CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY OF SOUTHWEST GUATEMALA—McBRYDE 155 
end of the loom opposite the weaver is attached by rope 
~ toa tree or post. Small belt and head-band looms of this 
type are operated by both men and women. 
Surco, furrow in a plowed or hoed field. 
Suyacal, rain cape made from leaf segments of the corozo 
palm. 
Tablon, carefully squared and terraced garden plot, gener- 
ally well fertilized and irrigated for intensive cultivation. 
Tamale, or tamal, short, thick cake of corn which has 
been softened in lime water and ground on a metate or 
in a machine, then wrapped in corn husks and steamed 
in a deep jar; well-seasoned meat and certain vegetables 
serve as filling inside tamales, 
Tapaojo, a heavy leather blind placed over the eyes of a 
pack animal while he is being loaded, to keep him from 
bolting. 
Tarea, day’s work of a laborer; on a coffee plantation this 
means generally about 1 cuerda of 28 varas (33-in. 
units) square, cleared of weeds, second growth, and 
rubbish, 
Tarro, giant bamboo, especially important for Lowland 
house walls. 
Tecomate vine gourds (Lagenaria spp.), including the bottle 
gourd (L. siceraria). 
Temascal, sweat bath; a low structure of poles and mud 
and, usually, stones, with foundation sometimes exca- 
vated, and one small side opening; for hot-water and 
steam bath. 
Temporadista jornalero or cuadrillero, temporary, migrant 
day laborer on a finca, or plantation; generally Highland 
Indian going to the piedmont or Lowlands of the Pacific 
coast. : 
Teosinte, a grass (Euchlaena mexicana) native to Mexico 
and Guatemala, related to maize; formerly thought to 
be a maize progenitor, now known to be a natural maize- 
Tripsacum hybrid. 
Tepeiscuinte, small animal (probably Cuniculus paca), 
highly esteemed as food, and a major pest in a cornfield. 
Tienda, small store, generally a home store. 
Tierra caliente (lit. “hot country’), region below about 
1,000 m. (3,280 ft.) elevation; mean annual temperature 
above about 22°C. (71.6° F.), with slight annual range. 
Tierra fria (lit., “cold country”), region above about 2,000 
m. (6,562 ft.) ; mean annual temperature below about 
16° C. (60.8° F.) with little annual range. 
Tierra templada (lit., “temperate country”), region between 
about 1,000 m. (3,280 ft.) and 2,000 m. (6,562 ft.) ; mean 
annual temperatures between about 22° C. (71.6° F.) 
and about 16° C. (60.8° F.), with slight annual range. — 
Tinaja, water jar. 
Tinta, see Sacatinta. 
Tizate, small cone of chalk used for rubbing on the fingers 
by women spinning cotton. 
Tortilla, unsalted maize cake made by patting a ball of corn 
mash to paper-thin, circular form, and baked on a clay 
(or modern sheet-iron gasoline drum top) griddle. Large 
tortillas are occasionally made of wheat flour. 
Totoposte, tortilla toasted and sometimes salted. 
Transhumance, migration of groups of people, as herdsmen, 
often seasonal. 
Treefern, any of the family (Cyatheaceae) of aborescent 
ferns having woody trunks, sometimes attaining a height 
of 50 to 60 feet, reaching their maximum luxuriance on 
certain rainy Pacific slopes of volcanoes at lower middle 
altitudes (pl. 5, b,c). 
Troje, corncrib. 
Tropical monsoon climate (Amw, Koppen), no winter 
temperatures (all monthly means are above 18° C.); 
very heavy summer rains with only short, relatively dry 
period in winter, so that the vegetation is heavy monsoon 
forest (like rain forest). 
Tropical savanna climate (Aw, Koppen), no winter tem- 
peratures (all monthly means are above 18° C.); rains 
concentrated in summer half year, with winter nearly 
dry. 
Tul, rush, used especially for making mats. 
Tuna, prickly pear or nopal (gq. v.). 
Vara (lit. “staff”), linear measure, 32 or 33 inches, as 
specified; originating from the early use of the staff of 
authority, carried by village officials in settling land 
disputes, as is sometimes still done in the region today. 
Vara de authoridad, staff of authority, often made of fine 
wood with engraved silver head, usually having a speci- 
fied length (for measuring in settling disputes, particu- 
larly over land), and always carried by officials of the 
municipalidad where it is kept and is handed down. 
Verano, dry season, “summer,” lasting from November 
through April in most of the region; actually winter, 
in terms of the sun. 
Villa, large village or small town, generally of greater size 
and importance than a paeblo, but less than a ciudad. 
Visita (eccl.), visit of a priest to a church having no regular 
resident curate; also, the area included in such visits. 
Xaca, dark bread, said to be made of whole wheat, with 
panela (brown sugar) added. 
Xancatal, Indian of Santa Catarina Ixtahuacan. 
Xiquipil, 8,000 by Aztec system of numbering: 20 contles 
(of 400). 
Yuca, see Manioc. 
Zambo, distinct racial cross, involving principally Indian 
and principally Negro blood. 
Zapote mamey, large tree, Calocarpum mammosum, or its 
large, sweet, juiceless fruit. 
Zute, general utility cloth of Indian women, who may fold 
them on the head against the sun, wrap them around 
the shoulders, sit on them, wrap goods or a baby (often 
thus slung on the back) in them, or fold them on top 
of a basket of goods; Indian men may wear them. 
wrapped around the head, tied around the hat, or thrown 
across the shoulder for use as a handkerchief. 
