“ After the mortals have prayed in chants, for a certain season, the god sends his messengers; men wait in suspense their arrival, whether it shall be for good or for ill hap; and as they reach the earth, a shout of joy is raised, for the food has ripened and been gathered in, and the harvest-home is ended.
In the same century the traveler Giralamo Benzoni, who visited Nicaragua about 1540, was much impressed with the native dances. ”

“ This is the humor in the Güegüence. The old man nearly always has a selfish aim to gain by his jokes and his stories; they are intended to further his own interests, and, at the close of the play, he, on the whole, comes out victorious by these questionable measures.
As the drama was formerly represented, the Güegüence wore the most magnificent apparel of any of the actors. ”

“ Thus the cura of Jutiapa, a town in Guatemala, Don Jose Antonio Urrutia, wrote, in 1856: "In most of the Indian towns the custom is still general of preserving a knowledge of great events in their history by means of representations, called bailes (dances) , which are, in fact, dances in the public squares, on the days or evenings of great solemnities. It is most interesting for one who understands something of the language to participate in these bailes, as he can thereby obtain some knowledge of the most remote traditions and events in the history of the Indians." ”

“ As Lessing very well observes, the true value of comedy is to train us to see the ridiculous and the absurd, wherever it is, in flagitious as well as in merely inconsiderate actions, as thus the observer is prompted to morality as well as forethought. ”

“ In Central America, the native race has a keen musical sense. Von Tempsky found that they learned by ear, with great ease, the compositions of Bellini; and in Vera Paz and among the Lacandons, Morelet heard upon the Chirimoya, an aboriginal wind instrument, an air which he characterizes as "very remarkable" and "extremely touching." What brings this air into relation to my present theme is the singular fact that it was known as la Malinche, but Morelet could not learn from what connection. [41] Quite possibly it was from the character of that name in the play of Güegüence. ”

“ Thus, Benzoni and Coreal tell us that in the bailes in Nicaragua, which they witnessed, some of the actors pretended to be deaf, and others to be blind, so as to excite laughter by their mistakes. [44] And Father Diego Duran tells us of a native Mexican comedy, upon which this of Güegüence may, perhaps, have been founded, full of songs and coarse jests, [45] in which the clown pretends to understand at cross purposes what his master orders, transforming his words into others like them. ”

“ In his description of the Nahuas of Nicaragua, Oviedo gives the word huehue, and tells us that it was applied to certain old men of influential position, who were elected by the natives as rulers of the villages, and that they in turn selected the war-chief, whose duty it was to look to the defence of the community. The name was, therefore, one familiar to the Nicaraguans, though the character would seem to be drawn as a burlesque or satire.
He is, in fact, anything but a respectable person. ”

“ The two sons of Güegüence, Don Forcico and Don Ambrosio, are drawn in as strong contrast as possible. The former follows [xlvii] the paternal example faithfully, and sustains his parent in all his tricks and lies; the latter as invariably opposes and exposes the old man's dishonesty. The bitter words which pass between them, however, must not be taken in dead earnest; they, too, are only half serious, and do not lead to any separation of interests. ”

“ 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. ”

“ In later days, the cofradias, the brotherhoods and sisterhoods [xxxix] organized in connection with the churches, made it part of their business to learn singing and music, so as to take part in the celebration of church festivals. It was through these cofradias that the art of playing on the ancient instruments was preserved. By the loss of influence of the church at the separation of the colonies from the mother country, the cofradias were mostly dissolved. [42]
The music which accompanies the ballets in the Güegüence has been written down, and is familiar to many in Nicaragua. ”

“ Some have supposed that it was a corruption of the Spanish Christian name Marina, but, as Señor Icazbalceta has conclusively shown, it is the name of one of the days of the Aztec month, malinalli, with the termination tzin, signifying affection. It was the custom in Mexico and Central America, and still is in many parts, for the natives [xlviii] to name their children after the day on which they were born, led thereto by certain ancient astrological notions. [49] In Nicaragua, malinche is also the name of a tree, a species of Poinciana, which bears a handsome red flower. ”

“ In the public bailes in ancient times, as we are informed by both Oviedo and Benzoni, the musicians were separated from the singers and other performers, forming an actual orchestra, and this is also intimated in the Güegüence. Having thus the position of a class by themselves, it may fairly be presumed that they cultivated with assiduity their peculiar art. ”

“ Speaking of the natives of Nicaragua and Honduras, Father Francisco Vasquez says: "Muchos de aquellos Indios por la comunicacion que tienen con gente ladina de las estancias vecinas alcanzan mucho de la lengua Castellana."—Historia de la Provincia de Guatemala. Parte II, Lib. V, Trat. I, Cap. 1 (Guatemala, 1716) .
[24] This verse is from a song by Dr. Gollena, a highly appreciated poet of Guatemala, who has written, but I believe never published, some poems in the Nicaraguan dialect. ”

