CHERAN : A SIERRA TARASCAN VILLAGE — BEALS 



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Duran, barrio III, music; Marcelino Guerrero, 

 barrio IV, wax. Each of these men had a 

 number of assistants. Marcelino Guerrero, for 

 example, had eight. This group first estimated 

 their expenses at about $125 to cover the cost 

 of candles and the Mass. As late as September 

 17 they were not sure how much the wax 

 would cost, because they had not yet talked with 

 the new priest to find out what he would think 

 necessary. Ordinarily in the past about 14 

 kilos of wax had been used, made into candles 

 weighing a half kilo each. Smaller candles 

 are also provided. The large candles have 

 decorations of white paper. Formerly the 

 candles were taken to church in a procession 

 with music, but now there is no ceremony. 



In addition to estimating expenses, the com- 

 missioner and his assistants made up a list of 

 all the men in the barrio and set a quota for 

 each contribution, varying from $0.50 to $1.25 

 per person, according to their economic condi- 

 tions. About September 17 the commissioners 

 visited all the houses to inform people what the 

 quotas were and to warn them to be ready to 

 pay their contribution. The following Sunday 

 they made their actual visits for contributions. 

 In 1940 they had some difficulty, because maize 

 was scarce at the time and numerous people 

 were having to buy maize. 



Mateo Ocampo, commissioner for the fire- 

 works, and his group had made up their 

 accounts by September 12. At that time esti- 

 mates were that the main castillo would cost 

 $150 and would be 20 yards high. The individ- 

 ual contribution averaged $1.25. (On October 

 1, Ocampo was still collecting money.) The 

 fireworks maker had been engaged from 

 Paracho. In addition to collecting money, the 

 commissioner and his assistants had to cut and 

 bring the poles for the castillos. The commis- 

 sioner also had to feed the fireworks maker and 

 his assistant for about a week. 



The commissioners for the music functioned 

 similarly. Their task was more onerous, for 

 the musicians are the most expensive of the 

 obligations. Fernando Duran, for barrio II, 

 had arranged for the band of Nahuatzen at a 

 cost of $270 for 4 days, Sunday to Wednesday. 

 In addition to this, the commissioners had to 

 feed the musicians for this time. If any funds 

 were collected more than the amount needed to 



pay the musicians, these might be employed to 

 help pay for the meals. Usually the commis- 

 sioner and his assistants were each responsible 

 for serving one meal at his house. When a 

 band is invited, usually 5 or 10 pesos are paid 

 in advance and a written contract is signed, 

 stating the amount to be paid and the time the 

 music is to play. It is customary always to 

 invite a band from outside, although sometimes 

 the local band is hired. In 1940 the two bands 

 were from Nahuatzen and Pichataro. 



One commissioner for the moros is named 

 from each barrio. He has no assistants and 

 does not collect money, paying the entire ex- 

 pense out of his own pocket. The commissioner 

 finds a young man who knows the dance and 

 persuades him to dance. He does not ordin- 

 airily pay the dancer (who receives gifts from 

 storekeepers and others during the fiesta), but 

 he must feed him breakfast and dinner (but 

 not supper) throughout the fiesta. The com- 

 missioner also must assemble the costume, 

 usually renting the more expensive parts, pro- 

 vide a horse with a good saddle, and attend on 

 the moro all the time he is dancing, looking 

 after his needs and making any necessary 

 adjustments or repairs in the costume. The 

 shirt, trousers, and shoes are bought and are 

 presented to the moro. 



In 1940 only three moros appeared. The 

 fourth commissioner was a forest worker away 

 from home during the week. On investigation, 

 it developed that the policeman delivered the 

 letter to the man's wife, who claimed she mis- 

 laid the letter and forgot to give it to her 

 husband. No one believed her, but nothing 

 could be proved otherwise. Certainly the 

 family's prestige in Cheran went down, for 

 everyone was annoyed that only three moros 

 appeared. 



The four commissioners for the bull ring are 

 all younger men. The commissioner for barrio 

 I, Placido Romero, had four assistants. None 

 of these had to provide services but aided in 

 seeing that the other young men complied with 

 their obligations. Each barrio had to provide 18 

 long peeled pine trunks and 7 stout posts. In 

 most barrios each young man had to bring 

 either a post or a pole, but in barrios with 

 small population, such as No. I, it was necessary 

 to bring two. When the materials are all 



