each of which was large enough for six or eight persons.  In these rooms, each prisoner had his personal possessions—­good clothing, tools, cherished articles, instruments of music.  Those who cared to do so, were permitted to work at such things as they could do, and the product of their labor was sold for their benefit.  Some braided palm into long strips, to make up into hats; others plaited straw into elaborate, decorative cords or bands for hats; some wove pita into pouches; some dressed leather.  Almost all were busily employed.  Freedom of conversation and visiting was permitted, and there was no particular hardship in the matter of imprisonment, except the inability to go outside.  We were impressed with the fact that, in appearance and manner, few, if any, of these indian prisoners, particularly the Chamulas, showed any signs of criminal tendencies.  In fact, they were as clean, as frank, as docile, as intelligent, as any persons we might find in Mexico.  A little curious to know the charges on which they had been committed, we inquired, and discovered that some had fifteen or twenty points against them, among which were such trifling charges as murder, manslaughter, arson, rape, and highway robbery.  We thought best not to inquire too closely, but it is doubtful, whether any of the subjects here incarcerated under these long and dreadful lists of charges, are guilty of anything except insurrection—­a final struggle for freedom.

[Illustration:  POSITION OF REST; TZENDALS, TENEJAPA]

[Illustration:  TZOTZILS FROM HUIXTAN]

There were various signs of the approach of Holy Week, and the landlady at our hotel, and her various helpers, were busy manufacturing incense for that occasion.  This was made in sticks, as thick as the thumb, and six or eight inches in length, of a black color.  Besides copal, leaves and other materials from various kinds of odorous plants were employed in its fabrication; the incense thus made is really fragrant, and it would be interesting to know whether it is, in part at least, of indian origin.  In three days we had completed our examination of the men, but not a woman had been produced for examination.  On the fourth day, we reiterated our demands to the authorities, and Don Murcio, the janitor or messenger, who had been put subject to our order, was almost frantic.  He declared that to secure the women we needed would tax every power of the government; that they refused to come; that his mere appearance in the market caused a scattering.  Finally, we told him, that if he would provide twenty-five Chamula women, we would get the Tzendals in their villages, as we passed through them.  Encouraged, by having one-half of our demand abated, he made another visit to the market.  Soon we heard excited voices, and a moment later Don Murcio came rushing up the stairs with both arms filled with black chamaras.  It is the custom of the indian women, when they come to market, and settle