_Page 4._ The Dramatis Personæ. These have been discussed in the
Introduction, page xlv. I may add that the "Regidor de Cana" may be
for "Regidor Decano." Otherwise I do not see a meaning to it. The
term "Alguacil" might be translated "constable," or "bailiff."
_Page 6._ The salutations exchanged between the Alguacil and
Governor are repeated frequently between the characters. In the
first, the words would seem to be the Nahuatl _matataca_, to beg, to
pray, and _miecpialia_, to watch over, to protect; in the reply, for
the latter is substituted _miequilia_, to prosper, followed by
_qualli_, good, or well. The terminal _s_, in _mispiales_,
_miscuales_, is probably a remnant of the Spanish _os_, you. _No
pilse_ is the vocative _nopiltze_, my dear son, compounded of the
inseparable possessive pronoun of the first person, _no_, and
_tepiltzin_, an affectionate or reverential form, from the root
_pilli_. The expression need not be taken as literally meaning
relationship, as the Nahuas used the formula _nopiltzintzinê_ in
addressing all persons of position. "_Ma moyolicaizin_,
_Nopiltzintzine_, seas bien venido, ó ilustre Señor." Carochi,
_Gram. Mex._, p. 20.
_Ya tiguala neme_, I take to be _yê tiqualli tinemi_, in which _yê_
is a particle of contraposition, and both the adjective-adverb
_qualli_, and the verb _nemi_, to live, to be, are preceded by the
second personal pronoun _ti_. The compound _mascamayagua_ appears to
be from _maxca_, yours, literally, your thing (_mo_, your, _axca_,
thing), and the optative particle _mayecuele_, equivalent to the
Spanish _ojalá_; hence the meaning is "yours to command," or "at
your service."
In his next words the Governor uses a phrase which is repeated by
various speakers with a "damnable iteration" throughout the comedy.
_Simocague_ would, in pure Nahuatl, be _ximocauoltia_, the
imperative second person singular, of the compulsive form of
_mocaua_, to cease, to stop, or to suspend something. The noun
_mocacaua_ is the word for the pauses or intervals in music. The
reason for the frequent repetition of the request, I suppose to be
that in the ancient exhibitions of the drama numerous assistants
joined in dancing, singing and playing on musical instruments; and
when a specified ballet was to be performed, or an important
conversation to be repeated, they were courteously addressed, and
requested to be silent for a time. Dr. Valentine tells me that in
Guatemala the term _gente principal_ is commonly used to designate
the most prominent inhabitants of a pueblo.
_Necana y paltechua_, Nahuatl words, united by the Spanish
conjunction. The former is Nah. _nequaniliztli_, dancing motions;
the latter, elsewhere written _palechua_ and _paleguisa_, is a
corruption of _paleuqui_, suitable, or appropriate things. _Hemo_, a
form of Sp. _hemos_, is an antiquated expression for _tenemos_.
The word _mo_ in the expression _mo Cabildo Real_ may be the Spanish
_mio_, my; or the Nah. _mo_, thy, thine. The _Cabildo_ was
originally the chapter of a religious house, and later a council,
but at present it is applied in Central America to the municipal
courts, and the house in which they sit.
_Page 8._ In the second reply of the Alguacil on this page there are
evidently several words omitted which I have supplied in brackets in
the translation. The same has occurred elsewhere, and it was to be
expected, as nearly all the Nahuatl expressions have become
unintelligible to the native population of the present generation.
As most of these formulas are repeated several times, we can
approximate to what the full expression should be.
_Ya nemo niqui nistipampa_, is a frequent reply in the play to a
formal salutation of a superior. I have translated it as some
corruption of the Nahuatl words, _yê nemonequi nixtlipampa_,
literally, "my presence is proper," _i. e._, "I am present before
you, as is my duty." The Alguacil, as having charge of the patrol,
hastens to speak of its wretched uniform. The adjective _sesule_,
constantly applied to Güegüence, evidently in a depreciatory manner,
is probably from the Nah. _tçulli_, worthless.
_Page 10._ While the Governor and Alguacil are conversing, Güegüence
and his sons enter, and overhear the last directions of the
Governor. All three understand whom he means, but it is the cue of
Güegüence to assume a different signification. To the brusque
rejoinder of Don Ambrosio he pretends to be deaf, and this feigned
difficulty of hearing is depended on as one of the main elements of
the comic throughout.
The epithet _mala casta_, of bad blood, as applied by Güegüence to
his own (putative) son, becomes intelligible later in the play,
where it is stated that he was begotten during his legal father's
absence in Mexico.
_Embustero_, which I have rendered "humbug," is more exactly a
boasting, bragging charlatan. Dr. Valentine suggests "blower," in
the slang sense of that word.
_Page 12._ _Asuyungua._ The numerous words which begin in _asu_,
_asa_, and _ase_, seem to be compounds with the Nah _aço_,
"perhaps," used in introducing a positive statement mildly, or in
presenting a question in the form of an assertion, as _aço amo
timoçahua_, "perhaps you have not fasted," meaning "you surely have
not." (Carochi.) It is usually combined with other particles, and
the analysis of such compounds in the altered form presented in the
text becomes exceedingly uncertain.
