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INSTITUTE OF SOCIAL ANTHROPOLOGY — PUBLICATION NO. 13 



This pattern probably is of fairly recent devel- 

 opment. There is no indication that vanilla is an 

 ancient cultivate in the Papantla zone, and vanilla 

 production has increased considerably within the 

 memory of informants. Recent or not, the rota- 

 tion scheme is well entrenched, probably because 

 it accords so neatly with the inability to cope with 

 the monte. Moreover, it has other points in its 

 favor. Although the present pattern of land 

 utilization cannot be considered particularly eco- 

 nomical, at least it offers a certain degree of 

 stability and permanence. If the monte and 

 annual weeds were curbed sufficiently to permit 

 continuous planting, assuredly fertility would be 

 reduced dangerously. Moreover, about the only 

 way of curbing the monte would be to eradicate 

 it by root — in which case, the incursion of grass- 

 land would be a real threat. Once grass is estab- 

 lished, all hope of cultivation is lost for a good 

 many years. For the time being, at least, it seems 

 wise to let well enough alone — until we can be 

 absolutely sure that a substitute pattern of land 

 utilization would be a genuine improvement over 

 the present one. 



MAIZE 



Maize cultivation is basic to Totonac economy, 

 and maize prepared in various ways is the staple 

 food. Except for 10 households (storekeepers; 

 lone women; widows with small children), every 

 family in Tajin plants maize. 



The size of the field seems to depend more on con- 

 vention than upon the needs of the family. Irre- 

 spective of the number of individuals in a house- 

 hold, the cornfield pretty consistently is calculated 

 at 1 hectare or 1 destajo, which is slightly less than 

 1.5 hectares; in rare cases, 2 or 3 hectares are de- 

 voted to maize, and many families have 2 or 3, or 

 more, hectares of vanilla. 



Except for cane and vanilla, which are the two 

 cash crops — cane partially, vanilla entirely — lit- 

 tle effort is directed toward producing surplus 

 produce for sale. Transport to Papantla, which 

 is virtually the only market, is not especially 

 easy, and some Totonac think that a more pass- 

 able road might be a stimulus to greater produc- 

 tion. But a good many have a fatalistic attitude, 

 for example : 



In Tajfn, there never is any excess of any crop. One 

 may plant more than he needs, but it simply does not 



yield. This year, Francisco Xochigua planted more beans 

 than he could use, expecting to sell them. But he lost 

 the entire harvest. In Plan de Hidalgo and Plan de 

 Palmar, the economic situation is better. Each year those 

 people are able to sell more vanilla than we, and they have 

 such large harvests of maize that they are able to sell it 

 as well. 



KINDS OF MAIZE 



The Totonac recognize several distinct kinds of 

 maize, classified broadly by color, but further sub- 

 divided on the basis of a number of other distin- 

 guishing features. According to informants, the 

 four basic types are: maiz bianco (white corn), 

 which is the tortilla corn par excellence; maiz 

 amarillo (yellow corn), grown principally for an- 

 imal feed ; maiz morado (purple corn) , used mostly 

 for maize gruel; and maiz Colorado (red corn), 

 raised chiefly because of its alleged magical prop- 

 erties. In addition, there are several kinds of 

 mixed colors, which the Totonac consider the re- 

 sult of hybridization. 



Sweet corns and popcorns are unknown. Ata- 

 vistically, all the local corns occasionally produce 

 a basal kernel enclosed by a glume and believed to 

 be possessed of magical properties. Such kernels 

 of pod corn are rare, perhaps one or two grains in 

 a fanega of 144 liters. 31 



Maiz bianco. — When mentioned collectively, 

 white corn is called kusi, the generic term for 

 maize. Four different kinds are recognized : 



a. lanqakfisl (maiz grande: large corn), 52 known also 

 as sakakusl (maiz Manco; white corn). Of all the corns, 

 this is the most popular because of its high yield and its 

 general utility. Its weight per volume is considered by 

 some to be greater than that of other corns. This claim, 

 however is disputed. One maintains that the smaller 

 white corn, described below, weighs more. Others say 

 flatly that the difference in weight is not dependent upon 

 the maize, but upon the soil in which it is planted. Ac- 

 cording to them, corn — regardless of variety — which i& 

 grown on clay slopes weighs more than that which is 

 raised on level land. Juan Castro and Nemesio Martinez, 

 local storekeepers who buy and sell corn, calculate that 

 maize grown on an open plain may weigh when thoroughly 

 dry, about 98 kg. the fanega of 144 liters ; the same seed, 



31 A specimen of such a kernel was submitted to Dr. Paul C. 

 Mangelsdorf, who writes (letter of August 9, 1948) : "This grain 

 of corn is of considerable interest . . . for it undoubtedly repre- 

 sents true pod corn." 



32 The large white corn is described by Dr. Edgar Anderson as 

 a "fairly tropical cylindrical white maize. This is the commonest 

 commercial type in eastern Mexico and is widely grown else- 

 where ... It is in the same general class with such varieties as 

 'tampequefio' and is in my opinion a high derived sort." 



