THE TAJIN TOTONAC PART 1 KELLY AND PALERM 



109 



owing to the profusion of tree stumps and roots 

 in the field. The other type, the coa de punta, is 

 somewhat narrower, with a concave curve from 

 sheath to tip (fig. 10, b). Both have a cutting 

 edge along the convex side, from the point almost 

 to the sheath. Through wear, the shape is modi- 

 fied and the dimensions of the instrument are re- 

 duced. In figure 11 is shown a variety of forms 



Figube 11. — Coas used in cultivation. Sketch, not to 

 scale, showing the variety of shapes found among used 

 coas. 



noted one day among the worn coas being used 

 in the course of communal labor. 



Theoretically, the coa is of steel, but some cur- 

 rent offerings in Papantla are of poor-grade iron. 

 Formerly, one lasted 10 years ; nowadays, if the coa 

 hits a tree trunk, the point may snap or the sheath 

 break. All Totonac farmers complain that the 

 merchandise available at present is of inferior 

 quality. The price ranges from $2.50 to $8.00 

 pesos ; $4.00 is the usual price for one of moderate 

 quality. However, the blades sold in Papantla are 

 too wide for local use, and the Totonac must pay an 

 additional peso to have the instrument cut down 

 to effective size. 



PREPARATION OF THE FrELD 



Little virgin forest remains in Taj in, and vir- 

 tually every new field which is planted involves 

 clearing monte bap. While this name suggests a 

 forest of modest proportions, after 10 or 12 years, 

 the vegetation is of very respectable size. In plate 

 6, <z, b, a clearing is being made in monte bajo which 

 has grown undisturbed for close to 30 years. The 

 timber is impressive, as is the underbrush. 



Clearing takes place in April or May, or at the 

 very latest, in June. Even if one is not going to 

 plant until the following winter, it is necessary 

 that the field be cleared during the spring. Other- 

 wise, the felled monte does not dry sufficiently to 

 burn. One of the saddest maize fields we saw in 



Taj in was one which had been cleared out of sea- 

 son. Negotiations for renting the land were 

 protracted and dragged through the summer. 

 Accordingly, the monte was cut in October. It 

 did not burn well and the field was covered with 

 half-burned trunks. Before he could plant, the 

 farmer was obliged to "sweep" (barrer) — that is, 

 drag a great quantity of loose odds and ends of 

 unburned timber to the edges of the field. 

 Ordinarily, clearing consists of four steps : 



Rozar (tampiqanakan). — This name is applied to the 

 first step, which involves cutting the small growth from 

 the forest to a height of about 2 m., or as high as one 

 can reach. All vines, shrubs, small trees, and the lower 

 branches of larger trees are cut. Trees with a trunk 

 diameter of 10 or 15 cm. or more are left standing, for 

 later attention (pi. 5, a). Generally, the farmer performs 

 this operation unaided, working with a machete, which 

 he swings much as we handle a tennis racquet — for a cut, 

 a drive, or a backhand. 



To clear a destajo (ca. 1.5 hectares), which is the usual 

 size of the maize field, one man working daily at normal 

 speed requires about 20 days, if the monte is thick ; other- 

 wise, 10 to 12 days suffice. 



Tumbar (Xaminankan). — The second step, which may 

 follow directly upon the first, is to cut the trees which 

 remain standing. Small trees are hacked with a machete. 

 Inasmuch as the undergrowth has been removed in the 

 course of the initial clearing, there is room to handle the 

 ax, which is required for larger trees (pi. 6, b). If a cer- 

 tain tree provides desirable wood, it is cut near the 

 ground ; if not, it is chopped at the height of about a meter. 

 Trees are not girdled, as among the Maya (Morley, p. 143) . 



Ordinarily, one calls upon eight or nine friends to assist 

 in felling. Arrangements vary ; generally, some are paid 

 in cash, by the day ; others work ou the basis of mano 

 vuelta, which means that the host is under obligation to 

 give work in return. In the latter case, no money changes 

 hands. Regardless of arrangements, the host provides 

 breakfast and a mole dinner for all those who assist. He 

 is not under obligation to furnish supper, although in the 

 afternoon, coffee or fermented maize gruel may be served. 

 The hospitality extended to the coworkers is similar to 

 that described below, for the day of planting, although 

 less lavish. 



Picar (lAka-nMikan, lakawili?). — The third step is de- 

 signed to "level the rubbish" so that it will burn thor- 

 oughly. If odd branches of the fallen trees extend high 

 in the air, they may escape the fire. They are cut in 

 sections, and trunks also are cut, provided they have 

 fallen in such a position that they may not burn well. 

 In short, the rubbish is slashed in such a manner that it 

 forms a more or less even layer over the ground. 



In years of extreme dryness, it is not necessary to picar, 

 but generally this step is advisable. The task is performed 

 unaided, or friends are asked to assist. For the com- 

 bined chore of felling and "leveling," 15 to 18 days are 

 allowed. 



