132 



THE BUSINESS OF AGRICULTURE 



true of time spent in Solola and of the time of the 

 women who sell produce in the local market where 

 there is a strong element of recreation. Table 48 

 details the time of women and children in the local 

 market, based on the counts made. 



Table 49, summarizing time spent in outside 

 markets, comes from two surveys, with different 

 Indians, and several years apart, plus the innu- 

 merable observations of years. The Indians talk 

 about markets, and prices, more than anything 

 else, and merchandising activities are well known. 

 However, the primary data are not all as detailed 

 as table 49 would indicate. Questioning was done 

 in terms of households and general custom. For 

 example, an informant's statement that a certain 

 "whole family" went regularly to Solold,, was true 

 even though part of the family went one week and 

 part another. Thus while it is true that 103 men, 

 112 women, and 60 chUdren regularly went to 

 Solola, the number that went on any one Tuesday 

 or Friday is a question. Without a count of In- 

 dians on the road for a sample period of time, or 

 some other spot check, the figures in the column 

 headed "Times per year" are based partly on 

 general observations such as that the 82 house- 

 holds regularly patronizing the Solola market, are 

 regularly represented there 50 times annually 

 (some occasionally going twice weekly), but that 

 the total days are reduced because inclement 

 weather, sickness, and fiesta days keep all of the 

 families away some days, and in cases of compound 

 famUies, all of the members do not usually go to 

 market at once. The figures for other towns are 

 subject to less error because "whole families" do 



Table 47. — Summary of time devoted to marketing 



' Assuming that each of the households not represented hi the local Sunday 

 market sends a woman, who takes 2 hours weekly, to buy there. (70 women, 

 each 104 hours aimually; 30 children, the same.) 



' Calculating that 17 women and 8 children each spend about 4 hours 

 weekly in such selling. 



' Figured on the basis that the average man-ol-the-house spends about 5 

 hours a year and that women and children spend 25 hours per year per house- 

 hold, evenly divided between them. 



not go. The figiu-es for "Hours each time," based 

 on reliable statements and observation, are highly 

 accurate. The totals calculated for "regular" 

 visits are probably accurate to within 10 percent. 

 Those for "irregular" visits on the contrary could 

 be off as much as 30 or 40 percent. 



Table 48. — Time spent vending in the local market ' 



1 Not including vendors from other towns. 



' Number in table 60 reduced by 10 percent for presumed difference In 

 rainy season. 



« A rough calculation; children accompanying their mothers to the market 

 were not actually counted. (Infants are not included In the table.) 



* Assuming that the single Sunday market coimted (table 50) was typical. 

 The average of 5 hours spent in this market is based on the observation that 

 the market Is busy for that period; it Is assumed the women who stay longer 

 or less long balance each other. 



« The total in table 45 is 443. By oversight, no count was made at 2 p. m. 

 One may safely interpolate the average of vendors at 1 p. m. and 3 p. m,, to 

 bring the total to 489. With a reduction of 10 percent to correct for the fact 

 that the counts were made in the dry season (when with more merchandise 

 and less sickness there is presumably more selling) the result is 440. 



Table 49. — Time devoted to visiting outside markets 

 a. REGULAR VISITS 



b. IRREGULAR VISITS' 



> Half of this time is discounted when the calculation is made, since it 

 represents sleeping-eating time on the road. In the case of Guatemala City 

 doubtless some of the remaining time is "wasted" and should perhaps be 

 assigned to recreation; but it is included here. 



s Estimates, especially shaky for SololS and Saa Andrfis. 



> See note on p. 126. 



