THE TAJIN TOTONAC — PART 1 — KELLY AND PALERM 



103 



planted on a clay slope, will weigh as much as 115 kg. 

 Although in Tajin, maize is sold by volume, in Papantla it 

 is sold by weight ; accordingly most Totonac farmers select 

 hillsides for their maize fields. 33 



The ears of the large white corn are said to average 

 about 25 cm. in length ; "the largest ears are produced 

 in the center of the field," not on the periphery. The 

 grain is considered slightly "sweet," but the sugar con- 

 tent evidently is not sufficient to produce the marked 

 wrinkling which is characteristic of sweet corn. 



Informants report that typically the ear of the large 

 white corn is not completely covered by the husk, and a 

 slight gap at the tip permits both moisture and weevils 

 to penetrate. 



A further peculiarity of this maize is that, invariably, 

 although only white seed be planted, the harvest is mixed 

 with red. As will be seen below, informants recognize 

 three different kinds of red maize which appear unsolicited 

 in their fields of large white corn. 



The large white is said to have replaced, in considerable 

 measure, the smaller white described next. We were un- 

 able to obtain a time estimate or a statement concerning 

 the provenience of the larger, now more popular white 

 corn. Replacement is far from complete, and a number 

 of Tajin farmers still cling to the supposedly older white 

 corn, with smaller ear. 



6. laksukuSi (maiz chico: small corn), aksuktisi (maiz 

 chiquito; very small corn). This white maize 34 is best 

 described by comparison with the preceding. The ear is 

 smaller (ca. 15 cm.) and is well sealed by the husk, as a 

 consequence of which it is better protected against both 

 moisture and pests. While the large white maize is said to 

 be slightly sweet, the small type is tasteless (simple). 

 It requires less moisture and yields better than the other 

 in time of drought ; also, it matures 10 to 15 days earlier 

 than the large white. As noted above, it is said to be more 

 ancient in Tajin than is the larger variety. 



In sharp contrast to the latter, the small white corn 

 does not produce red maize. "If one plants all white seed, 

 the harvest is unmixed, unless the field happens to be 

 near one in which red is planted" (cf. ftn. 38, p. 104). 

 Since the red (ilkon) is believed to protect a field from 

 damage by "wind, sun, and eclipse," a good many people 

 deliberately mix a bit of red seed when they plant the 

 small white. 



c. pa^it. This maize is distinguished from the pre- 

 ceding white forms by its purplish leaf and cob. Its ker- 

 nels are white and the ear is said to average in size 



33 We asked why maize grown on slopes weighs more and were 

 told that it is "because the soil is hard." Some say that the best 

 soil for maize is yellow in color. We collected samples of soil from 

 several fields but have not found anyone to make analyses. 



One informant maintains that for summer planting a slope is 

 preferable, because of the rains ; for winter planting, he prefers 

 low, level land. 



34 Dr. Anderson writes that "from the look of the ear ... I 

 would suppose that in part it traces back to the early-maturing, 

 small-eared sorts of the Isthmus, which Hernandez originally col- 

 lected under the name of 'Zapaluta chica.' " He adds that if the 

 "little white has very much 'Zapaluta chica' in it, this should 

 show up to some extent when I grow it next summer." 



about the same as the large white. It ripens the same time 

 as the latter. 



Like the other white corns, pa0it is a general utility 

 maize. It is said to be extremely common in adjacent 

 San Antonio, and its popularity in Tajin appears to be on 

 the increase during the past 2 years. This may be be- 

 cause pa^it is said to have greater resistance to weevils 

 than have other white corns. One informant favors pa^it 

 because its husks are unusually large and therefore are 

 useful in wrapping cakes of brown sugar. 



d. aksuktisi paspula (desgrana caminando; evidently 

 descriptive of a corn whose grains are removed with 

 great facility). One informant describes this as a "thin 

 white corn, of small ear, with the kernels loose on the 

 cob." The cob also is "thin," and the grains "pointed and 

 narrow." We have not been able to obtain a specimen of 

 this white maize, which appears to be unknown to most 

 informants. Some years ago, Domingo Santiago grew this 

 corn, planting seed which he believes came indirectly from 

 Agua Dulce. However, 4 or 5 years ago, he ceased plant- 

 ing, and as far as we could determine, this maize no longer 

 is grown in Tajin. 



Mais amarillo (sasmoku ^kukusi, smukukusi ; 

 smukuku, yellow). — Yellow corn 35 is planted by 

 relatively few families in Tajin. It is grown 

 chiefly to fatten hogs but also may be fed other 

 livestock. Because "the people want to eat white 

 tortillas," yellow maize is disdained for human 

 consumption ; one informant considers it intrusive 

 from the highlands. 



Maiz morado (laqa^it). — This is a purplish-red 

 maize, 36 sometimes called black (negro), which is 

 used almost exclusively for the fermented gruel 

 known as atole agrio (sour gruel) . If this particu- 

 lar maize is not available, atole, either fermented 

 or otherwise, is made of white corn. Purple maize 

 is not used for tortillas ; some women say that "they 



35 Dr. Anderson's comments follow : "Cylindrical ear ; no husk- 

 compression ; smallish cobs ; white cob ; colorless pericarp ; color- 

 less aleurone. Deep yellow endosperm ; light capping of soft 

 starch to a small, regular dent. No pointing. Undoubtedly 

 traces back to deep yellow, few-rowed varieties. Its vitamin 

 content is really higher, and probably it would be better for the 

 Totonacs if they fed it to themselves as well as to their animals." 



38 With respect to the 1947 specimens of maiz morado, Dr. 

 Anderson notes that the ear is "cylindrical to slightly tapered ; 

 mostly with red cob; all with red pericarp (P) ; aleurone colored 

 and colorless ; white endosperm ; more or less colored in the hard 

 portions (a curious character) ; denting slight or none ; no point- 

 ing ; kernels small and tending to be isodiametrical." 



A larger sample was collected in 1948, and Dr. Anderson reports 

 that it "is all clearly with a white cob, colorless pericarp and 

 colored aleurone. It is of the same general type which is widely 

 used in the back country for elotes, for sweet atole, and very prob- 

 ably for alcoholic beverages. As is frequently the case, it aver- 

 ages lower row numbers, narrower kernels, and flintier kernels 

 than the other varieties with which it is being grown. Of the 

 17 ears in the collection, 8 had 12 rows and one only 10 rows, 

 while in the sample of red corn less than a quarter of the speci- 

 mens had 12 rows." 



