THE TAJIN TOTONAC — PART 1 — KELLY AND PALERM 



133 



The lima bean is of particular interest. It is by 

 no means common in Mexico as a whole. 59 In- 

 formants distinguish two kinds of limas, one 

 native, and the other intrusive from the highlands. 

 Neither is prized, and the flavor is described as 

 "half bitter." Lima beans are grown on very 

 small scale, and a family seldom has more than 

 four or five plants in the maize field. Concerning 

 our limas, Dr. Cutler writes that of the three 

 phases defined by Mackie, the Taj in specimens "are 

 closest to the Hopi branch." 



No bean is grown locally in quantity or with 

 marked success. Of 38 families for whom we have 

 data, only 6 attempt to plant beans — although, 

 probably the 32 who deny planting, overlook the 

 four or five vines of limas found in most milpas. 

 However, of the six who plant, none harvests in 

 sufficient quantity to sell. 



Opinions vary concerning the difficulties. One 

 informant says, "If it rains the beans grow; if 

 not, they dry. For my part, I do not like to plant 

 them." Another believes beans do not yield "be- 

 cause of the sun"; another, because of "too much 

 water." One farmer states, "I always plant beans 

 but they do not grow." The consensus of opinion 

 is that beans do not yield well, if at all, in Tajin. 

 The Vigna, often considered particularly satis- 

 factory for hot lowlands, is planted locally with 

 indifferent success. However, if a variety of bean 

 or cowpea could be found which would thrive in 

 Tajin, it should effect major improvement in the 

 diet, which is low in protein. 



Planting apparently takes place during any sea- 

 son — hence, presumably, the complaints concern- 

 ing both drought and excessive humidity. As 

 usual, certain days of the religious calendar are 

 more favored than others (see below) . All beans 

 are said to yield in 3 months. One kidney (frijol 

 criollo) alone produces a single crop, following 

 which the bush dies. Other beans may be de- 

 scribed as semiperennial — that is, they continue to 

 bear for a couple of years after the first harvest. 

 Although the plant dries, it sprouts anew. 



50 Redfleld (p. 39) regards the lima bean as of European intro- 

 duction at Tepoztlan. Apparently it is not grown locally, but is 

 brought from Mexico City (p. 90). This in itself is odd, since 

 there, the lima generally is found retail only in fancy groceries, 

 "where it is considerably more expensive than other beans. This, 

 plus the fact that the toasted seed is eaten in Tepoztlan (p. 86) 

 makes one suspect that Redfield's statements apply to the Old 

 World horsebean (Vicia faba) rather than to the lima. 



Two forms — the frijol criollo and the frijol 

 amarillo (see a and d, below) — are bush beans; 

 another (frijol majaydn; b, below) is a climber if 

 planted in summer, a bush bean if planted in 

 winter. 



Slopes with good drainage are preferred and 

 flat fields with standing water are avoided. Beans 

 are planted in the maize field, but not necessarily 

 among the corn. One kind of kidney bean (a, 

 below), for example, is given a plot (frijolar, 

 kasHapun) by itself in the milpa. This gen- 

 erally is true of frijol majaydn as well. But if 

 the latter is planted in summer, the seed is dropped 

 into the same hole as the kernels of maize. Or, if 

 not planted concurrently, it may be placed be- 

 tween the rows of corn. The frijol de cuerno 

 (Vigna) also is planted between the rows of maize, 

 but the lima often is grown in the same row with 

 the corn. 



The best of the crop is set aside for seed. If 

 one is planting for the first time, the seed may 

 be purchased, for the belief that bought seed will 

 not produce applies exclusively to maize. In 

 planting, a hole is made with the digging stick, 

 but by no means as deep as for maize. Beans are 

 planted at a depth of about 5 cm., and, curiously, 

 are not covered with earth. "Birds do not eat 

 the seed; the danger from birds and rabbits is 

 later, when the plant is young." 



From time to time, beans are weeded, but other- 

 wise receive little attention. To frighten animal 

 pests, a tin can with a small stone inside may be 

 hung in the field; it moves with the breeze and 

 the stone rattles. 



In harvesting, there are two techniques. The 

 entire plant of the frijol criollo, which is a one 

 crop bean, is thrashed (see below). However, 

 other kinds of beans continue to bear, hence the 

 pods are harvested individually, being collected in 

 a pottery vessel, a gourd container, or any other 

 receptacle at hand. 



Young green beans are not eaten entire. In- 

 variably they are shelled, and the discarded pods 

 usually are boiled and fed to the pigs. It is curi- 

 ous that the Totonac have no notion of eating a 

 string bean, although the latter is to be seen in 

 the vegetable stalls in the Papantla market, for 

 sale to town dwellers. 



