Patzcuaro, 1949

[Music] pqu ancient city of d pink Spanish flavor on the shore of the lake which Bears its name was founded by donasco De Koga First bishop of [Music] mukan the Town remains almost as it was left by its builders in the 16th century one of the architectural jewels of the colony is the house of the giant soall because of the enormous figure carved on the [Music] corridor in this Chapel is found LA Cru deero the cross of humility it is told that here the Spanish Capitan christobal de bad received in surrender the weapons belonging to the last of the tasan Emperors konin this image of Christ on the cross was brought from Spain at the time of the capitulation [Music] on Friday Market Day the inhabitants of the small towns along the shores of the lake come to patalo to sell the products of their week's [Music] labors in the old times Commerce in this market was made in the barter way but the use of money was not common among the ancient tascan one's eyes cannot Encompass the variety of the products glazed pottery from Koga different fruits animals of all species and the white fish which is in the greatest [Music] demand from uro Apen a neighboring Village the lacquer industry goes back to the 16th century ever since then the natives have been making their famous lacquered painting with a technique that passes from father to son and from generation to generation the decorative motifs the varied Hues of these lacquers reflect the fine artistic temperament of these people the colors cleverly encrusted by slow and primitive processes maintain their brance throughout the years triumphantly defying time the dance of the old men is typical of the region like many other native dancers it is at once both strange and humorous [Music] The Masks fascinate the children as men have a way of [Music] [Music] doing lake batalo is sheer poetry the rhythmic blend of sky and lake and colorful Countryside [Music] nightfalls the natives return to their homes huge canoes like this are built in one piece for each one a gigantic tree from the forests must be filed [Music] Hano is the pearl of the [Music] lake a small Fisherman's island with steep and tortuous streets in which the Nets are left to dry in the Sun awaiting their daily [Music] task it's a peaceful life these Happy People lead weaving their Des with the same simpleness they weave their Nets here a family united in its work the girl using a primitive spinner prepares the thread for the net which her father and brother will weave [Music] masterfully these enormous Nets are called chinchos and with them the Exquisite white fish of pqu are caught these nets are sometimes as much as 700 ft in length and must be handled with great strength and [Music] skill something peculiar to pataro and that lends it a characteristic stamp are these nets like butterfly wings they're Everywhere You Look for with them the CH CAU a small delicious fish which abounds in the lake [Music] the [Music] November and December bring to Lake platu the annual arrival of thousands of ducks the Duck Hunt is an event awaited by the villagers with almost feverish [Music] anticipation before Daybreak the natives from all the towns on the shore or go out in their canoes carrying with them the odd weapon called fisa or Harpoon as the dawn appears the Hunt is on the Ducks are pursued all over the lake when the bands are scattered the harpoons find their targets and the birds are taken to the Pock ET or to the home table [Music] Bullseye this hunt not only Sport and business but has a high social significance for it requires the complete cooperation of all the inhabitants of all the towns along the lake in the beauty of pasaro the old ancestral flavor is retained the teras are content with the lake and the ways of their fathers modern ways are good but old ways are good too