68 INSTITUTE OF SOCIAL ANTHROPOLOGY—PUBLICATION NO. 4 
MATS 
(Map 17) 
There are three major fibers of which mats 
(petates) are made, namely, palm (probably of the 
type used in making hats), rush (tl), and alpine 
bunchgrass (Muhlenbergia sp.), in descending order 
of importance. 
The main center of production of palm mats was 
always stated to be San Andrés Sajcabaja, and they 
were said to come also from Rabinal, and occasionally 
from Nenton, near the Mexican border. Mats are 
made in various sizes, from 2 feet square up to 8 by 6 
and 13 by 4 feet or more. They always seem to sell 
rapidly, even in areas where other types of mats are 
made, as at Solola, near the rush-mat supply center 
of Lake Atitlan. The uses of them are manifold, not 
only in the household, as floor covering, bed cushions, 
and screens, but also in providing itinerant merchants’ 
accoutrements, especially outer coverings for cacastes 
(cargo frames) among the Maxefios and Totoni- 
capefios, and beds, for which purpose one is usually 
carried rolled on top of each cargo pack, to spread 
upon the ground for sleeping beside the trail. 
The rush mat (petate tul) is an item of commerce 
that is made generally in lake-shore villages, or those 
situated near water bodies or marshes where rushes 
grow. Of the Lake Atitlan villages, Santa Catarina 
Palopo is the chief producing center, though the in- 
dustry has been retarded since 1932, owing to the ris- 
ing lake level (see pp. 123, 132). Rushes are gathered 
near the village (many being bought, in 1936, from 
San Antonio), dried, then soaked in water again in- 
doors to avoid the drying effects of sun and wind, 
before being worked into mats. Mats of various sizes 
are made, up to 4 by 6 feet or more. It was said 
that 200 rushes would suffice for three mats of the 
size mentioned. Other Lake Atitlan villages where 
some of the inhabitants make pefates are Cerro de 
Oro, Santiago, San Marcos, and Santa Cruz. Solola 
is their principal market. An important producing 
center in the Antigua region is San Antonio Aguas- 
calientes. 
Mats made of tough bunchgrass, generally about 3 
feet square, are sometimes woven by shepherds in 
the lofty alpine meadows of the Totonicapan—San 
Francisco region, and perhaps in others as well. They 
are occasionally to be seen for sale in the markets, 
especially those of San Francisco el Alto and 
Quezaltenango. 
SANDALS AND OTHER LEATHERWORK 
Sandalmakers (caiteros) are most abundant in 
Totonicapan, and are strongly in evidence in many 
of the settlements which have been peopled by Totoni- 
capenos, such as Argueta and Patanatic. There are 
also some in Chichicastenango and Quezaltenango, 
who operate mainly within their local orbits. The 
Totonicapefios, on the other hand, cover a wide area. 
Some of them are itinerants who attend various dis- 
tant markets, working at their trade in the plaza. 
Surrounded by belts, straps, and sandals, they cut and 
hammer under canvas shelters lined up in the space 
allotted to them. On most Fridays about 20 sandal 
makers from Argueta (Totonicapan) may be seen in 
the Solola market (map 22). They separate at that 
point, and head for Sunday markets in the Lowlands, 
about half going to Chicacao and the other half to 
Patulul. On one occasion I saw a Quezaltenango 
sandalmaker at work in the Olintepeque market; in 
this case a woman, a rarity in such work. 
Sandals and leather belts are the chief items sold, 
though there is usually a good stock of muleteers’ 
(arrieros’) supplies, especially plaited whips and 
tapaojos (heavy leather straps for blindfolding mules 
during loading), as well as sheaths for machetes, 
knives, and the like. 
Leather sandals are in some measure being replaced 
by those made from sections of discarded automobile 
tires (see McBryde, 1933, p. 120, ftn. 57), as is 
done in many other parts of the world having econo- 
mies similar to that of Indian Guatemala. I noted 
a particular abundance of tire sandals in the market 
of San Salvador, much more so than in Guatemala , 
City (pl. 42, d). Though cheaper, they are heavier 
and hotter on the feet than leather, so that they are 
little worn in the Guatemala Lowlands. 
Mecapales (rawhide forehead straps, or tumplines) 
are a specialty of Sacapulas men, who plait them 
while sitting in the market (p. 58). 
DANCE REGALIA 
Gaudy and elaborate bejeweled silk, satin, and 
velvet costumes for men, designed after the finest 
raiment of the conquistadors, and wigs and masks, 
usually depicting bearded Spaniards, are made in 
Totonicapan and owned by a single Indian dealer. 
There is another small-scale costumemaker in San 
Cristobal Totonicapan and one in Chichicastenango. 
These costumes are not ordinarily sold, but are rented 
at good prices to members of certain village cofradias 
