Thelittle-studiedwitchcrafttrialthattookplaceatAbiquiu,NewMexico,between1756and1766isthecenterpieceofthisbook.ThewitchcraftoutbreaktookplacelessthanacenturyafterthePuebloRevoltandsymbolizedaresistancebytheGen穩zaros(hispanicizedIndians)ofAbiquiutoforcedChristianization.TheAbiquiuGen穩zarolandgrantwherethewitchcraftoutbreakoccurredwasthecrownjewelofGovernorV矇lezCachup穩n’splantoachievepeacefortheearlyNewMexicancolonists.TheywerecaughtbetweenthePuebloIndians’resistancetoChristianizationandraidsbythenomadicindiobarbarosthatthreatenedtheexistenceofthecolony.Thanksmainlytothegovernor’sstrategy,peacewasachievedwiththeComanchesandUtes,thePuebloIndiansretainedtheirreligiousceremonies,andtheAbiquiuPueblolandgrantsurvivedandflourished.TheWitchesofAbiquiuisthestoryofapolarizingeventinNewMexicohistoryequalinimportancetotheSalemwitchcrafttrialsof1692.
