Hist. Publ. 24 (1988) 135-144), states that the inhabi- 
tants “‘make a fibre like hemp’’. 
The pita industry is believed to have been much more 
extensive in former times than it is now. Bevan further 
states: ‘‘It appears that formerly this cutting and dress- 
ing of pita formed quite an important industry in certain 
parts of the Chinantla, and that far away in Oaxaca, the 
pita-fibre of this region was greatly esteemed for its su- 
perior qualities. ”’ 
At the present time, the industry is centered in San 
Pedro Tepinapa (long. 96°00’, lat. 17°29’) and to a lesser 
extent in Monte Negro de Lalana (long. 95°45’, lat. 17° 
25’) and Rio Chiquito (long. 95°58’, lat. 17°41’). Very 
little pita work is carried on in San Juan Teotalcingo, 
San Juan Petlapa and San Juan ‘loabela—the seats of 
the Chinantec basketry industry. This is due to the fact 
that Aechmea magdalenae is not abundant at the altitude 
of these towns and only scattered plants are to be found 
in the surrounding forests. 
The work of procuring the fibre is accomplished chiefly 
by the Chinantee women who cut the leaves near the 
ground and remove the soft, flexible but strong fibres. 
The extraction process consists in rubbing the softer tis- 
sues of the leaf free from the fibres on a metate. The 
fibres are then thoroughly washed and freed from extra- 
neous materials. When dry, the finished product is almost 
pure white in color. 
Very little of the fibre is worked by the Chinantecs 
themselves. In San Juan Teotalcingo and neighboring 
villages, a small amount of the pita fibre is utilized in the 
manufacture of the pheasant- and falcon-feather fans so 
typical of the region, but, other than this, no use is made 
of the fibre locally by the Chinantecs not even in the 
manufacture of their baskets. 
The greater part of the fibre which the Chinantecs 
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