EMPIRES CHILDREN: THE PEOPLE OF TZINTZUNTZAN FOSTER 



61 



2. Bigote mocho (i). This beam has a curved 

 "horn" or projection 10 or 12 cm. long on one side, 

 and a short 5 cm. stub on the other. It is used to 

 cover the planted maize seed, and in the cultivation 

 known as the escarda. 



3. Orejera (h). Tliis is the largest beam, with a 

 length of from 45 to 60 cm. and a dihedral of from 

 10 to 20 cm. It is used for the cultivations knows as 

 the trozada and tablon. 



The plow is fastened to the yoke by means 

 of a twisted leather rope 4 m. long, known as 

 the barson, which engages a pin (1), near the 

 tip of the shaft. The yoke goes above the shaft 

 and in front of the pin. The oxen in turn are 

 bound to the yoke by means of two coyundas, 



"terJ 



Figure 7. — Tzintzuntzan ox yokes. The middle yoke 

 measures approximately 1.70 m. as compared to 

 2.10 m. for the top and bottom yokes. It is used 

 for plowing when measured furrows are not de- 

 sired. 



simple leather thongs 5 m. long which are lash- 

 ed to the horns. Two different widths of yoke 

 (fig. 7) are used, one measuring a little over 

 2 m. (top and bottom) and the other about 1.70 

 m. (center). The former is used to make plant- 

 ing furrows, one ox walking in the furrow just 

 completed, thus throwing the plowshare 80 cm. 

 farther out. The other is used in preparing land 

 for wheat, and for the first maize preparation. 

 Oxen are driven by means of a garrocha (fig. 6, 

 /re), a 3 m. pole with an iron point, the gorbus 

 (fig. 6, o), on one end, to prod the animals into 

 greater speed, and a flat metal scraper, the re- 

 jada (fig. 6, n), on the other end, used to clean 

 the share of mud. 



Plows are almost always made of white oak, 

 or occasionally changungo wood, except for the 

 beams which are of madrono, which is easier to 



work. The only tools are a large cold chisel 

 and an adze. A pattern made from the side of 

 a soap box is used to measure the distance from 

 the butt of the shaft to the rear wedge, the size 

 of the hole in the shaft, the notch for the beams, 

 and the hole in the head through which the 

 plow pin passes. Plows are local products made 

 by three or four individuals. They sell for about 

 $8 and last for several years. The share is pur- 

 chased in Patzcuaro at a cost of about $8, and 

 must be retempered each year to reduce wear. 

 Obviously this plow is far from a primitive 

 instrument. The Tzintzuntzenos are perfectly 

 familiar with steel plows, but feel that their 

 arado de palo is a far more versatile tool. It 

 does not turn over the soil, but by means of the 

 various beams and adjustments the earth is 

 thoroughly pulverized to depths of from 15 to 

 20 cm. after a complete preparation. The in- 

 genious combination of beams makes possible 

 just the right amount of cultivation at each 

 stage of growth, without damaging the plants. 

 Finally, since most farming is on steep hills, 

 where erosion at best is a serious problem, it 

 has perhaps been a blessing that the steel plow 

 has not been used. Such additional stirring of 

 the soil could only result in an increased rate 

 of erosion followed by rapid impoverishment 

 of the farmer. 



MAIZE 



First preparation of the soil rarely is begun 

 before May 1, and most persons wait imtil 

 the middle of the month. The most complete 

 preparation of the soil is that for sowing en 

 cruz, "in a cross." This is done only in the rich 

 lakeshore milpas. The steps in the entire agri- 

 cultural process are as follows: 



(1) Initial plowing. The field is plowed back 

 and forth, with furrows from 10 to 30 cm. apart. A 

 second plowing, the rayada, at right angles, and with 

 the same furrow spacing then follows. Since the 

 ground is hard the share is adjusted to cut only 10 to 

 12 cm. deep. If the land has been planted in grass 

 fodder and is full of tough roots, a steel plow will be 

 borrowed or rented for the first plowing. 



(2) Next the field is plowed in the same direction 

 as for the first preparation, in furrows one vara (80 

 cm.) apart. The distance from the plow axis to the 

 path of the oxen is automatically adjusted by the width 

 of the yoke. Hence, one ox walks in the preceding 

 furrow and the next is precisely spaced. The short 



