Researching Henequen Rope Production in Yucatan, Mexico
What is this rope made out of? I bought it in Oaxaca, Mexico, while traveling there in early 2006. I actually needed string to do some packing. Unable to find any at the local shops, I bought this rope, which I took apart to get the string.
Working with it, I was struck by its fine quality and unusual texture. At first I thought it was synthetic, but came to the conclusion that it is not. The fibers are very fine and soft; the rope is tough yet pliable.
Where was it make and what is it made from? I want to find out. I am going back to Mexico in December 2006, and will be attempting to find out where this rope was made (if it was made in Mexico at all).
If you have any information that can help me, please post a comment, or contribute to the Thorn Tree Forum.
If you think you can identify the origins of this rope, and need more photographs of it, add a comment here and I will post more photographs.
Thanks!
PS, I am told there is a working henequen factory in or near Ake. I have posted a Google Earth link relating to this, if you want to check it out.
Comments
4 comments:
One thing you can do to test whether a fiber is synthetic or not is the match test. Cut off a small piece and set fire to it–if it melts, it’s synthetic, if it chars, flakes or just burns into a powdery ash, it’s a natural fiber.
The synthetics out nowadays can be quite pliable and soft.
If you do go to a henequen production plant, let us know about the smell–I read somewhere that in the henequen heyday whole regions reeked of the noxious odor, but it wasn’t really described beyond that, I guess the agave smells?
Wendy / November 5th, 2006, 04:17 am / #
That is a good point, Wendy. I am so sure it is a natural fiber, that I have not tried this test, up until now.
I just tried it. Here’s the bad news: the amazing rope that travelled so far from Oaxaca is in fact synthetic!
Oh well, it is still nice rope. And it has got me started on this Henequen Project for my next trip to Mexico! In fact, I seem to be developing a pre-travel story: how a piece of rope is shaping my next tour of Mexico!
doug / November 10th, 2006, 00:23 am / #
If you are really interested in henequen and it’s history, I suggest that you start in Merida, Yucatan and hit the surrounding towns to the north and east. There is also a small book entitled “Haciendas Henequeneras de Yucatan” -Imagines de la Historia. This is a wonderful book describing the beginnings and the end of rope making in Yucatan.
Jack Wall / October 21st, 2007, 17:43 pm / #
Thanks for the suggestion, Jack.
I’ve long since been to Merida, and back. I did find quite a few interesting abandoned factories of various vintages, and a couple of working ones too.
I am a bit behind on writing about it though!
Thanks for to book suggestion. I’ll see if I can get a hold of that.
doug / October 23rd, 2007, 10:29 am / #
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