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INSTITUTE OF SOCIAL ANTHROPOLOGY — PUBLICATION NO. 2 



ing. The combs found here are round and 

 hang from tree branches. They are found by 

 observing the flight of bees; this requires good 

 eyesight and is difficult on cloudy days. The 

 clear weather of late spring and fall conse- 

 quently is the time of greatest activity. From 

 December until warm weather begins, the 

 honey is sugared and cannot be extracted from 

 the comb. 



Several varieties of bees are sought. The 

 combs found near Cheran are white and have 

 little honey, most of the comb being occupied 

 by brood. In the region near Tanaco the 

 combs are red, small, and almost completely 

 full of honey, with little brood. Other combs 

 are described as being occupied by bees that 

 are mmj bravo. Only this type of bee requires 

 the use of smoke to secure the honey. At times 

 this bee attacks passers-by and follows until 

 the victim covers himself with straw. Lemon 

 juice is used to alleviate the stings. In addi- 

 tion to these types, wild European bees are 

 sometimes found in hollow trees. 



Once a comb is located, the panalero usually 

 climbs the tree and knocks the comb down. If 

 the tree is large, he cuts notches in the trunk 

 with a small special-type ax, tying himself with 

 a riata or a length of rope while he chops. The 

 rope is not tied, but passes around the tree 

 trunk and the two ends are held in the hands. 

 The panalero holds the rope tightly while he 

 edges up the tree. Then, with a skillful motion, 

 he throws the loop of rope higher up the tree 

 trunk. Once the comb is reached, the panalero 

 covers his face and hands with a blanket and 

 taps the comb until the bees leave. The pro- 

 cedures are regarded as highly dangerous. 

 Panaleros are always careful to take a good 

 rest before climbing a tree. They ai-e also par- 

 ticularly attentive to their saint, San Anselmo, 

 who is believed to protect them. The danger 

 of the occupation is increased by the fact that 

 the panalero always works alone and in case of 

 accident could expect no rescue. 



Honeycombs are now said to be so scarce that 

 it is hardly worth while hunting them. Never- 

 theless, one panalero mentioned securing 19 

 combs on one trip which he sold for 9 pesos. 

 Sometimes the combs are sold as collected. At 

 other times the honey is extracted by squeezing 

 the comb in an ayate or carrying net. If very 



clear honey is desired, it may be strained 

 through silk. The native wild combs contain 

 no wax. The larvae are sometimes eaten, 

 either toasted in their cells or fried. The latter 

 method of preparation involves picking the 

 larvae out of the cells. Yet another method is 

 to toast the larvae with onion, chile, and salt. 

 The latter method is said to be especially tasty, 

 but probably only panaleros ever use any of 

 these methods very often.^ 



The larvae of another insect, the traspanal 

 (jicotera in La Caiiada) , are also collected and 

 eaten occasionally. This insect resembles the 

 native bee but is a little larger and makes its 

 nest in the ground to depths of 1 meter (3 ft.) 

 or more. No other animal food is collected and 

 the use of the eggs of wild birds was denied 

 with every evidence of distaste. 



USE OF MINERALS 



Stone, volcanic cinders, and clay are the three 

 mineral resources utilized in Cheran. Tuffs 

 and lavas are employed for house building, 

 foundations, and fences. The materials occur 

 either in the town itself or in barrancas within 

 a few hundred yards of the town. Volcanic 

 cinders are also quarried out of the sides of 

 barrancas, often within the town, and are em- 

 ployed to spread over slippery places on trails, 

 streets, and yards. The supply of materials 

 far exceeds demand, and the public domain 

 affords all needed supplies. 



Most of the rock used in Cheran comes from 

 a quarry on the west face of the hill of Santa 

 Karakua (also called Santiakujakua) within 

 the village. Most of the rock is prised out of 

 the upper face of the quarry in large pieces, 

 which usually are broken up in the fall to the 

 foot of the quarry. The broken rock is then 

 placed in piles, which later comers will not 

 molest. Smaller rocks and spalls are abun- 

 dant and anyone may help himself to these. 

 The rocks are usually packed by tying them on 

 burros with ropes, while small pieces may be 

 placed in nets or in pack boxes. 



Clay is somewhat more scarce. It is used 

 only for tilemaking and brickmaking, as no 

 one in Cheran makes pottery. A sufficient sup- 

 ply of clay for all present needs is dug out 



^ At Sopoco in La Canada, Rendon was told that the larvae are 

 Bometimes eaten raw. 



