Brinton.] *^^ |Jan.5, 



of " flower weavers," Xochimilca, probabl}^ from the skill they 

 had to deceive the senses by strange and pleasant visions.* In 

 the south they were spoken of as " guui'dians," which may have 

 been derived from the classes of priests so-called in the Zapotec 

 religion. "j" 



19. It will be seen from the above, that Nagualism, beginning in 

 an ancient superstition dating back to the time of primitive bar- 

 barism, became after the Conquest a potent factor in the politi- 

 cal and social development of the peoples among whom it ex- 

 isted ; that it was the source from which was drawn and the 

 means by which was sustained the race-hatred of the native 

 American towards his foreign conquerors, smouldering for cen- 

 turies, now and then breaking out in furious revolt and civil 

 war. 



There is strong reason to suspect its power where, for obvious 

 reasons, it has not been demonstrated. It has always been a 

 mysterj' and a matter of surprise to the historians of Yucatan 

 how rapidly spi-ead the plans of the insurrection which secured 

 lasting independence for the natives, after these plans had been 

 agreed upon by the two chiefs, Antonio Ay and Cecilio Chi, at 

 the remote rancho of Xihura, in July, 1841. Such unanimity 

 of action could only have been possible through the aid of a 

 powerful, well-disciplined and widespread secret organization. 

 There can scarcely be a doubt they were the chiefs or masters 

 of the redoubtable order of Nagualism in the Peninsula. | 



There is no question that such was the case with the brief and 

 bloody revolt of the Mayas in 1761. It suddenly broke out in 

 a number of villages near Yalladolid, Yucatan, headed by a full- 

 blood native, Jacinto Can-Ek; but some of the participants 

 afterwards confessed that it was the outcome of a conspiracy 

 which liad been preparing for a year. 



When the appointed day arrived, Jacinto boldly announced 

 himself as the high priest of the fraternity of sorcerers, a master 

 and teacher of magic, and the lineal successor of the famous 



* " Xochimilca. que asi llamavan a los mui sabios encantadores." Torquemada, Mon- 

 arquia Indiana, Lib. xv, cap. 10. 



t In NahuaU, tlapiani, a guardian or watchman. The Zapotec priesthood was divided 

 into the hidjaloon, "greater guardians," and their inlcrior.s, the copnvitoos, "guardians 

 of the gods." Carriedo, Eitudlos Uistoricos, p. 93. 



X See Eligio Ancona. Ilistorki de Yacalan, Tom. iv, cap. 1 (Morida, 1S80). 



