CHERAN : A SIERRA TARASCAN VILLAGE — BEALS 



139 



wife, who was very suspicious and possibly 

 ignorant. Consequently it is not wholly satis- 

 factory. 



The saint is the patron of those who cultivate 

 the ground with oxen, but there is no evidence 

 that only cultivators assume this mayordomia. 

 The carguero pays for a Mass and probably for 

 candles. Usually the relatives of the carguero 

 and his wife are invited to eat at the house, 

 but this is not obligatory and may be omitted 

 if the carguero cannot afford it (the carguero 

 in 1940 was obviously very poor). If the rela- 

 tives are invited, the wife's female relatives 

 aid in preparing the food. The saint's image 

 is taken to church before the Mass and remains 

 in church until the fiesta of Corpus, when it is 

 removed by the new carguero. ' The carguero 

 in 1940 had taken the saint because of a vow, 

 but the wife said she did not know what the 

 vow was. 



MAYORDOMIA OF SAN JOSE 



San Jose is a patron of the shake makers and 

 the plank makers. The carguero is usually of 

 one of these occupations. He begins his service 

 on the saint's day, March 19. At the fiesta of 

 Corpus he takes the image to church and pays 

 for candles. He also provides meals for the 

 commissioners and musicians of the wood- 

 workers at the fiesta (for the entire fiesta 

 according to one informant, but this contra- 

 dicts other information given in connection 

 with the Corpus fiesta) . In the following year 

 on March 19 the carguero pays for a Mass, 

 candles, and cohetes, taking the saint's image 

 to the church where it is left for the new 

 carguero. On the 19th, if the carguero wishes, 

 he may invite his relatives to the house for food 

 and have music, but this it not obligatory. 



MAYORDOMIA OF SAMTA INEZ 



Santa Inez, also a saint of the cabildo, is 

 regarded as one of the virgins. She is patron 

 of cattle and pigs. Formerly there were cows 

 belonging to this saint, but they were lost. 

 About 15 years ago a cow was presented to the 

 saint. Now she possesses two cows, two bulls, 

 and two young steers. The carguero looks 

 after these animals. He may use the milk 

 from the cows, but he is not supposed to sell 

 any of the cattle. 



The saint's image in this case was kept with 

 special elegance in a large case with glass on 

 the front and sides. Inside the box were small 

 images of a cow, a steer, and a pig on the left 

 side. The box stood on a table decorated with 

 paper flowers and supporting an incense 

 burner, a basket of copal gum, and a candle. 

 The table in turn rested on a mat on the floor. 

 The wall behind the box was decorated with 

 colored papers and chains and paper cut-outs. 



The new carguero receives the image of the 

 saint on April 21. On Corpus the image is 

 taken to church (and probably candles are 

 burned). At the end of the year, on the fol- 

 lowing April 21, the relatives of the carguero 

 visit him. He has musicians and food for 

 them. The saint's image is taken to church 

 for a Mass paid for by the carguero (probably 

 with candles). Some cargueros, when they 

 receive the image, give it a new outfit of cloth- 

 ing. The imiage is large and one of the best- 

 dressed in Cheran. The dress is white with a 

 blue cape. A gilt crown is on the head and 

 a necklace of the red glass beads prized by 

 Tarascan women is about the neck. The altar 

 is decorated with many flowers and aromatic 

 herbs. 



MAYORDOMIA OF SAN RAFAEL 



The mayordomia of San Rafael is not con- 

 nected with the cabildo. The saint is patron 

 of the merchants, and apparently the mayor- 

 domia is administered by a principal or princi- 

 pals selected by the merchants. The principals 

 decide who shall receive the maTjordomia and 

 pay an occasional visit to the cargucro's House 

 to see that all is kept in proper order. This 

 seems to be the regular arrangement for all the 

 independent saints connected with mayor- 

 domias, although specific information is lacking 

 for some of them. 



As patron of the merchants, the image of 

 San Rafael carries a fish under the left arm 

 and in his right hand bears a staff (actually 

 a shepherd's crook) . About his neck is a neck- 

 lace of sea sheels. In front of the altar are 

 hung other sea shells and miniature fire fans, 

 clay fruits, etc. The house and altar are well 

 decorated with paper flowers and colored 

 papers. Before the altar are candles and an 

 incense burner. The merchants visit the 



