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INSTITUTE OF SOCIAL ANTHROPOLOGY — PUBLICATION NO. 2 



times petted. One reason for having cats is 

 "because they give pleasure." They are given 

 "pretty" names or names of affection such as 

 Cludita and Negrita ("Pretty Little One" and 

 "Little Black One"). 



Cats are fed primarily on tortillas, although 

 they usually are given a little of whatever the 

 family is eating. Kittens are given away to 

 friends and relatives; they are never killed, 

 "for there are never enough cats." Strange 

 cats may be associated with witchcraft and 

 might be mistreated or killed, but this appar- 

 ently does not happen often. Eating of cats is 

 denied, although young fat kitten is reported 

 to be a delicacy for really poor people in near- 

 by Mestizo towns. 



Chickens. — Many people have no chickens 

 and no one has large flocks. They are fed, but 

 receive little care. Fowls are sometimes eaten 

 on special occasions, such as a baptism, when 

 a cooked fowl may be presented to the god- 

 father. Eggs are rarely eaten but are sold to 

 traveling egg merchants from Mestizo towns. 

 An average egg will sell for 5 or 6 centavos, 

 which will buy enough beans for a whole family 

 to have a meal, while one egg "will not satisfy 

 even one person." 



Chickens are fed whole corn or, if there are 

 very few chickens, nixtamal (masa or corn 

 dough for tortillas). Chicks are also fed 

 ■)ii:damaL Boxes or baskets are provided for 

 nests. The first time a hen wishes to "set," it 

 is not permitted, but it is the second time. 

 Eggs from other hens are never placed under 

 a "setting" hen. Small chicks are placed under 

 box crates to protect them from "onzas" (from 

 descriptions, onza in Cheran means a small 

 weasellike animal). 



Roosters are raised for cock fighting. How- 

 ever, organized cock fights are held only during 

 the fiesta of Octava. 



Pigeons. — Although regarded as a domestic 

 animal, pigeons are really wild. Ownership is 

 not clear. As the birds are not fed, but help 

 themselves to stored grain in the lofts of the 

 houses, ownership presumably would be felt 

 for the birds eating one's corn. The matter 

 seems unimportant, as the birds are rarely 

 eaten, although they are used in connection with 

 the San Juan fiesta. If eaten, only adult 

 pigeons are killed. 



Bce.'i — While a moderate number of families 

 have a few hives of bees, most of the apiculture 

 in Cheran is carried on by a few men who may 

 have 20 to 30 colonies. Only European bees 

 are kept. 



Beehives are wooden boxes, about 80 cm. 

 long, 20 to 35 cm. wide, and 25 to 40 cm. high. 

 The entrance is at one end, while the wax and 

 honey are taken by opening the back. The 

 hives are placed on benches or poles at inter- 

 vals of about one-half meter. Lizards are be- 

 lieved to eat the larvae. Flowers and scented 

 herbs are often planted in the area surround- 

 ing the hives. Wherever bees are kept, copal 

 gum is burned in pottery censers. It is said 

 to "feed" the bees because "the odor of copal 

 is the odor of our Lord." It is believed it also 

 prevents bees from leaving. No other ritual 

 or belief could be discovered. 



Honey and wax are usually taken from the 

 hives in October or November. If delayed 

 much after this time, the honey sugars and can- 

 not be extracted. The honey gatherer places a 

 net over his head and burns wheat straw to 

 stupefy the bees. The top of the hive is 

 smeared with honey so the bees will not leave. 

 Should they leave the hive and not return by 

 late afternoon, a small bell is rung to attract 

 them. 



When bees swarm, a bell is rung to make 

 them alight in a nearby tree. A little honey is 

 smeared over the inside of a box, which is then 

 placed by the swarm. When a few bees have 

 entered voluntarily, most of the remainder are 

 brushed in and the box is closed and put in 

 place. When it is opened, the bees usually 

 remain. The function of the queen is known, 

 and beekeepers can identify her. 



One of the largest apiaries in Cheran con- 

 tains 42 hives. The owner started beekeeping 

 17 years ago when he encountered a wild colony 

 in the mountains and brought it home. He 

 recovers 10 kilos of wax a year, which he sells 

 in Cheran at $2.50 a kilo, and between 40 and 

 50 pounds of honey. Most of the latter he sells 

 in small quantities at his home, but some is 

 sold to stores. 



All the work of caring for bees is done by 

 men (with one exception, a widow), but if the 

 wax is bleached, this may be done by women. 

 Wax is used mainly for making candles. 



