THE TAJIN TOTONAC PART 1— KELLY AND PALERM 



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6. Frijol majaydn. Called by some frijol criollo ( native 

 bean) or frijol de Castilla, but not to be confused witb the 

 preceding, which also bears these two alternative names. 



Known to some informants only as majaydn. Others say 

 the Totonac name is lukustapu (lukus, hueso; stapu; 

 frijol; bone bean, because of its hardness) . By still others, 

 this Totonac term is applied to frijol de cuerno (see e, 

 below). 



Cutler : Phaseolus vulgaris L. ; Moore : Phaseolus sp. 

 (No. 238). 



A bush bean, if planted in winter ; a climber, if planted 

 in summer. Seed described as similar to the preceding, 

 but "more brilliant, as though greased." Pods ca. 10 cm. 

 long, borne in pairs. 



In summer only, may be planted with maize. Seed 

 carried in a separate fiber bag, but dropped into the same 

 hole with the corn. Various planting dates recommended : 

 Holy Cross Day (May 3) ; Corpus Christi; Day of Our 

 Lady of Carmen (July 16) ; St. Michael's Day (Septem- 

 ber 29) ; Christmas; Kings' Day (January 6). 



If not planted concurrently with maize, may be added 

 later to the field, between the rows of corn. However, 

 generally grown in a separate plot within the milpa. 

 Planted in rows, leaving a cuarta (span) on all sides. 

 Three grains per hole. 



Ripens in 3 months ; apparently continues bearing after 

 first harvest. 



Sold locally and to dealers in Papantla market. Occa- 

 sionally as much as 4 to 6 fanegas (576 to 864 liters) sold, 

 at $144 pesos a fanega. 



By some, considered native ; by others, intrusive from 

 the highlands, but no concrete data obtainable. One in- 

 formant mentions a majaydn arribeno (highland ma- 

 jaydn), whose seed is red and white. Allegedly 

 introduced by an individual named Velez, originally from 

 Hidalgo, who died in Tajin, while working for Onofre 

 Xochigua. We were unable to find anyone who still plants 

 this bean. 



c. Frijol ancho (wide bean). 



Siuyumin, giu'umin, suyumin ; no translation available. 



Phaseolus lunatus L. (both local and highland forms) ; 

 lima bean. 



Climber, or prostrate on ground. 



Two kinds recognized by informants ; one considered 

 native; the other, intrusive from the highlands. The 

 former with a wide, flat, "dark" seed; the latter, wide, 

 flat, white to cream. Borne in short (4 cm. pods) , several 

 in a cluster. 



Native form usually planted in May or August ; ripens 

 3 months later; highland form planted in August for No- 

 vember harvesting. Some do not distinguish the two 

 kinds and recommend planting in May, July (Day of Our 

 Lady of Carmen, July 16), August, or September. Three 

 seeds dropped into a hole made with the digging stick; 

 planted in the maize field, usually in the same row with 

 the corn. Climbs the stalks of the latter, or odd tree 

 trunks standing in the field. 



In a wet year, the vine said to bear continuously ; after 

 a drought, it dries. Ordinarily, the plant lasts a couple 

 of years and reappears later as a volunteer. 



Little esteemed by informants ; said to be "half bitter 

 and not of good flavor," although the local form con- 

 sidered tastier than is the highland intrusive. 



Grown on very small scale; usually not more than four 

 or five plants in a milpa. May be sold by the liter or 

 cuartillo (3 liters) ; maximum quantity sold, 1 to 3 «I- 

 mudes (12 to 36 liters). Marketed in Tajin and in 

 Papantla, generally to individual households; occasion- 

 ally stores in Papantla buy (by kilogram). 



d. Frijol amarillo (yellow bean). 



paluwa siq'; paluwa, tripa; siq', ratdn; mouse entrails. 

 Known to one informant as lenteja, lentil. 



Phaseolus calcaratus, Roxb. ; rice bean. 



A bush bean. Small "dark" (sic), yellowish seed; pod 

 ca. 10 cm. long, borne in pairs. 



Planted in August, in a maize field already well- 

 grown ; harvested in November ; continues to bear until 

 choked by weeds. 



Grown chiefly for home consumption. Seldom eaten 

 green ; "the seeds are so small it is difficult to remove 

 them from the pods when green." Considered most pal- 

 atable fried. Seldom sold and then only in small quantity. 



Said to have come from the highlands, about 15 years 

 ago. 



e. Frijol de cuerno (horn bean) ; frijol largo (long 

 bean). 



aktok6stapu (said to mean norte de frijol [sic], ak- 

 takostapo, akalakfistapu (so-called "because it is dark") ; 

 lAk^tstapu, lukustapu (lukus, hueso; stapu, frijol; bone 

 bean, referring to hardness). One informant says latter 

 name applies to "half white" seeds, other groups of 

 terms to black ones. 



Cutler: Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp. ; Moore: probably 

 Vigna sinensis (L.) Savi (No. 297) ; in any case, the two 

 terms synonyms. 



Seeds small, variously described as spotted (pintitos), 

 cream, white, black. Long pod (20-25 cm.) borne in 

 pairs. 



A climber. Planted in May, June, August, between rows 

 of corn. Generally extends along ground but climbs if 

 support at hand. 



Harvested at the end of 3 months and continues bearing 

 2 to 3 years. Moreover, after first planting, new vines 

 appear as volunteers. One informant reports one har- 

 vest annually; another, continuous bearing. 



Better flavor green than dry. Raised principally for 

 home consumption ; rarely sold. 



Considered native. 



/. Frijol tripa de tuza (prairie dog entrails). 



ispaluwa sa-ka ; paluwa, tripa; sa-ka, tuza; prairie dog 

 entrails. 



Cutler: Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.; Moore: Vigna 

 sp. (No. 312). 



Climber. Small black seeds in long (30 cm.) slender 

 pod ; latter borne singly, not in clusters. 



Planted "any time of year," but especially in May (Holy 

 Cross Day, May 3), August, September. Requires .'? 

 months to mature. Unless in field with poor drainage, the 

 plant dries after bearing, but sprouts anew. Stem of 

 vine sometimes attains the "thickness of a finger." Ceases 



