This fact of rain being produced or caused by human agency supports the opinion that the efforts of the rain-makers amongst the North American Indians were in accordance with some vague knowledge, and were not altogether absurd, and that the action of the Californian rain-maker, whose attempts to obtain rain were successful, was based upon an experience which was practical. CHAPTER XVIII. Departure from Uxmal. — Indian officials at Abalá. — Indian Ceremonies. — Worship of demons. — Baptismal customs. — Laws of the Emperor Charles V. for the government of the natives in Yucatan. — Superstitions. — An Indian Well. — Halt at night. — Merida. — Convent of the Conceptionistas. — Sisal. — The Basque brig Aguinaga. — Departure for Cuba and Florida. — Tampa. — Cedar Keys. — Buccaneers. — Shell Mounds. — Ancient Burial Mounds. — Florida Indians. At sunrise on the day of our departure from Uxmal, the Indians were hurrying along the paths on their way to the corn fields, and the women were engaged in carrying water from the wells. It was a busy scene of life and movement. We proceeded to Múna and then journeyed onwards to the village of Abalá which we reached in the afternoon, having accomplished a distance of eight leagues. We obtained shelter in a public building called the cabildo, which was used as a travellers’ rest house, where everyone, as in a Turkish or Syrian caravansary, selected whatever spot was available or unoccupied. Anastasio deposited the luggage in a corner and found a place where my hammock could be secured above the ground. Upon examining my horse I found that it was quite unfit for work, and therefore I went at once to the head man of the district, who was an Indian holding the office of Judge, and was at the time sitting in the Court-house. I asked him if he would give directions that I should be supplied with another horse or mule to carry me to Merida. The Judge at first made some objections and said that there were no horses, or that, if there were any, they were in the fields and would have to be caught. Finally, after a long discussion, the second or junior Judge, who seemed inclined to help me, promised that a horse should be ready at the cabildo on the following day as soon as the sun appeared. Trusting in this arrangement, I discharged Anastasio and sent him back with the old horse to Tzibalché.