MOCHE: A PERUVIAN COASTAL COMMUNlTi'— GILLIN 



79 



centavos for running errands for neighbors, in which case 

 they are allowed to spend it for sweets or to keep it for 

 their own. We also must consider that the Mochc peo[>Ie 

 raise poultry, the sale of which could be figured as bringing 

 in about 20 soles per month. Finally, we may calculate that 

 the sale of agricultural products other than milk and poultry 

 should bring in about IS soles per month. Thus we have the 

 following list of income per month. 



Seles 



Work of the man 30 



Work of the woman (selling chicha, causa, resell- 

 ing vegetables) 30 



Sale of milk 90 



Sale of vegetable products 15 



Sale of {Kiultry 20 



185 



Let us now consider the expenses of a household with 3 

 or 4 children. Nothing is i>aid for the house, for if the 

 family does not have one in the town, they have one on the 

 chacra. For food is spent conservatively 2.5 soles jier day. 

 Clothing may be calculated at 10 soles per month. Chicha 

 and strong drink would cost about 1 sol per day. For other 

 diversions, 0.5 sol per day; cigarettes, 0.2 sol per day; 

 school expenses, 0.2 sol per day; religious contributions, 

 0.2 sol per month ; taxes to the government, 1 sol per 

 month. W'e should also add a contingency fund, as when 

 the family celebrates a Saint's day or other festival, makes 

 contributions as fadrinos at baptisms, diverse gifts, exi)cnses 

 in temporary illnesses, etc. For all this we may consider 

 25 soles per month. We may now make up the following 

 table of expenses, per month. 



Seles 



Food at 2.5 soles per day 75 



Clothing 10 



Chicha and hard liquor 30 



Other diversions 15 



Cigarettes, occasional coca, etc 6 



School expenses 6 



Religious contributions 2 



Contingency exfienses 25 



Government taxes 1 



Total 170 



Monthly balance for saving 15 



To this small balance saved each month we must add the 

 value of the calves, donkeys, and poultry which each year 

 adds to the reserve and which in case of serious illnesses or 

 deaths serves to save the situation. 



Let us now consider the type of family which has some 

 land, but which also enjoys an income from a trade or other 



outside labor. Income may be calculated as follows. Pay 

 of the man, (M3 soles per month. Earning of the woman of 

 the house, selling chicha and causa and trading in vegetable 

 products, 60 soles r«r month ; in this sum is included the 

 labor, i: any. of her minor children. Sale of agricultural 

 products, milk, maize, poultry, etc., 120 soles. 



Soles 



Man's work '. 60 



Woman's work 60 



Sale of products 120 



Total 240 



As expenses, we calculate the following : 



Food 90 



Clothing IS 



Chicha and hard liquor 36 



Other diversions IS 



Cigarettes, etc 6 



School expenses 6 



Religious contributions 2 



Government taxes 1 



Contingency expenses 35 



Total 206 



Monthly balance 34 



If we make a disinterested examination of the situation we 

 may conclude that the standard of hving of this community 

 is relatively satisfactory in comparison with that of the peon 

 who works in large cities or on plantations, whose income 

 frequently is insufficient to cover the high cost of living. 



Our workers have never suffered the pain of a strike or a 

 stoppage of w'ork, because in reality they have no employer 

 (patron). Therefore, it seems to me that our people are 

 [■rivileged to Providence, and they have ample time and 

 oi'portunity to celebrate fiestas, etc. 



In summary, we may say that, whatever an 

 "average" figure might be exactly, the cost of hving 

 and the amount of cash needed to maintain life and 

 a family are, in terms of North American values, 

 very small in Moche. It is also obvious that the 

 standard of living, especially in clothing, house 

 furnishings, reading matter, etc., is different and 

 cheaper in money terms from that of even the poorer 

 categories of North American society. One can 

 live in Moche and maintain a family of five not too 

 uncomfortably, according to Moche standards, for 

 40 to 50 soles cash per month (roughly $6 to $7). 

 It is doubtful that any Moche family has a cash 

 budget exceeding about $30 per month, and such a 

 family would be among the minority. 



