The play which is presented in this volume is the only specimen
known to me of the native American comedy. It is of comparatively
recent origin, and is composed in a mixed dialect, a jargon of low
Spanish and corrupt Aztec (Nahuatl); but, both in its history and
spirit, it bears so many marks of native composition, and is so
characteristic of the sort of humor popular with the tribes from
whom it was obtained, that it fairly merits a place in this series
of publications.
The text was obtained in Nicaragua, by the late Dr. Carl Hermann
Berendt. But no translation of any part of it and no notes upon it
were found among his papers. The responsibility for the rendering
rests, therefore, with myself. It has presented extreme difficulty,
owing to the imperfect condition of the text, the deterioration of
the Nahuatl words and forms, the antiquated and provincial senses of
the Spanish words, and the obscure local references introduced. I
would rather speak of my work as a loose paraphrase, aimed to give
the general sense and humorous tone of the original, than as a
faithful translation.
The text has been printed precisely as in the manuscript, even
obvious errors in spelling and punctuation having been preserved.
Suggestions with reference to these are made in the notes.
For assistance in translating the Spanish text, I would acknowledge
my indebtedness to Professor Adolfo Pierra, of Philadelphia, and Dr.
F. C. Valentine, of New York, both of whom have passed considerable
periods in Central America.
_Philadelphia, November, 1883._