After the announcement of his person and official position by the
Alguacil, Güegüence repeats his titles in a tone of affected
admiration, and inquires after his staff of office, which was not
visible. This staff was all-important to the dignity of an alcalde
or alguacil. In Nahuatl this official is called _topilê_, he who
carries the staff, from _topilli_, staff.
_Page 14._ Güegüence, who has no desire to appear before the
Governor, makes an excuse that he will learn how to fly, and is
about leaving, when he is called back by the Alguacil. The words _te
calas_, _qui provincia real_, should probably read, _ticalaquia
presencia real_, the first from _calaquia_, to enter, as on page 8.
_Page 16._ Having agreed to take a lesson in etiquette, Güegüence
pretends quite to misunderstand the Alguacil, when he claims pay for
his instructions.
_Redes_, "nets" of salted fish. The reference is to the method
adopted by the Indians of Central America in carrying burdens. This
is in a net which is suspended between the shoulders by means of a
strap which passes across the forehead. Such a net is called in
Nicaragua _matate_, and in pure Nahuatl, _matlauacalli_; the strap
or band by which it is supported is the _mecapal_, Nah. _mecapalli_.
When the material to be transported is a fluid, a jar of earthenware
is suspended in the same manner. A small earthenware cup, found in
Nicaragua exhibits this, and also some ingenuity of arrangement. It
represents a woman, with one of these jars on her back, seated. (See
p. 78.)
_Page 18._ _Ojos de sapo muerto_, lit. "eyes of a dead toad." Such
eyes were considered to exercise an evil influence, and to bring bad
luck.
_Page 20._ _Doblar._ This Spanish word means to toll a bell, as at a
death. Güegüence chooses to understand the Alguacil's demand for
_doubloons_ to be a request to _doblar_, and hastens to announce to
his sons that the Alguacil has suddenly died.
[Illustration: CUP FROM NICARAGUA.]
_Page 24._ The coins which Güegüence names are those of the old
Spanish currency. A cuarto was a brass piece, equal to a half-penny
English, or one American cent (Delpino, _Spanish and English
Dictionary_, 1763.) It was worth four maravedis, and eight cuartos
equaled a _real de vellon_.
The phrase _maneta congon_ is of uncertain signification. I have
translated the first word as the imperative form of _nextia_, to
show, to disclose; _congon_ may perhaps be a corruption of
_conetontli_, boy.
The Alguacil now begins his instruction, and repeats, for the
benefit of Güegüence, the proper salutation which should be used in
addressing the Governor. The old man pretends to misunderstand them,
and makes use of other words, similar in sound, but of an insulting
signification. I have not succeeded in showing, in the English text,
this play upon words.
_Page 28._ _Asonesepa negualigua_, etc. This passage has proved
unintelligible to me, and the rendering is little more than a guess.
The phrase is the same as at the foot of p. 30.
In the midst of the conversation the Governor suddenly appears, and
Güegüence turns to him with the customary and proper salutation,
thus showing that his desire for instruction from the Alguacil was a
sham.
On the phrase _te calas qui provincia real_, see the Notes to page
14.
_Page 30._ _Mesonero_, a person who owns or has charge of a _meson_,
a house in which the poorer classes of travelers sleep, providing
their own food, and that of their beasts (Dr. Valentine). For
_tupile_ see Vocabulary.
_Antepeque_ or Tecoantepeque, the seaport of Guaxaca. Thomas Gage,
who visited it in 1625, wrote of it: "This Port of Tecoantepeque is
the chief for fishing in all that country; we met here in the ways,
sometimes with fifty, sometimes with a hundred mules together, laden
with nothing but salt fish for Guaxaca, the City of Angels, and
Mexico."--_A new Survey of the West Indies_, p. 195. (London, 1699.)
_Dulces_ are sweetmeats of various kinds, eaten usually between
meals. Squier remarks: "The Spanish taste for 'dulces' long ago
passed into a proverb, but it rather surpasses itself in Nicaragua.
The venders of 'dulces', generally bright Indian girls, gaily
dressed, and bearing a tray, covered with the purest white napkins,
and temptingly spread upon their heads, pass daily from house to
house; and it is sometimes difficult, and always ungallant, to
refuse purchasing something from their stock."--_Nicaragua_, Vol. I,
p. 275.
The punctuation toward the foot of the page should probably be,
"_no seremos guancos; no; seremos amigos_," etc. The _guipil de
pecho_ is the short upper jacket worn by the women. A _guipil de
pluma_ is a skirt woven of feathers. In ancient times, these
garments, skillfully constructed of the beautiful plumes of tropical
birds, were esteemed as the most valued articles in the treasures of
kings, and the most magnificent of royal costumes. The art of
feather-weaving continued for some generations after the Conquest.
