Sobrevivencia de los nahuallime en una comunidad indígena

Abstract

Ever since the prehispanic tirnes, the nahuallime (witches or sorcerers) have played an important role in thc control and stratification of society. We have found them active in Pachiquitla, Hidalgo, a remote and isolated village of 3 000 inhabitants. The services of towns and cities are absent there, and the people live intense conflicts due to the lack of water and precise limits to
agricultural land. These conflicts often finish with death. Curanderos (healers), hueseros (bone setters) and parteras (midwives) are very active. The nahuallime are conside¡ed as dual beings, capable of doing both good and evil, and their main function is to promote the wellbeing of the community.