and placed in water. The tissue surrounding the fibre 
bundles rots away. The resulting fibres are washed in 
the arroyo and commonly used in making lassos and 
domestic rope. 
Stupefying fish with agaves is well known among the 
Tarahumara (cf. Gentry, 1972: 11, 89). The Western 
Tarahumara use Agave Vilmoriniana, which is rich in 
sapogenins, and 4. bovicornuta and A. Wocomahi, the 
toxic constituents of which are unknown, to stupefy fish 
trapped in rock enclosures in the rivers. The plants are 
mashed on a rock, the juices are allowed to drain into 
the river and, finally, the mashed plants are thrown into 
the water. Several plants are needed rapidly to stupefy 
the trapped fish which, upon reaching the surface, are 
collected and prepared. 
The crushed leaves of Agave Vilmoriniana, which is 
rich in the sapogenin smilagenin, are prized as soap for 
bathing and washing clothes, wool, blankets and dishes. 
Not all ‘‘ahué”” leaves are good for washing. The whiter 
leaves are chosen over the greener ones which produce 
too strong a soap, especially for washing hair. Another 
method of selection is to twist the end of the leaf. If it 
breaks, that leaf is not used. 
Ritual curing with agaves is important to the Tara- 
humara ceremonies (Lumholtz, 1902: 821-822, 368). 
Small plants of fave Shreve: are placed in pots of 
water in front of the cross during fertility rites for sheep 
and goats and in ceremonies for the dead. 
Discussion 
About 300 years ago, the Tarahumara retreated west- 
ward and assimilated various tribes of close cultural and 
linguistic affiliations (Pennington, 1986: 8, 9, 229, 2380, 
Map I). Today they number about 50,000 (Pennington, 
1963: preface). The Western Tarahumara are geographi- 
91) 
