HOUSES OF THE SIERRA TARASCANS — BEALS, CARRASCO, McCORKLE 



19 



occasionally are of brick or cement but ordinarily 

 are of wooden planks. There is also usually a 

 kitchen of wood m addition to the masonry- 

 adobe structure. The latter is more difficult to 

 maintain in order and there is a reluctance to 

 smoke up the interior. 



Certain customs connected with the erection 

 of masonry-adobe walls should be mentioned. 

 Often a division wall is erected between the for- 

 ward part of two lots which may later be used 

 as a house wall by either or both lot o'wnei's. If 

 the cost of such a wall is shared, half the wall 

 rests on the land of each owner. As frequently 

 happens, however, one householder pays all the 

 cost. In this case, the enthe \vidth of the wall 

 is on the land of the person not contributing 

 money. The latter, however, may use the wall 

 as part of a house wall at any later time. 



In the Lake Piitzcuaro and La Canada regions, 

 house walls are almost always of adobe on a low 

 stone-masonry foundation. Usually the houses 

 have a veranda or corridor. The walls are erected 

 as described. Five heavy planks then serve as 

 plates, "planchas," one on top of each wall and 

 one supported by pillars at the outside of the 

 veranda. Sometimes there are capitals, zapatas, 

 between the pillars and the plate. The plates 

 at the two sides extend from the wall to the 

 pillars, or the side walls are extended to the edge 

 of the corridor. In this case, no comer Pinal's 

 are needed (pi. 7, lower, right). 



Upon the plates on the two shortest walls is 

 erected a triangular adobe structure, "capisa7jo" 

 (kenzejtakua). Across the other plates are laid 

 joists, in the more elaborate structures extending 

 well beyond the rear wall and edge of the corri- 

 dor, and carved at the ends. If the joists do 

 not extend beyond the wall and conidor, the 

 plates on the short sides may go only from the 

 outer edge of the corridor to a point part way to 

 the opposite side of the house. In this case, the 

 "cainsayo" may be partially an upward exten- 

 sion of the house wall. 



If the loft space is not used, shakes may be 

 laid on the joists to form a ceiling; often this is 

 done only over the veranda. Alternatively, a 

 plank floor may be laid. 



Should the house lack eaves, two heavy planks, 

 "pisos," are placed on the ends of the joists. 

 Upon these rest the rafters. If the eaves pro- 



ject, then the "pisos" are usually higher, sup- 

 ported by the adobes of the "capisayo," and 

 another heavy plank is placed on the ends of 

 the joists. The space between the wall and the 

 ends of the joists is usually covered with shakes. 

 The lower end of the rafters is supported by the 

 "piso," the upper by a ridge pole (pirijj^Akua in 

 Ihuatzio). The latter in turn rests on two 

 wooden pieces, "burrito," or " zoquete," forming 

 the top of each triangular adobe "capisayo" (pi. 7, 

 lower, right). 



Although the preceding roof type is the most 

 coimnon, simpler types are known. In some 

 cases, one wall is lower than the opposite wall 

 and a single shed roof is formed by sloping joists. 

 It should be observed that similar types of con- 

 struction are used in La Canada and at Tare- 

 cuato. Moreover, examples of all types of stone- 

 and-adobe construction may be found in nearby 

 Mestizo towns. 



SUPPLEMENTARY STRUCTURES 



Supplementary structures consist of fences, 

 gates, and sheds for storage or for shelter of 

 animals. Fences facing on streets are the most 

 elal:)orate as a rule. They may consist of dry 

 rock walls made by the house owner, but in the 

 central parts of town are almost always of masonry 

 or masonry topped with adobe brick (pis. 2, lower; 

 3, right). They are called serka. The construc- 

 tion differs in no way from thafe for house walls. 

 The top is covered with shakes held down with 

 a wooden stringer and stones. Adobe fences are 

 most common in the Lake Pdtzcuaro and La 

 CaMda regions. Often fences of poles (uaji6takua) 

 are employed to divide lots, or especially m the 

 outlying sections of town, along the streets (pi. 3, 

 left). Poles may also be used to raise a masonry 

 or adobe-brick wall somewhat higher, in which 

 case a row of shakes will usually be employed to 

 give privacy as well. No orthodox construction 

 is used for pole structures. One attractive but not 

 very practical fence was made of dry cornstalks 

 bound neatly at top and bottom to small poles. A 

 fence of upright poles or planks is called ^irindikua. 



Gates are usually quite elaborate and serve to 

 close openings to the street. Commonly, the gate 

 is a well-made door, purchased from a carpenter, 

 and swinging from two substantial upright posts. 

 These posts are set in the groimd and m addition 



