THE TAJIN TOTONAC PART 1 KELLY AND PALERM 



149 



areas probably contribute to the prominence of 

 planting in contrast to seeding. It seems likely 

 that the participation of Totonac women in agri- 

 cultural activities is more Caribbean than Meso- 

 american. Conceivably, the custom of not heap- 

 ing earth about the base of the maize plant may 

 prove to be another trait in common. Although 

 today in the Lesser Antilles, corn is planted in hills 

 (letter of April 2, 1950, from Douglas M. Taylor) , 

 the Taino did not share this practice (Rouse, p. 

 523). 



Final conclusions concerning the affiliations of 

 Totonac agriculture must await a series of thor- 

 ough field studies in several strategic areas. These 

 include, among others, the Mayan zone, where in- 

 formation on maize cultivation is gratifyingly 

 complete but where companion crops have been 

 slighted. We need detailed accounts of agricul- 

 tural practices ; and we need complete lists of cul- 

 tivates, so that distributions may be more fully 

 known. Such data should cast considerable light 

 on culture history, and particularly on the his- 

 tory of native American agriculture. 



SUGGESTIONS 



On the whole, the Totonac have developed a 

 stable and highly satisfactory system of crop rota- 

 tion, through successive plantings of maize and 

 vanilla, followed by a long fallow period. It 

 seems desirable that this be maintained, unless 

 it can be demonstrated that an alternative system 

 would be more advantageous and equally perma- 

 nent. Presumably, it would be unwise to think 

 in terms of continuous cropping, which might re- 

 duce the fertility of the shallow topsoil to a dan- 

 gerous degree; nor need we consider irrigation, 

 owing to the rugged terrain and the chronic lack 

 of water. Because of the welter of roots and 

 standing stumps in fields, it would be equally un- 

 realistic to recommend use of the plow; and, in 

 any case, removal of the monte by root perhaps 

 is not advisable, owing to the danger of grassland 

 incursion. 



In short, it appears to us that the best course is 

 to maintain the present agricultural system largely 

 as it stands, but to suggest greater exploitation 

 of certain existing crops, and the introduction of 

 a few new ones which might be accorded to the 

 current pattern of agriculture. Such suggestions 

 fall into two categories, those designed to im- 



prove nutrition, and those whose objective is to 

 provide a cash crop to supplement vanilla and 

 sugarcane. 



In a later section (pp. 166-171 ) , diet is treated in 

 some detail, and here it will be necessary to antic- 

 ipate that discussion. Evidently the Totonac are 

 abundantly provided with starches and probably 

 are moderately well supplied with vegetable oils. 

 However, one of the most pressing local needs is 

 a high yield protein crop. Dr. John Pitner has 

 kindly provided samples of soybeans for distri- 

 bution among Taj in farmers, and these are being 

 tried currently. Whether or not they result, the 

 Totonac have two possibilities at hand, among 

 their established crops. Larger scale planting of 

 the pigeon pea (Cajanus) might relieve the situ- 

 ation considerably, and greater exploitation of the 

 chipila (Crotolaria) also should increase, although 

 to a lesser extent, the amount of available protein. 

 Even so, it must be remembered that what the 

 Totonac really need is animal rather than vege- 

 table protein (p. 170). 



With respect to minerals and vitamins, more ex- 

 tensive planting and consumption of both Cajanus 

 and Crotolaria again would be advantageous 

 (pp. 169-170) ; and another local cultivate, Leu- 

 caena, produces a fruit, eaten chiefly by children, 

 which should be beneficial if consumed more gen- 

 erally and in greater quantity (pp. 169-170) . Al- 

 though the Totonac are well supplied with fruits 

 and make scant use of what they have at hand, we 

 are attempting to add a new one to the local reper- 

 toire. Dr. Eilif Miller has been kind enough to 

 provide a specimen of Solarium quitoense Lam., 

 for trial planting; it is being grown on our little 

 plot of ground in Tajin, and if results are satisfac- 

 tory, seed will be distributed among the neighbors. 

 However, the plant is not prospei'ing, perhaps be- 

 cause of low elevation and uneven rainfall. 



We have no further suggestions to offer concern- 

 ing plants which might contribute to improved 

 nutrition. Below follow a number of suggestions 

 designed to give Tajin a more diversified economy. 

 On a straight subsistence level, the Totonac do 

 quite well with maize, but their chief cash crop, 

 vanilla, is uncertain at best. Often it cannot with- 

 stand the brief drought of spring and virtually the 

 entire crop is lost. In that case, brown sugar pro- 

 duced from cane plantings is the only major source 

 of cash, and it is inadequate. 



