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INSTITUTE OF SOCIAL ANTHROPOLOGY PUBLICATION NO. 6 



levy a tax upon all family heads to finance one 

 band, while the municipal president, aided by 

 40 friends, would hire the other. $2.50 was 

 assessed per head by the first group, while the 

 second paid $9 per person. Two commissions 

 were named to make the contracts; that of the 

 town council quickly settled with near-by Ihua- 

 tzio for $410 for 4 days, while the members of 

 the Indigenous Community, after considerable 

 trouble, obtained a contract with the band of 

 Nocosepu, on the west side of the lake. Nego- 

 tiations sometimes last for several days. Bands 

 in the sierra enjoy the most fame, and if prices 

 are not too high an attempt is made to get one 

 or both from there. While in Tzintzuntzan both 

 compete, not only to establish their fame but 

 also to enhance the reputation of the contractors 

 on the part of the town council or the Indigenous 

 Community. The negotiations with Nocosepu 

 form an interesting case history: 



A commission of four men, equipped with ample 

 brandy, was sent to talk with the leader. He was 

 reluctant to sign a contract, since his 17 musicians 

 were three short of full strength. Shortly before, the 

 three had temporarily deserted just at a time when 

 they were contracted to play at another town. In a 

 rage, the leader had them jailed in Patzcuaro for 

 breach of contract, as a result of which they refused 

 ever to play again. The time was short until the 

 Tzintzuntzan fiesta, and there would be no time to 

 train new musicians. Suggestions were made to look 

 for substitutes in other towns, but until 11 o'clock 

 at night (negotiations had begun at 4 in the after- 

 noon), no real progress was made, except in the 

 direction of inebriation on the part of all. Finally 

 the commission decided to make one last appeal be- 

 fore going to another town, and, the difficulties seem- 

 ing less under the influence of alcohol, the director 

 asked for S700. Little by little this astronomical sum 

 was whittled to the final contract of $425, at which 

 time the local judge was called to draw up a written 

 contract, and to note payment of a $25 deposit. The 

 judge warned the director not to sign, reminding him 

 that his band was below full strength, and that not 

 only would his reputation suffer but also that of the 

 town itself. Nevertheless, negotiations were complet- 

 ed to the satisfaction of the interested parties. 



Several weeks before the fiesta an elaborate 

 program was drawn up by the town council, 

 printed in Morelia, and posted throughout a 

 large part of the State. The announcement was, 

 to a large extent, window dressing, and many 

 of the events were included simply to make the 

 program sound more attractive, with no intention 

 of carrying them out. Likewise, composition of 



the program gave members of the town council 

 their only real opportunity at creative literary 

 endeavor. The announcement for 1945, in trans- 

 lation, reads as follows: 



GRAND ANNUAL FAIR 



Which will be held in the first and historic city 

 of Tzintzuntzan, Michoacan, during the 4th, 5th, 6th, 

 7th, and 8th days of next February, 1945. 



TO THOSE WHO COME TO THIS FAIR: 



This ])lace, which in past times was the home of 

 the Tarascan kings, takes great pride in seeing itself 

 saluted by all the descendants of that noble blood, 

 which even today circulates in the veins of many of 

 the people of this state, for this fiesta is a way of 

 paying homage to those who truly bequeathed to us 

 this blessed land of Michoacan. And it is just that 

 all those of us who are descended from that nobility, 

 year after year, gather together to record gratefully 

 those things, and because of these reasons this histor- 

 ic corner feels extremely proud. 



Therefore, the municipal authorities of this place 

 cordially invite you with all sincerity to honor us 

 with your presence at this Fair which takes place on 

 the days indicated. 



You will have all legal personal guarantees on the 

 part of civil and military authorities both within and 

 without the town. 



The following program will take place: 



February 4. Meeting of the musical bands which 

 will play throughout the fiesta. 



February 5. Cock fights and horse races. 



February 6. In the morning a magnificent parade 

 through the principal streets of this historic pueblo, 

 followed by sports; in the evening a great confetti 

 battle, fireworks, and an outstanding serenade. 



February 7 and 8. Grand jaripeo (bull-baiting) 

 by the horsemen of this place, assisted by the musi- 

 cians. 



February 8. In the evening, to end this great fair, 

 there will be a brilliant kermes. 



Tzintzuntzan, Mich., January 8, 1945. 



As will be seen in the detailed account of the 

 fiesta, the excitement was somewhat less than 

 announced. 



In the days immediately preceding the fiesta, 

 the chief occupation of town officials was that 

 of assigning plaza places for merchants. Towns- 

 people, by virtue of their contributions for 

 music, were exempt, but all outsiders paid a 

 plaza tax. Padre Tovar refused to countenance 

 commercial stands in the ample atrium of the 

 church, except for religious objects, to the great 

 consternation of many merchants, who felt that 

 was the most profitable place. Since various 



