EMPIRES CHILDREN: THE PEOPLE OF TZINTZUNTZAN FOSTER 89 



under the weight of the pottery and have to be Vicente Rendon has two kilns, a large one 



rejilaced „ , , , , and one of average size. The large one,''which 



Ihe kiln wall above the ground, about 25 cm. has an interior diameter of 158 cm., holds 4 



thick, is built with special wedge-shaped adobes pesos of pottery, including 7 reales '(14 de a 



laid horizontally, wider on the outside and nar- medio pots) on the bottom. This kiln, like other 



rower on the inside so that a smooth circular large ones, has a rope around the 'outside to 



construction results. The height above the grate prevent spreading and cracking of the walls 



should be identical to the depth of the firebox due to the pressure from a full load, 

 below. The walls of this upper chamber, known 



as the rodete, project slightly inward so that the FirxiNG THE Kn.N 

 absolute diameter of the space at the top may 



be 8 to 10 cm. less than at grate level. Out- Kilns may also be judged by the amount of 

 side the construction is smeared with a thin wood needed to fire them. Doiia Andrea's re- 

 coating of adobe and over the firebox door a quires two "burro" loads of wood for the initial 

 cross is traced "so that the grate will not fall." fii'i'ig, and three for the glazing. Vicente's large 

 Each potter normally builds his own kiln, per- kiln requires four and five loads, respectively, 

 haps assisted by a friend or relative. There are When the family has enough pottery ready 

 no specialists for this work, although the adobes to fill its kiln, preparations are made in the 

 may be made to order "by adobe makers. Nor are afternoon. Sufficient wood, oak, pine, or ma- 

 there rites or superstitions, other than the plac- drono, has been gathered and stacked to dry to 

 ing of the cross, connected with the building. see the evening through. 



An average kiln shows the following dimen- The basic technique consists in placing the 



sions: largest pots on the bottom, directly over the 



Cm. grate, and filling them about half-full of smal- 



Interior diameter at top 120 ler ware. The second layer consists of slightly 



Interior diameter at bottom 130 ^^^^^^^ t aj^o partially filled, while the top 



Itiickness ot upper wall 27 i i , r -u n 



Depth of kiln proper 75 '^y^'" ""'' ^^y*^^'^ ^^^ "^ade up of still smaller 



Thickness of stone grate 10 POts, empty. All available cracks and spaces 



Depth of firebox 75 are utilized to slip in small comales, chuche- 



Width of door at base 42 rias, and other tiny dishes so that the kiln is a 



Height of door 50 veritable mass of dried clay. Great care is 



There is no well-defined way to measure the taken to fit the round bottoms of the large pots 



capacities of kilns. A rough idea may be given i"to the mouths of the others in tlie same layer, 



by telling the number of pots of a given size, to utilize fully all the valuable floor space. The 



usually de a medio or tachas, which can be final pile of pottery pyramids toward the center, 



accommodated on the grate. Other persons cal- rising from 30 to 60 cm. above the top of the 



culate the pesos of pottery which their kilns kiln. Broken pieces of pottery, preferably of 



will hold. Thus, Dona Andrea knows that her large comales and ollas, are used to cover the 



kiln holds about 2 pesos arranged as follows: kiln completely, so that no unfired pots are 



nine de a medio pots directly on the grate, eight exposed. 



forming the outside circle and the ninth in the Firing usually is done in the early evening, 



center (4^/^ reales). These pots are filled with The potter lights the fire an hour or so before 



assorted vessels of the smaller sizes. The sec- dark, building it up slowly to prevent cracking 



ond layer consists of 12 tachas (3 reales) also of the vessels. He can judge the intensity of the 



filled with smaller vessels. The third layer con- heat by the brilliance of the flames seen under 



sists of 24 de a seis pots (2 reales) and the last the covering postsherds; hence, firing at night 



layer of 16 f?c o ocho pots (1 real). In addition is easier than by day. Maximum temperature, 



to the small vessels put directly inside the larg- reached only after an interval of about 3 hours, 



er pots, others are fitted carefully into all spaces is maintained for another hour. When firing is 



between pots, thus accounting for the final 6^/^ thought nearly complete, a couple of sherds are 



reales to make the total of two. lifted off with a stick and a small pot is picked 



