Briuton.] ^^ [Jan. 5, 



The Bishop made up his mind that extreme measures should 

 be taken to eradicate these survivals of the ancient paganism in 

 his diocese, and he therefore promulgated the following order in 

 the year 1692: 



"And because in the provinces of our diocese those Indians who are 

 Ntigualists adore their naguals, and look upon them as gods, and by their 

 aid believe that they can foretell the future, discover hidden treasures, 

 and fultill their dishonest desires : we, therefore, prescribe and command 

 that in every town au ecclesiastical prison shall be constructed at the ex- 

 pense of the church, and that it be provided with fetters and stocks (con 

 grillos y cepos), and we confer authority on every priest and curate of a 

 parish to imprison in these gaols whoever is guilty of disrespect toward 

 our Holy Faith, and we enjoin them to treat with especial severity those 

 who teach the doctrines of Nagualism (y con rigor mayor a los dogma- 

 tizantes Nagualistas)." * 



In spite of these injunctions it is evident that he failed to 

 destroy the seeds of what he esteemed this dangerotis heres}' in 

 the parishes of his diocese; for his ninth Pastoral Letter, in 

 "which he exposes at length the character of Nagualism, is 

 dated from the metropolitan city of Ciudad Real, on May 24, 

 1698. As much of it is germane to my theme, I translate as 

 follows : 



"There are certain bad Christians of both sexes who do not hesitate to 

 follow the school of the Devil, and to occupy themselves with evil arts, 

 divinations, sorceries, conjuring, enchantments, fortune-telling, and 

 other means to forecast the future. 



"These are those who in all the provinces of New Spain are known by 

 the name of Nagualists. They pretend that the birth of men is regulated 

 by the course and movements of stars and planets, and by observing the 

 time of day and the months in which a child is born, they prognosticate 

 its condition and the events, prosperous or otherwise, of lis life ; and the 

 worst is that these perverse men have written down their signs and rules, 

 and thus deceive the erring and ignorant. 



"These Nagualists practice their arts by means of Repertories and 

 superstitious Calendars, where are represented under their proper names 

 all the Naguals of stars, elements, birds, fishes, brute beasts and dumb 

 animals ; with a vain note of days and months, so that they can announce 

 which corresponds to the day of birth of the infant. This is preceded by 

 some diabolical ceremonies, after which they designate the field or other 

 spot, where, after seven years shall have elapsed, the Nagual will appear 

 to ratify the bargain. As the time approaches, they instruct the child to 



• Constitut. Diocesan, Titulo vii, pp. 47, 48. 



