Witchcraft

One thing that i though was rather interesting in the discussion on witchcraft was the fact that amerindians were free from inquisitor rural.  So that they could not be the targets of blasphemy or heresy from religious courts.  Fray makes a point to state this in her introduction for the witchcraft report:  ”On Her Death Bed.”  Fray notes that however these amerindians could still be used as witnesses for such crimes.  In the document, “On Her Death Bed, Maria de la Candelaria accuses Michaela de Molina of Casting Spells”  Maria de la Candelaria an indian is the accusing Michaela de Molina a mulata  and sells candy.  I would lake to note that Maria is a servant to one dona Juana.  I think this is important; on one side an indian servant gets ill and sues a mulata, who is in a higher class then indians.  Yet Maria has the help of her noble mistress and here daughter.  The only testimony brought forth in this document is that of Maria, dona Juana and her niece dona Rafaela, there was no testimony from Michaela.

According to the testimony from all of them stated a history between the two.  From the perspective of dona Juana and dona Rafaela the history seemed to be one involving “illicit” activities, one can assume sexual activities.  I would like to note on Lorenza’s case.  She too had seen the same man that Maria saw and was suffered similar symptoms.

As to what was expelled from Maria, it seems, at least to my knowledge (granted Im not a doctor) rather far fetched.  Bleeding through the nose generally means heard trama, while the vomiting of rocks, charcoal, towels, hair, cigs, etc. means that Maria must have ingested these ingredients.

The final thing I would like to note on, ties in with what I start with; the fact that indians can not be tried for witchcraft.  Through out the testimonies two indian women were brought up, one as a known witch, still this accusation was not against them.