their own, so that they really followed their own superstitions 

 while seemingly adoring the Host. They assigned a purely 

 pagan sense to the sacred formula, " Father, Son and Holy 

 Ghost," understanding it to be " Fire, Earth and Air," or the 

 like.* 



Whoever or whatever was an enemy to that religion so brutally 

 forced upon these miserable creatures was to them an ally 

 and a friend. Nunez de la Yega tells us that he found v/ritten 

 formulas among them reading : " O Brother Antichrist, Brother 

 Antichrist, Brother Antichrist, come to our aid ! " — pathetic 

 and desperate appeal of a wretched race, ground to earth under 

 the iron heels of a religious and military despotism. f 



18. The association embraced various tribes and its members 

 were classified under different degrees. The initiation into these 

 was b}^ solemn and often painful ceremonies. Local sodalities 

 or brotherhoods were organized after the manner of those usual 

 in the Roman Church ; but instead of being named after St. 

 John or the Virgin Mary they were dedicated to Judas Iscariot 

 or Pontius Pilate out of derision and hatred of the teachings of 

 the priests ; or to the Devil or Antichrist, who were looked upon 

 as powerful divinities in opposition to the Church.;}: 



There were certain recognized centres of the association, near 

 which its most important dignitaries resided, and where their 

 secret councils and most imposing ceremonies were held. One 

 of these was Zamayac, in the province of Suchiltepec ; a second 

 near Huehuetan, Soconusco ; a third at Totonicapan, Guate- 



* De la Serna, Manudlde Ministim, pp. 20, 21, 42, 162. The mushroom referred to was 

 the qmnhmmacaU, probably the same as the teylminti of Hernandez, Hid. Plant. Nov. 

 imiHin., Tom. li, p. 358, who says that it is not dangerous to life, but disturbs the mind, 

 inciting to laughter and intoxication. 



t Actual slavery of the Indians in Mexico continued as late as the middle of the seven- 

 teenth century. See Gave, Tres Siglos de Mexico, etc., Tom. ii, p. 11. 



I IJrasseur, Hist, dcs Nations Civilisies de Mexiqtic, Tom. iv, p. 822. 



