ABSTRACT

The historical process of land formation in the commune of Canela is peculiar because the hacienda El Totoral and the agricultural community Canela Baja share a common origin and evolve to become two different forms of land ownership, private and semi-communal. This chapter deals with the subdivision of El Totoral and the rural properties that developed from it through inheritance, sales and shared ownership. It describes some of the general characteristics of the hacienda system and the consequences of some of its main features for the development of this institution. The chapter shows how the property of the haciendas and fundos, in contrast to the semi-communal land ownership of the agricultural communities, is constantly transferred throughout the years. In comparison to the fundos El Totoral and Puerto Oscuro, the fundo Las Palmas not only changed hands more frequently, but has also had several owners simultaneously during certain periods.