“ The Ollita, or Little Jar, is an instrument still remembered in Nicaragua, and the drama, in the Mangue dialect, to which I have referred, bearing this name, proves that it was familiarly known at Managua early in this century. Its sound is described as grave and suitable to serious emotions. ”

“ The devices for exciting laughter are scarcely more than three in number; one the assumed deafness of the Güegüence, the second, a consequence of this, that he misunderstands, or pretends to, the words of the other actors, thus giving rise to amusing quid-pro-quos, and third, the introduction of obscene references. ”

“ Certain it is, that at an early date a mixed dialect came into vogue, both in the Mangue districts of Nicaragua and elsewhere in Central America, composed of a broken-down Nahuatl and a corrupt Spanish, which, at first, served as a means of communication between the conquerors and their subjects, and later became, to some degree, the usual tongue of the latter. ”

“ A small theatre is extemporized, music is provided, and the actor comes forward, arrayed in some odd garb, and recites a sort of poem, with gestures and dancing movements. The text of one of these was obtained at Namotivá by Dr. Berendt, and is in my possession. It is entitled, Loga del Niño Dios, and contains about two hundred lines. The language is a corrupt Spanish, with a number of Mangue words interspersed. ”

“ Among the outlying colonies of that important people whose chief seat was in the Valley of Mexico, and who are variously known as Aztecs, Mexicans or Nahuas, were several in Central America. "One of these," writes Mr. Squier, "occupied the principal islands in the Lake of Nicaragua, the narrow isthmus which intervenes between that lake and the Pacific, and probably a portion of the country to the southward, as far as the gulf of Nicoya. ”

“ Probably in memory of this victory, the Nicaraguans applied to them the opprobrious name Chololteca, "those driven out," from the Nahuatl verb choloa, and the suffix tecatl, which was corrupted by the Spanish to Chorotecas. [10]
The name does not by any means intimate that the Mangues came from Cholula in Mexico, as some ancient, and some [ix] modern, writers have hastily supposed; [11] nor is it a proof that they spoke an Aztec dialect, as Ternaux Compans has asserted. ”

“ Torquemada appears to have been the first to make this guess; and it has recently been advocated by Dr. Valentini, The Olmecas and the Tultecas, p. 20 (Worcester, 1883) , and was also sanctioned by Dr. Berendt.
[12] In a note to his translation of Oviedo's Nicaragua.
[13] The proper spelling is "Chapanec." It is not an Aztec word, but from the Mangue tongue, in which Chapa means the ara, or red macaw, their sacred bird. The name was derived from that of the lofty peak on which their principal town in Chiapas was situated—chapa niiu, the ara of fire. ”

“ Nicaraguan Musical Instruments and Music.
The musical instruments of the natives of Nicaragua, mentioned by Oviedo, are drums, flutes of reeds, and excoletes, or trumpets. This, however, by no means exhausted the list, and several others of similar powers have been retained to the present day, and have been referred to by travelers as local curiosities. Thus, Mr. Squier writes as follows, in describing a festival in Leon de Nicaragua: "It is impossible to describe the strange instruments. ”

“ Pues, échelos todos.
Güegüence.
Pues, enséñeme.
Alguacil.
Pues, azetagago.
Güegüence.
Pues, maneta congon.
Alguacil.
Matateco Dio mispiales, Sor. Gobor Tastuanes.
[25]
25
Don Am. Let us eat them, Güegüence.
Güe. Then put out your hands, and let this hungry fellow put out both his hands; and my! what fine nails has my friend, the Captain Chief Alguacil! They are like those of a scratching monkey! Ho, there! a hot shot for these nails!
Alg. May it burn your body, Güegüence.
Güe. Well, here then [shows four coins] . One, two, three, four. Ha! my money, boys! ”

“ The Machos, or mules, are twelve or more in number. They give the second title to the piece, El Macho raton, an appropriate translation of which I am at a loss to give. Literally it means "The Male Mouse." As used at present, it signifies a masker, or masquerading dress. An acquaintance, who has lived in Nicaragua, tells me that he has heard the children call out: "See, there goes the Macho-raton," which would prove to be an Indian in a fantastic costume. ”

“ Careful archaeologists in our own day have searched the territory they inhabited, and many museums contain specimens of what they accomplished in the direction of the arts, and testify to a respectable degree of intellectual advancement. ”

“ The Bailes, or Dramatic Dances of Nicaragua.
The historian, Fernandez de Oviedo, who was in Nicaragua in 1529, gives a long account of the dramatic representations, or rites, accompanied by songs, dances and masked actors, which he witnessed among the natives of both Nahuatl and Mangue lineage in that province. They took place at stated [xx] seasons, and at certain epochs in the year. The name which he gives as that by which they were locally known is mitote, which is the Aztec mitotl, a dance. ”

