The same the world over: when done right, basic salesmanship is a pleasure.

• Author: Wiesner, Pat
• Position: Pwiesner@cobizmag.com - Mayas, Guatamala - Brief Article - Column

WE WERE TIRED, MY WIFE AND I, AFTER A LONG DAY OF TOURING ON foot the ancient and interesting city of Antigua, Guatemala.

It was late afternoon, it was pleasant but still fairly warm and we had just sat down on a bench overlooking all the bustling activity in the "Parque Central." Out of the corner of my eye, however, I could see them coming for us and I thought to myself, "there goes our moment of relaxation."

After a few days' stay in a third-world country like Guatemala you get used to the constant entreaties of the indigenous people, in this case the Mayans.

They are a wonderful, talented and happy people, and, in all the time we were in their country, even though they occupy the lowest rung on the economic and social ladder of Guatemala, not one of the natives ever asked me for a handout. But they sure did try to sell us lots of stuff.

The Mayans weave textiles just as they have done for centuries. They use a "back strap" loom with one end tied to a tree or some other such anchor and the other end wrapped around the weavers back so that the actual weaving is in front of them. The results are magnificent, colorful works of art. It takes about three weeks work on one of these looms to make a piece of cloth that sells for about $15.

And they sell mountains of this artwork to tourists.

A young Mayan girl in Guatemala might go to school for just five years before she goes to work in the family business. At age five, children begin to learn to carry baskets and other objects on their heads, and even as adults they carry their store of goods for sale on their heads and in their arms.

They also learn early the language of the market. Most can say "Good price for you! Your husband pay!" in ten languages. Most can carry on a conversation in four or five languages -- all of it learned in the...