Indeed, as late as 1840 one family in Mechoacan preserved it. The
reference to it in the text, however, is a sign of antiquity, as it
has long since disappeared in Central America. See an interesting
monograph on the subject by the eminent French antiquary, Ferdinand
Denis.--_Arte Plumaria; Les Plumes, leur Valeur et leur Emploi dans
les Arts au Mexique, au Perou, etc._ Paris, 1875.
_Page 32._ Much of this page is rendered with doubtful accuracy, as
the text is very obscure.
_Page 34._ _Hay me sagua_, the same as _hoy melague_, p. 36; hoy,
Spanish, now, to-day, _melaua_, Nah., to speak out, or openly.
_Page 40._ The reference to the star would seem to be that when the
tent is opened a star is visible through it, which Güegüence offers
to the Governor.
_Para tu cuerpo_, "an extremely filthy expression." (Dr. Valentine.)
_Page 42._ _Seran de arena._ "They may be of sand," _i. e._, they
are of no value or importance.
_Yugos de papayo_, yokes of papaw wood, a soft wood, worthless for
the purpose, as is also the wood of the tecomajoche, the _Plumeria_,
for plows. The intimation is that Don Forcico was smart enough to
cheat his customers.
The Nicaraguan plow is a wooden instrument of the most primitive
construction. The following cut from Mr. Squier's work represents
one.
[Illustration: A NICARAGUAN PLOW.]
_Page 48._ The tunes mentioned, the St. Martin, the Valona, the
Porto rico and others, are still preserved in Nicaragua.
_Page 50._ _Sin tuno, sin tunal._ An obscure phrase which none of my
advisers can explain. _Tuna_ is the prickly pear, _tunal_, the plant
that bears it, various species of _Opuntia_. _Tuna_, in the
university slang, means beggarly, reckless; "estudiantes de la
tuna," mendicant or vagabond students. (See Don J. Arias Giron,
_Costumbres Salamanquinas_.)
_Page 54._ When the Governor uses the Nahuatl word _mocemati_,
presumptuously, Güegüence feigns to understand him to say
_desmonte_, which means, in Nicaraguan Spanish, a clearing, and also
the worthless waste products thrown out of a mine.
_Page 56._ Güegüence leads in several girls, and presents them to
Don Forcico, which gives the pair an opportunity for some coarse
jokes. _Pachaca_, stuffed up, here meant in the sense of being with
child. _Iguana ô garroba_, the latter the male of the iguana, a
thick tree lizard of the tropics. _Aventada_, puffed up, taken in
the same sense as _pachaca_.
_Page 58._ The _machete_, which I have translated "axe," is a long,
heavy knife or cutlass, in extensive use in Spanish America, for
domestic and agricultural purposes. It is shown in the following
cut.
[Illustration: THE MACHETE.]
_Una yunta de botijas de vino_, a yoke or brace of wine jars,
probably so called from having been carried by a neck yoke, one
suspended on each side.
_Page 60._ The Alguacil speaks to Güegüence of toasting, _brindar_,
the Court, and Güegüence feigns to hear him speak of the
_provincial_ or ecclesiastical officer in charge of the province. It
is an example of assonance which is lost in the translation. Managua
and Nindiri are towns in the Mangue district of Nicaragua. See the
map on page xii.
The next affected misunderstanding of the old man is to take _una
yunta de botijas_, a yoke of bottles, for _una yunta de bueyes_, a
yoke of oxen.
_Page 62._ _Hacer amigo_, to make a friend. This is the phrase which
is used by courtezans with reference to securing a male patron to
pay their expenses, and for that reason Güegüence affects to be
shocked by the employment of it by Don Forcico.
_Page 64._ The words of the Alguacil, "What a reputation, etc.," are
with reference to the charge of Don Ambrosio, that Güegüence had
taught his son evil ways.
The introduction of the mules, _i. e._, the actors dressed as mules,
as described on page xlviii, is the occasion of several extremely
obscene puns and allusions.
_Page 68._ _Potrero_, colt-yard, or pasture-lot, a play on the
similarity of the word to _puteria_, a brothel. The estaca referred
to is, of course, an obscene allusion, as is also the _fluccion por
debajo de las piernas_, _i. e._, the scrotum.
_Page 70._ _El tiempo del hilo azul._ This idiom has foiled all whom
I have consulted. Dr. Valentine thinks it refers to the season of
the year when the verdure reappears after the drouth. F. Diego Duran
states that the village conjurors were accustomed to suspend charms
to the necks of boys by blue and green threads. (_Historia de las
Indias de la Nueva España._ Tom. II, p. 275.) Thus understood, the
time of the blue thread would be equivalent to boyhood.
_Campos de los Diriomos._ The Mangue word _Diriomo_ means the hill
of abundance, or of great fertility. The locality so named is shown
on the map, page xii.
_Guayaba._ This is the fruit of the guayabo tree, the _Psidium
pyriferum_. It is red in color, and about the size of a small apple.
_Page 72._ _A la gorra_, literally "for the cap," an idiom meaning
that one receives something merely for taking off the cap; a
gratuity. Dr. Valentine, however, writes me: "I understand _nosotros
á la gorra_ to mean 'then we shall have to do without.'"