EMPIRE S CHILDREN: THE PEOPLE OF TZINTZUNTZAN FOSTER 



291 



tics need be submerged and lost a la America- 

 na. One has only to think of the unique pro- 

 vincial flavor which graces the different pro- 

 vinces of Scandinavia. It does mean that a con- 

 cept of a national community of interests must 

 replace that of the local community. The suc- 

 cess with which this goal can be realized will 

 depend in large part on the extent to which each 

 local area and group is understood, what are 

 the points through which innovation can be in- 



troduced, and what are the elements of culture 

 which can be modified or eliminated without 

 doing violence to the total configuration. The 

 answers to these questions should concern, not 

 alone the ethnographer, but every person in- 

 terested in the solution of the basic social and 

 economic problems which face the world today. 

 It is my hope that this monograph will be one, 

 among many, which will help those who control 

 the destinies of Mexico to attain this goal. 



GLOSSARY 



Definitions are in terms of standard local 

 usage, which sometimes differs from that of 

 other parts of Mexico. Tarascan words are iden- 

 tified by "T." Words used once or twice only, 

 and defined at the time, are not included in 

 the glossary. 



Aguardiente, a liquor distilled from sugarcane. 



Almuerzo, a inidmorning meal. 



Arco, literally "arch," here meaning the decorated 

 table on which offerings are taken to the ceme- 

 tery. 



AiToba, a measure of weight. 11.5 kilos. 



Atole, a thin gruel, usually made of corn, with vari- 

 ous flavorings. 



Barrio, a division of a town roughly corresponding 

 to a ward. 



Batea, a wooden tray. 



Bracero, a Mexican laborer brought to the United 

 States during World War II. and subject to con- 

 tracts supervised by the Mexican and United 

 States Governments. 



Caballito, literally "little horse," a drink of alcohol 

 in soda pop. 



Cabecera, a town, the administrative center of a mu- 

 nicipio. 



Calzonci (T), the generic word by which the Tarascan 

 rulers were known. 



Calzones, unbleached muslin trousers. 



Cantaro, a small-mouthed clay water jar. 



Cantina, a saloon. 



Carguero, the term applied to those persons usually 

 called mayordomos in other parts of Mexico. 

 Such men have specific religious responsibilities 

 associated with a church, chapel, or image for 

 a period of one year. 



Catrin, "of the city," "city-style," particularly applied 

 to clothing habits. 



Cazuela, a wide, shallow round or oblong clay cas- 

 serole. 



Charanda, the brand name of the most esteemed 

 aguardiente of the Tarascan area; the term often 

 is used in a generic sense. 



Cheremekua (T), a gill net. 



Chinchorro, a seine. 



Chirimia, a reed flute used in some religious proces- 

 sions and functions. 



Chocolatero, an olla with a spout and single handle. 



Ciarin, a type of wind instrument played by inhaling 

 through a tiny mouthpiece. 



Comadre, the godmother of one's child, or the moth- 

 er of ones godchild. 



Comal, the circular baked-clay griddle on which tor- 

 tillas are cooked. 



Compadrazgo, the system of fictitious relationships 

 set up through the godparent system. 



Compadre, the godfather of one's child, or the fath- 

 er of one's godchild. 



Curandero, literally "curer," the native medicine man 

 (curandera, fem.). 



Ejido, in Colonial times, the unfarmed communal pas- 

 ture lands of the village; today the term applied 

 to lands distributed to farmers for their use dur- 

 ing life, with title held communally by the vil- 

 lage. 



Empeno, collateral to secure a loan. 



Encargado, a substitute with fewer duties to replace 

 a carguero. 



Fanega, a volume measure of 100 liters. 



Gaban, a small serape. 



Gorda, a thick wheat cake baked on a comal. 



Giiare (T), the Mestizo term for female Tarascans. 

 Also the term is applied to small Mestizo girls 

 who dress in indigenous costume to dance at 

 fiestas. 



Huarache (also guarache), a leather sandal, the com- 

 mon footgear of rural Mexican men. 



Judea, La, the passion play given in Tzintzuntzan 

 during Easter Week. 



Kermes, a money-raising device somewhat similar to 

 a charity ball. 



Laderas, stony, eroded hillside milpas. 



Loza blanca, the decorative painted "white pottery" 

 made by Natividad Pena and her mother Andrea 

 Medina. 



Manzana, a town block. 



