EMPIRE S children: 



THE PEOPLE OF TZINTZUNTZAN FOSTER 



161 



recorded, except for marginal families that ex- 

 perience real hunger. This represents 14 percent 

 of the total budget and 23 percent of the food 

 budget. The figure is relatively low because of 

 the large quantities of bread, baked at home, 

 eaten by the family. Moderate amounts of beans, 

 meat, and fish are eaten but the expenditures for 

 fruits and sweets are considerably below those 

 of the foregoing families, indicating that a con- 

 scious cut in spending has to be made. Clothing 

 also represents much less per person than in 

 the case of the wealthier families. The income 

 of this family is adequate for basic foods, for 

 shelter — since, if necessary, a man can build 

 his own home — and minimum clothing, but, 

 even less than in the case of Eleuterio Melchor, 

 is there provision for frills. 



Jesus Molinero budget {March 1 to April 29, 

 7945).— Almost all of the income of this family 

 is in cash, with pottery, huarache repairs, and 

 day labor furnishing the bulk. Since the family 

 lives on a day-to-day basis, the income surplus 

 probably indicates that all expenditures were 

 not entered. A significant part of the income 

 was the result of barter, $18.05 or about 13 per- 

 cent. Sugar is eaten only when someone is sick, 

 and not as a usual item of daily diet. Milk is 

 almost never drunk, and other food items are 

 relatively limited. 



Total annual income is estimated at $850, 

 of which only $25 is in kind. A total of 1,000 

 liters of maize a year gives a per capita con- 

 sumption of 200 liters. The cash value of $225 

 is 27 percent of the total budget, and 43 per- 

 cent of the food budget. Bean consumption is 

 relatively low, but meat and fish account for a 

 larger portion of the diet than might be ex- 

 pected. Food represents 62 percent of the entire 

 family budget. The item "other foods" is much 

 lower than in any of the preceding cases, indi- 

 cating relative lack of variety in food. Detail- 

 ed study would probably show significant diet- 

 ary deficiencies to a much greater extent than 

 the preceding cases. It appears that a per capita 

 income of $170, especially since four of the 

 five individuals are adults, is considerably be- 

 low minimum standards to maintain the health 

 of the family. 



Romulo Molinero budget {March 1 to April 

 18. 1945). — This budget was recorded from 

 Romulo's wife, Teresa. As far as the money that 



she received is concerned, it is probably fair- 

 ly accurate. The minute quantities of income 

 are high lighted by the entry "other" of March 

 10, "$0.05 for making tortillas," i.e., she was 

 paid this sum to make tortillas for another fam- 

 ily. Romulo undoubtedly received a good deal 

 more income as policeman, which he spent on 

 food and drink, cigarettes and matches away 

 from home. Even allowing for this error, the 

 family existence is near the margin. The budget 

 notebook is spotted with remarks such as, "Will 

 eat tortillas tonight if my mother-in-law gives 

 them to me," or, "Tortillas and salt" as the 

 entire day's food. In spite of this poverty, the 

 item of $5.30 for the Church is the largest of 

 its kind in any budget. The money was spent 

 for flowers, Holy Water, and other items which 

 fall to the lot of cargueros, as were Romulo 

 and Teresa during this period. 



Yearly income is estimated at $325, all of 

 which is in cash or barter expressed in terms 

 of monetary value. The per capita maize con- 

 sumption is 133 liters, or 400 for the family. 

 The $90 value represents 28 percent of the total 

 budget and 45 percent of the food budget. The 

 17 liters of beans is the lowest per capita con- 

 sumption noted. Meat and fish consumption is 

 low, and fruit and sweets, insofar as they were 

 entered in the expense account, are insignificant. 

 Food represents 61 percent of the total budget. 

 The allotment for clothing is very low. Alto- 

 gether, the picture is one of extreme poverty, by 

 any conceivable standards. 



Vazquez budget {March 1 to March 19, 

 1945). — This is the most limited family budget 

 studied. Even allowing an error of 50 percent 

 (actually I believe that the recorded figures are 

 very close to the truth — the income and expend- 

 itures are so few there is less chance for error) 

 the family income is appallingly low. Both 

 Paulino and his mother suffer from malnutri- 

 tion, and their every physical movement betrays 

 force of will behind it. 



The nixtamal mill was visited on only 3 days 

 during the entire period of the study. Since, 

 however, Salud was grinding for only two per- 

 sons, and a relatively small amount each day, 

 the mill saving would be less than in the case 

 of larger families. Bread and sugar were each 

 purchased but once during the 40-day period. 

 Milk is an unknown luxury. Fruit and sweets 

 are consumed only on a very limited basis. 



