X892 
rmwt 
Ifetsouaro 
(Hiohoacan) 
October 
of Imoa fillforals . Cue of these I photographed. The tree stood about 
60 ft, high and branched at some 15 ft. from the ground. The base 
spread so to measure about 18 ft. In diameter just above ground and in 
the narrowest part midway to the branches was 7 ft. in diameter. 
Hear the village of Hnrongariearo we turned to idle left and, leav¬ 
ing the lake, crossed a divide some 800 ft, high and entered a beauti- 
ful valley surrounded by hills covered with a fine growth of Pjnus 
gipntagumae. The valley and many rectangular spaces on the hillslopes 
are cleared and covered with corn. In a few fields winter wheat is 
being sowed. In the middle of this valley is a thrifty village of the 
Tarasco Indians who are living in well-finished wooden houses. The 
original Tarasoo is spoken here almost to the exclusion of Spanish. 
4 
The houses are made of remarkably well-hewed planks of pine which are 
notched and fitted at the ends and so well hewed at the edges that the 
joints could not be closer with well-sawed lumber. Many of the planks 
r 
have their surfaces so well finished that a olose inspection is necess¬ 
ary to show that it was don© with an ex. 
The roofs are gabled and covered with shakes that are held in place 
by wooden pins driven through holes into the cross pieces of the roof 
that in turn are pinned to rafters. The houses ere finished by a good 
plank floor and ceiling, a panelled door and a broad porch with pillars 
along its outer edge. In all oases, the steep roof projects far over 
% 
the walls and is carried still farther to form the porch. The latter 
covered with a plank floor, is the favorite place .for both men and 
women to carry cn their work. The pillars of the poshes are either 
round or square and are often worked into ornamental patterns of scroll 
or beaded outline. ; 
Kach house usually has a yard in front with a gateway through the 
adobe, stone, or plank wall. A heavy, single-leafed gate swings be- 
114 
