and brought from the priest’s house, hard by, blankets, sheets, and pillows for my own use.  Arrangements were also made for our eating with the priest, Padre Manzano, with whom we fared in truly regal fashion.  In the days we stayed at Huauhtla, there were no delays in our work and everything went in orderly fashion.  It is true, our subjects for busts were an awkward and trying lot.  The first subject broke the back-piece of the mould to fragments, and, when the plaster was being applied to his face, he opened his mouth and talked, opened his eyes, and drew out his nose-tubes, with the result that eyes, nose and mouth were all filled with the soft mixture, and it was all that we could do to clean him without damage.  As for trying to take his bust again, that was quite out of the question.  The second subject was all right, until the last application had been made, when he turned in the partly hardened mould with truly disastrous results.  The third one acted so awkwardly that a piece of mould, which should have come off singly, was taken off in ten fragments.

The dress of the Mazatec women is elaborate and striking, both enagua and huipil being made from the cotton woven by themselves.  At the base of the enagua is a broad and heavy band of wool, embroidered in geometrical patterns, the color being cochineal.  Above these bands, there are embroideries in the same colored wool, animal and human figures, and geometrical designs.  Unfortunately, cochineal, while brilliant, is by no means permanent, a single washing of the garment spreading the color through the white texture.  The huipilis are ornamented frequently with red, purple and crimson ribbons, bought in stores in the town, which are sewed to the garment in such a fashion as to divide it into rectangular spaces.  These, in turn, are occupied with the elaborate large patterns in pink representing the eagle and other designs already described.  It is uncommon among Mexican indians to find a native use of silk.  Here, however, silk-worms are reared and carry-cloths, kerchiefs and belts are woven from their product.  These are worn by both men and women.  The mode of wearing the hair among the Mazatec women is in two broad, flat braids hanging down the back.  The women made no demur whatever to being measured, but everyone, who presented herself for the operation, came dressed in her best clothing, with her hair elaborately braided, and showed serious disappointment and dissatisfaction if not invited to be photographed.

[Illustration:  MAZATEC WOMEN; HUAUHTLA]

[Illustration:  HEAVY BRAIDS; MAZATEC WOMEN; HUAUHTLA]