“ He, nevertheless, brings up the young women, one by one, who are rejected by Don Forcico, with very uncomplimentary remarks, until Suche-Malinche comes forward, who pleases him, and with whom he is married. The Governor then suggests that Güegüence treat the Council with some Spanish wine. This the old man does not find it convenient to understand, and when he can no longer escape, and is at a loss where to obtain the liquor, is [lii] relieved by Don Forcico, who has secured it in a questionable manner. ”

“ When, and how do the sun and moon change their brightness? Why is the night dark and the winter cold, since light and warmth are so much better? (Herrera, Decad. III, Lib. IV, cap. V.)
[17] The leading authorities on the antiquities of Nicaragua are E. G. Squier, Nicaragua, Its People, Scenery and Monuments, together with his numerous other works pertaining to Central America; and the reports of Dr. Earl Flint and Dr. J. F. Bransford, to the Smithsonian Institution. Dr. Habel and Dr. Berendt also made numerous investigations, but their reports have not appeared in adequate detail. ”

“ It must also be remembered that this piece was one acted altogether by the native Indians, and not by the Spanish population.
[xlv] Nor are we without examples of persons of native lineage preparing comedies for their fellows. About 1625, Bartholome de Alva, a descendant of the native kings of Tezcuco, wrote three comedies, in Nahuatl, drawing his plots from Lope de Vega. It is quite as likely that another Alva rose from the Nahuas of Nicaragua, and prepared for their amusement the production I now present. ”

“ The preparations for it are elaborate and expensive. In former times the rehearsals took place daily, sometimes for as much as six or eight months before the public performance. The actors provided their own costumes, which required a considerable outlay. There were, however, always plenty of applicants, as it was not only considered an honor to take part, but also, the patron or patroness of the festival, who had pledged himself to give the drama, was expected to furnish refreshments, in the way of food and drink, at each rehearsal. ”

“ The Governor Tastuanes appears on the scene in Spanish costume, with a staff and sabre. His name, however, seems to be from the Nahuatl, probably a corruption of tlatoani, chief, lord. [48] He is little more than a lay figure, designed to draw forth the ruses of Güegüence.
The Alguacil, the Secretary and Registrar appear in what is supposed to be full official dress, with their staffs of office.
The mutæ personæ of the drama are the women and the machos, or mules. ”

“ A MARIMBA PLAYER AND HIS INSTRUMENT.
"Two long drumsticks, with balls of India rubber at their heads, are in the hands of the player, who strikes double notes at every touch of the wooden claviature, with the resounding jicaras underneath. The sound of this instrument is charming, clear, limpid in its tones, like the intonation of a harp string of wire. The Indians produce the justest and sweetest double notes, and blend a rattling tune together in very [xxx] harmonious chords. Their talent for playing this instrument by ear is astonishing ”

“ Bij het eentoonige geluid van een paar fluiten, en het kloppen op een hol blok hout, draaijen mannen en vrouwen afzonderlijk, langzaam en bedaard, in alle rigtingen herom, en schijnen veeleer diepe treurigheid dan vreugde aan den dag te leggen."—J. Haefkens, Centraal Amerika, p. 407 (Dordrecht, 1832) .
[31] Such dances are the "bailes usados en el populacho, y que estan muy lejos de brillar por su desencia," referred to by Don Pablo Levy, Notas, etc., sobre Nicaragua, p. 294.
[32] The word Loga is, I have no doubt, a corruption of the Spanish loa. ”

“ One was The Ollita or Cañahuate. It was acted in the Mangue tongue at Masaya as late as 1822, but the text is, unfortunately, lost. The Ollita is the name of the whistling jar, on which, and on the drum, a lugubrious musical accompaniment was played. The name Cañahuate is said to have been that of a dialect of the Mangue. The plot turned on a proposed marriage between an old man, richly dressed in Spanish garb, and a native princess. The chorus and assistants carried bows, arrows and quivers, which would seem to point to an early date as that of the supposed transaction.
[xxviii]
§ 3. ”

“ Eguan noche mo Cabildo Real del Sor. Gobor Tastuanes.
Gobernador.
Pues Don Ambrosio asamatimaguas semo verdad á sones (se) paguala motalce Güegüence quichua contar güil hombre rico. En primer lugar cajoneria de oro, cajoneria de plata, ropa de Castilla, ropa de contrabando, güipil de pecho, güipil de pluma, medias de seda, zapatos de oro, sombrero de castor, estriberas de lazo de oro y de plata, muchintes hermosuras quichua contar sesule Güegüence hoy melagüe Don Ambrosio. ”