24 



INSTITUTE OF SOCIAL ANTHROPOLOGY — PUBLICATION NO. 1 



are spread out for sleeping. The women sit on 

 the ground in Ivueehng position; the men either 

 sit on their heels or on low wooden benches 

 (biiritu) or low chairs (uasan^Akua). In Pari- 

 cutin, Ihuatzio, aiid some other towns, the 

 benches are carved in zoomorphic forms. Hang- 

 ing from the roof may be a shingle or small -^i^,^ ^-v— ^^ 

 board on which to place small objects (sdrsu, ( ^ a "^ 

 zarzo). Olio or more wooden hooks (tijipatara- \^ ^ '~ 

 kua) may hang from the ceiling. These and \^^ \ 

 other items are illustrated in figm-es 16 and 17. VjMi i 

 Usually outside the house there is one or more 



wooden troughs used for water storage (fig. 18). F"^^"^'^ 18.-Hollowed log with wooden cover used for storage 



_ , T 1 ■ .in -1 ■ • -1 t, i of water outdoors. 

 In the Lake region, the furmture is similar, but 



the clear-cut distinction in the use of structures is "chimenea,'" is more common, and there often is 



lacking. Often one room serves all purposes. also a special fireplace for the comal, a circular 



If a separate kitchen exists, it may be just a lean- ridge of clay with an opening on one side to feed 



to against a wall of the house, open, or with the fire similar to that shown for Cheran in 



adobe walls. The use of the raised fireplace, figm-e 16. 



ECONOMICS OF THE TARASCAN HOUSE 



TTTF T OT ^"" '" ''""' 



Heavy square beams, each, f. o. b 1. 50-2. 50 



Lot prices vary considerably in Cheran. At Delivery charge, each 1.50 



the present time, the tendency is to seU lots by Veranda pillars, each, f^ o. b 1. 25-2. 00 



^ „ . ' , , / , ^ Delivery charge, each 1.25-1.50 



front footage in the central area, but square shakes, bundle of 400 5.00 



meters (39.3 in.^) are sometimes used as a base Rafter pole.s, dozen 4.00 



for prices also. In the case of lower-priced lots, Roof stringers, dozen 2.50 



probably the price is not set in terms of any Trapdoor 1.50-3.00 



specific'arca or frontage, but is the subject of l?""'--;.---; yr'": "/o'^n ^' "°^^' °° 



^ . , 1 ■ T 1 Foundation stones, delivered average (2. 50 



discussion and ultimate agreement. In general, ^^^j^^ g 00-22. 50 



lots (without buildings) which front on the main Nails, per kilo 1.00 



street were valued in 1940 at 25 pesos a meter pianks at Paracho were more costly in January 1942. 



(39.3 in.). On the outskii'ts of the town prices Boards, six varas long, cost 0.75 to 1.25 pesos each, 



were about 10 to 12 pesos a meter (39.3 in.). depending on width. Heavy planks cost according to 



length : 



WOODEN HOUSES Length in raras.- Price in pesos 



5 1.50 



COST OF MATERIALS g 1 75 



7 *? no 



The following tabulation presents the cost of ' "' ^ 



those materials which ordinarily are pm-chased g 3 qq 



according to various estimates. Variations in shakes, 5 cuarias (40 in.) in length; cost, 6 pesos per 



price are partly due to differences in size and bundle of 400 (ir^peta). 



quality, partly io the bargaining skiU of the buyer, ^^^^ ^^ CONSTRUCTION 



partly to the need ot the vender to sell. 



Pine planks, per doz., f. o. b.:' Price in pesos Table 3 represents the most accurate account 



Seven-Kara (6.44-m.) planks 15 inches wide, secured of the materials, labor, and costs of a 



3 inches thick, dozen 6.60 wooden house, or "troje." This house was built 



R^nge of other estimates 7. 0(^9. 00 j^^ j , ^q^q ^^^ Morelos 31. Its outside dimen- 



Deliverv charge, heavy planks, per dozen. 7.00 . , ., 1 1 . r ^ //. 1 r r. \ 1 -^ 



■ sions were 16 by 14 leet (6 by 5.2 varas), and it 



I Trice is about the same for I'inch planks, which are shorter and must be .i/vi 11 -i/ \ 



sawed, and long 3-inch planks, which are adzed. Was raised Off the grOUlul about 18 incheS (46 Cm.) 



