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INSTITUTE OF SOCIAL ANTHROPOLOGY PUBLICATION NO. 13 



sumably the closely related C. argyrosperma, and 

 the gourd, Lagenaria siceraria (Molina) — are 

 ancient in the New World. Evidence of C. 

 moschata and of Lagenaria comes from a "pre- 

 ceramic, pre-maize horizon" on the north coast of 

 Peru (Whitaker and Bird, p. 12), and both have 

 been found archeologically in North America (O. 

 moschata, Carter, p. 19 ; Lagenaria, Whitaker, p. 

 62) . In fact, the seed of one of our gourds is said 

 to be surprisingly similar to archeological speci- 

 mens from Arizona (ftn. 62, p. 137). Our O. 

 moschata "seems to be related" to specimens from 

 central Guatemala (p. 136). 



Of starchy roots and tubers, the Totonac have 

 a fair share of New World cultivates — sweet 

 manioc, arum, and arrowroot; in addition, they 

 have the sweetpotato and the yam, which are 

 known from both hemispheres. 



The most important condiment in Taj in is the 

 native, wild chili, in addition to which another 

 form is cultivated. Goosefoot (Chenopodium) 

 also is native, but coriander and fennel, both Eu- 

 ropean, likewise are popular. 



Of plants grown for medicinal use, the Bixa 

 is New World ; Caesalpinia (p. 147) has been men- 

 tioned above as of dubious provenience. How- 

 ever, several other plants — ginger, basil, rue, mus- 

 tard, and a form of hibiscus — also are grown for 

 medicinal use and appear to be of Old World or- 

 igin. The Totonac attribute magico-medicinal 

 properties to various plants with strong aromatic 

 odor, particularly to the native aromatic avocado. 

 In view of this association, it is possible that cer- 

 tain introduced plants of strong odor were ac- 

 cepted by the Totonac and were endowed with 

 similar medicinal properties. 



Fruit trees have been listed above with respect 

 to supposed origin. There are numerous native 

 forms, none raised on large scale nor with particu- 

 lar zeal. Of introduced fruits, undoubtedly the 

 banana and plantain are of greatest economic sig- 

 nificance, although citrus fruits are relatively 

 plentiful and the mango also occurs. 



Miscellaneous cultivates include both New and 

 Old World plants. Among the former, may be 

 mentioned the physic nut, tobacco, pineapple, and 

 perennial cotton. If the postulated Asiatic strain 

 in American cottons (Hutchinson, Silow, and 

 Stephens, p. 437) be ignored, it may be said that 

 all Taj in cottons are native to the Americas, but 



one species apparently has been introduced either 

 from the south or from the West Indies (p. 145). 

 Miscellaneous Old World cultivates include ses- 

 ame, coffee, and various vegetables, such as cab- 

 bage, onion, and garlic. Grasses cultivated for 

 forage and thatch apparently embrace both Old 

 and New World forms. 



So much for the provenience of Taj in cultivates. 

 Although the Totonac have added a sizable series 

 of Old World plants to their repertoire, the native 

 American cultivates still are fundamental. And, 

 despite the introduction of certain metal tools (ax, 

 machete, and coa) , the unembellished digging stick 

 still is a basic implement. 



One other aspect of Totonac agriculture like- 

 wise is outstanding, namely, the predilection for 

 propagation through planting rather than seed- 

 ing. 71 It may not be a matter of chance that the 

 two Old World cultivates which have attained 

 greatest importance in Taj in economy are sugar- 

 cane and the banana, whose propagation from 

 cuttings and shoots accords well with the estab- 

 lished local pattern. 



Dr. Carl Sauer (letter, November 19, 1949) re- 

 gards this preference as a circum-Caribbean 

 feature, which contrasts sharply with the seed 

 reproduction generally favored in Mesoamerica. 

 He also suggests that the artificial germination of 

 maize, chili, and one kind of cucurbit seed may be 

 a reflection of this emphasis on plant rather than 

 on seed. Unfortunately, Ave do not know the dis- 

 tribution of preplanting germination, which may 

 be much more widespread than the literature in- 

 dicates, 72 and which may prove a valuable clue to 

 basic relationships. 



Certain it is that the Totonac share a good many 

 of the roots and tubers which are prominent in 

 circum-Caribbean economy and which in both 



" redro Arinillns suggests, in conversation, that this may be a 

 survival of tlio ancient "lowland agriculture" based on manioc, 

 which Kidder (p. 121) suspects may underly "early Middle 

 American civilization." 



m ipijp Totonac of the Zapotitlan de Mendez area, in the Siena 

 de Puebla, soak corn seed 4 days (information from Manuel 

 Arenas). In the Tancanhuitz area of the Huasteca, maize is 

 soaked prior to planting only when the season promises to he un- 

 usually dry (information from Toraiis Martinez). However, in 

 Panama, corn generally is germinated 3 days before it is sown (in- 

 formation from Hernan Porras) : and in the Lesser Antilles, seed 

 "is soaked for several days prior to planting" (information from 

 Douglas M. Taylor). With these few exceptions, we have no 

 record of artificial germination of seed. Such a trait might well 

 escape attention in the field, unless specific inquiry were made or 

 unless planting were observed first-hand. 



