Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter5
Revisiting the Green Prison
Alldaythedrainingworkofthefieldhandscontinueduntildusk,
when,withtheirlegstremblingwithexhaustion,theyleftthegreen
prisonoftheplantationforthestarkprisonoftheemptybarracks.
ramón amaya amador,prisiónverde(1950)
Thewayinwhichworkerscouldcheatthecompanywasby
slackingoffonthejob.Thecompanyaskedthemtodoagoodjob
buttheydidithowevertheyfeltlike.Iftheforemansignedoffon
thejob,itwasadonedeal.Acrewmightdoafullday'sworkin
halfaday—butpoorlydone.
josé maría lara, interview (1995)
Juan Sotano awoke and rolled out of his hammock when the first rays of
dawn were more imaginary than real. Bending over to pull on a pair of
muddiedshoes,hefeltadullthrobbinginhisforehead—areminderofthe
previous night's guaro drinking. Sheathing the machete that lay at his
side, Juan stepped outside of his mud-and-grass-walled champa. He cast
a glance of pity toward a group of young Olanchanos who had arrived the
previous week and were forced to sleep outside for want of shelter. The
contractor, Señor Martínez, had promised to build morechampas,but the
pressing schedule of the companyafforded little time foractivities beyond
clearing the land. Juan sat down at a large table with several co-workers.
His wife Elena brought him breakfast: a large flour tortilla, beans, cheese,
a portion of oatmeal, and sweetened coffee. She gave him a quick smile
before hurrying off to fix another plate. Elena had been up for some time,
building a fire, making tortillas, and fetching water from a nearby stream.
The contractor's wife, a distant cousin of Elena, had offered her a job as a
