84 INSTITUTE OF SOCIAL ANTHROPOLOGY—PUBLICATION NO. 4 
is not uncommon in the Cuchumatanes region, where 
ears of maize are media of exchange, and in Chiapas, 
there seems to be none on a large scale in South- 
west Guatemala. The only money now in use is 
modern Guatemalan currency, based upon the quetzal 
and fractions down to one-half cent. Indians never- 
theless often quote prices in pesos, reales, and other 
former monetary units which were discontinued years 
ago.Nt 
In pre-Columbian times in Central America, cacao 
“beans,” copper bells and blades, gold, seashells, 
beads (especially those of jade and obsidian), colored 
feathers, chile, and salt were variously employed as 
money (see McBryde, 1933, p. 110). Usually, some 
sort of medium of exchange seemed to be used rather 
than barter, though the latter apparently was also en- 
gaged in to some extent. Older residents of Guate- 
mala report the use of salt (Solola), chile (Solola), 
and cacao (Solola and Santo Domingo Suchitepe- 
quez) for “small change.” This practice lasted until 
about 1900, according to a number of reliable in- 
formants. One of these told also of barter in the 
western municipios of Lake Atitlan, where, as at San 
Pablo, local “Spanish plums” (jocotes) were paid to 
Maxeiios in return for pots or jars. The quantity of 
the fruit was determined by the capacity of the vessel : 
a bowlful of fruit was paid for the bowl which they 
filled (p. 102, ftn. 158). Cacao beans were said to 
have been used for money in Mazatenango as late as 
1914, A cigar or drink of rum cost 5 or 6 beans. In 
1940 I was told at Aguacatan that dried chiles, bought 
by merchants at Asuncion Mita on returning from 
Salvador to sell garlic, were used even then as money : 
12 Mita chiles being worth 4 or 5 onions or a “pinch” 
(defined as % oz.) of salt. The bargainings and 
bickerings that are so constantly in evidence in the 
markets serve more than the social functions which 
are stressed by so many writers; through repeated 
tests, both buyers and sellers are able to arrive at 
price norms where no other standards (on many 
items) exist, and the only constant is fluctuation. 
Most grains, small bulbous vegetable foods, lime, 
meats, and many other goods are sold by weight, 
hand balances of tin, basketry, or brass (rare) being 
employed by vendors (pls. 14, c; 39, g). Corn is 
usually sold by the pound, but commonly, especially 
in Chichicastenango, it is measured by the almud, a 
shallow wooden box that holds about 12% pounds. 
Selling by weight instead of measure was said to 
Sareea on a par with the U. S. dollar. -For earlier moneys, 
as debased pesos and reales used until 1933, see McBryde, 1933, pp. 
123-124; also Jones, 1940, pp. 234-239, 
have been widespread only since about 1917 (Mc- 
Bryde, 1933, p. 124). Brass cup-weights are gen- 
erally used for measurement, though sometimes 
stones and even potatoes, illegal though such sub- 
stitutes are, serve the purpose in the balance. Fluid 
foods and certain small fruits, vegetables, and spices 
are sold by the measure. Most articles, however, 
especially larger ones, are sold by the piece or bunch. 
Vendors in most of the Guatemala markets, par- 
ticularly the larger ones, pay a tax (piso de plaza) 
for their space, even if it is in the open street. The 
amount imposed depends upon the nature, bulk, and 
value of the goods, and this leads to frequent argu- 
ments between vendors and tax collectors, who 
generally pass through the plaza for the purpose. At 
San Juan Ostuncalco vendors pay on leaving the 
market. At Solola in 1932 an average tax was about 
3.cents, the minimum being 2 cents, maximum 8 
cents (livestock tax). Small tickets were given as 
receipts. It was said in Chicacao in 1936 the cloth 
merchants were taxed as much as 20 cents; average 
market tax was about 5 cents, minimum 3 cents. 
Bananas are untaxed in most Lowland markets, 
where they seldom appear (Indian merchants get 
them gratis or for almost nothing on the fincas for 
sale in the Highlands; p. 36). Fruits and vegetables 
are not taxed in the San Sebastian Huehuetenango 
market. 
The tax is generally paid in cash. The only ex- 
ception to this which I have observed was at Pana- 
jachel, in 1936, in the case of pitch pine (ocote) 
splints, the tax on which was exacted in kind, usually 
four small bunches, worth 1 cent, for an average 
cargo. Pitch pine, which does not grow in the 
vicinity of Panajachel, is of great importance for 
supplying torchlight to official messengers on dark 
mountain trails at night, and was formerly essential 
to the Santa Catarina Palopo crabbers’ operations. 
FAIRS AND PILGRIMAGES 
One characteristic feature of interregional trade in 
Guatemala is the periodic occurrence of fiestas which 
often attract double or more the usual numbers of 
vendors and buyers in a market. In addition to the 
fiesta titular held in celebration of the patron saint 
after which a town is named,!'8 there are also other 
important fairs held on certain religious and national 
holidays. An outstanding example is the Passion 
Week (Semana de Dolores) fair at Solola, when 
u8 Even small villages which have no regular market may have a 
lively fair, attended by great commercial activity, on the patron saint’s 
day, 
