86
This tale features the traditional Moqoit idea of the cosmic tree as a source of free
abundance, as mentioned by Guevara. However, in this case, the abundance is not of
fish and water, but of the commodities obtained from the criollos: pots, fabrics,
tools. This story is linked to an interesting asterism, formed by a combination of
stars (ξ 1 , ξ 2 , ο, π, ρ 1 and υ Sagitarii, which comprise the crown of the tree, and several weak stars which delineate the trunk) and the dark spots of the Milky Way
(which shape the roots) (Figs. 5 and 6). Once again, this tale relates the image of a
tree to the primal abundance of goods, as do the accounts about the world tree. The
‘La Seña’ account draws attention because the goods under consideration are manufactured by criollos (López & Giménez Benítez, 2009). Thus, the reason for the loss
of the original abundance and the introduction, in the mythical time, of the shortages in the Moqoit life, now serves to give meaning to the inequality relations
between criollos and aborigines.
Fig. 5 Silhouette of the old algarrobo tree asterism, Mapiqo’xoic, formed by a combination of
stars joined by imaginary lines, small faint stars and dark areas in the Milky Way
A. M. López
This tale features the traditional Moqoit idea of the cosmic tree as a source of free
abundance, as mentioned by Guevara. However, in this case, the abundance is not of
fish and water, but of the commodities obtained from the criollos: pots, fabrics,
tools. This story is linked to an interesting asterism, formed by a combination of
stars (ξ 1 , ξ 2 , ο, π, ρ 1 and υ Sagitarii, which comprise the crown of the tree, and several weak stars which delineate the trunk) and the dark spots of the Milky Way
(which shape the roots) (Figs. 5 and 6). Once again, this tale relates the image of a
tree to the primal abundance of goods, as do the accounts about the world tree. The
‘La Seña’ account draws attention because the goods under consideration are manufactured by criollos (López & Giménez Benítez, 2009). Thus, the reason for the loss
of the original abundance and the introduction, in the mythical time, of the shortages in the Moqoit life, now serves to give meaning to the inequality relations
between criollos and aborigines.
Fig. 5 Silhouette of the old algarrobo tree asterism, Mapiqo’xoic, formed by a combination of
stars joined by imaginary lines, small faint stars and dark areas in the Milky Way
A. M. López