QUIROGA: a MEXICAN MTJNICIPIO — BRAND 



227 



observation we believe that the following inventory 

 of three houses in Quiroga is representative of 

 what obtains in a majority of homes in the area. 

 It must be kept in mind that perhaps a third of 

 the homes, especially those near the center of 

 Quiroga town, are much more elaborately 

 furnished. 



House No. 1 



Cocina (kitchen) : 



1 chimenea (hearth or fireplace) of stones and mud. 



2 sets of mud-covered paranguas (hearth stones). 



1 comal (metal griddle). 



2 metates with manos. 



1 olla (jar) for nixtamal. 



1 tascal (basket for tortillas). 



1 small cazo (copper kettle). 



1 large cazo (copper kettle or cauldron). 



1 large olla for drinking water. 



1 canasto (large basket). 



1 trastero (combination of wooden pegs, shelves, and 

 hooks) with small alias, glass tumblers, cazuelas 

 (earthen pans), platos de sajonia (chinaware), 

 platos de barro (ordinary terra-cotta dishes), 

 spoons. 

 Sola (combined living room and bedroom) : 



1 wooden bench. 



3 wooden chairs. 

 1 water pitcher. 

 Several brushes. 



3 petates (bed mats). 



Images of saints hung on the walls. 



1 alacena (wall cupboard) with china dishes. 



1 chest with clothing, etc. 

 7 decorated bateas. 



2 strands of dried cooked maize on the cob. 



House No. Z 



Cocina: 



1 chimenea. 



1 set of paranguas. 



1 comal. 



2 metates with manos. 



2 molcajeles (mortars) with pestles. 



1 olla for nixta/nal. 



1 tascal. 



1 olla for drinking water. 



1 canasto. 



Cocina — Continued 

 2 cazuelas. 



4 ollas of graduated sizes and many small ollas. 

 1 batea. 



4 wooden spoons. 

 1 molinillo (chocolate beater). 

 1 linajera (dish rack) with chinaware. 



4 wooden tables. 



1 bole (5-gallon tin can). 

 Sala or pieza: 



2 wooden beds with petates. 

 Wooden pegs on walls, with clothing. 



2 censers and several pictures of saints. 

 2 axes. 



House No. 3 

 Cocina: 



1 chimenea. 



1 set of paranguas. 



1 comal. 



1 metate and mano. 



1 tascal. 



1 large cazo. 



1 large olla for drinking water. 



1 canasto. 



1 cazuela. 



Many small ollas. 



Chinaware. 



Glass tumblers. 



1 large wooden spoon. 



1 salt container. 



1 aluminum sieve. 



1 wooden bench. 

 Sala or pieza: 



2 wooden chairs. 



1 wooden bed. 



2 clothing chests. 



5 images of saints on the walls. 

 Leather ropes for yoking oxen. 

 1 morral (carrying bag). 



3 flatirons. 



It will be noted that most of the furnishings 

 have to do with preparing food. Furniture for 

 leisurely moments (easy chairs, sofas, bookcases, 

 etc.) is lacking. Possibly a truly typical house 

 would have one small mirror, an oil lamp, brooms, 

 and one bed chamber, besides the items mentioned 

 above. 



LEADING PERSONALITIES 



So far we have described only the "body" of 

 Quiroga. Some idea concerning the "soul" can 

 be obtained from a list of the natives of Quiroga 

 who have made some mark on the outside world. 

 We do not pretend that our list is complete, but 

 it certainly includes all of the most famous persons. 

 During the colonial period Cocupao produced only 



one famous or notorious person, Father Antonio 

 Torres, who was born in Cocupao in the second 

 half of the eighteenth century. We know nothing 

 of his early life other than that he was the son of 

 Salvador Torres and was vicar of Cuitzeo de los 

 Naranjos (in Guanajuato) about 1810. He was 

 not a very good priest and was credited with few 



