Appendix

“Ahuehueht,” 1975

By Juan Hernández

English translation

1. He used to live on Mt. Cozolin [Cozoltepet].
2. Ahuehueht used to live on Mt. Cozolin.
3. And that is where he made his home.
4. And that is where he made his home.
5. One day at dawn, the rain god decided, “This Ahuehueht, he is living here.
6. Because he is living here, he will soon finish off the town.
7. Well, as for what we must do, it would be better to take him far away so that, even though there might be a big flood, nothing will happen because he will be far away.
8. And if he is close by, soon all will perish.”
9. They say they decided, “Good,” and one of the rain gods asked, “But how shall we take him?”
10. And another replied, “’How shall be take him?’
11. We shall take him as a rain god because he is like a god.
12. Ahuehueht is like a god.”
13. And Ahuehueht is called called Juanito.
14. And the rain gods wondered, “Well, how shall we take him and we do not know the name of his saint?”
15. One of the rain gods said, “We’ll name him Juanito now.”
16. “Good, but how shall we take him?”
17. “We shall take him and we shall do it this way.
18. It would be better to take him far away.
19. We shall take him far away so that he will not finish off the town.
20. We shall trick him into thinking there will be a dance and we shall invite him to go and eat.”
21. They say that they placed him in a ravine in case he were to cause a big flood.
22. In that ravine they put some big arches but they put big arches like the ones that people put [on their houses].
23. And they say that some did not like it.
24. Then they decided it would be better if they were rainbows.
25. They started putting rainbows across the ravine but they made them look like arches.
26. Across the ravine they made an arch of rainbows.
27. And the rain gods decided, “Now that the arches are in place, let us go talk to Ahuehueht.”
28. The arch of rainbows was put into place, and the rain gods decided, “Let us bring him now.”
29. The rain gods went to Cozolin and said to Ahuehueht, “Now, will you please go with us to a different place.
30. They invited you to a feast.
31. Let us go now because they told us it is important that we bring you with us because they have already killed the turkeys for the feast.
32. They are going to hold a dance.
33. You are going to be a compadre.
34. It is important that you go with us now.”
35. And Ahuehueht said, “Well, I cannot go now because I cannot bring my things.”
36. The rain gods replied, “Yes, you can.
37. You can bring everything but they told us you should particularly bring your house.
38. They told us you should bring your house.
39. Do not come empty-handed.”
40. Then Ahuehueht said, “I am to go there to stay.
41. I shall not come back.”
42. They took him in the evening.
43. “Well now,” Ahuehueht said, “wait a little while for me to bring my house.”
44. Ahuehueht cut off the top of the mountain, he cut off the top of the mountain, he cut it out of the same mountain [Mt. Cozolin].
45. He cut it and decided to take it, although the rock was as heavy as the church tower in the center of Huitzilan.
46. They say he decided to carry the rock; the rock was big, and he decided, “Well now, I am going to bring my burden.
47. I am going to bring my burden.”
48. He cut a piece out of the mountain and brought it with him.
49. They say Ahuehueht carried it and carried it until he saw a beautifully adorned place that he liked.
50. “Oh,” he said to himself, “it is true they invited me to something that is adorned and beautiful.”
51. Well, they say that he left in the water the burden he had brought with him.
52. That is, in the big waters [of the Zempoala River].
53. He thought to himself, “Well good, and it is almost dawn, and now that the sun is about to rise, I shall not arrive in time [if slowed by carrying this heavy load].”
54. And he asked if it is still far away.
55. The rain god said, “Well right now, we still have a long way to go because we have not traveled halfway.
56. We have a long way to go.
57. And you carry a heavy load,” the rain god said.
58. Ahuehueht agreed, “Yes, I have a very heavy load.”
59. Well before it dawned, Ahuehueht dropped his load as he passed by [the Zempoala River].
60. The load was a piece of the same mountain where he had made his home.
61. And it is true that he left a piece of the mountain he was carrying in the water.
62. It is still there.
63. I also know where it is.
64. It is below Tuxtla.
65. Yes, that is where it is.
66. And they say that Ahuehueht took it there.
67. It is his same load.
68. When it dawned, he dropped it as he passed by after [the rain gods] had carried him through the night.
69. They had carried him through the night.
70. When they were about to arrive, he dropped his suitcase in the water.
71. They arrived dropping him off where he would remain.
72. The rain gods said to him, “We are here already, right here is where they invited you [to attend the feast and the dance].
73. Now wait for us to bring some musicians so you can dance.”.
74. So the rain gods went away, and they went away tricking him and they went away from there.
75. Another rainstorm began, it was a big one, and when the big rain began, the water rose where Ahuehueht was left waiting.
76. But he did not die.
77. He is in charge [of the rain] even today.
78. “Good, well now you will not return to Cozolin.
79. You are here now,” the rain gods said.
80. They say he is in charge.
81. The rain gods exerted a great effort to leave him there.
82. They were the same rain gods who had taken him.
83. They are the same ones (who did this) so he would not stay on Cozolin.
84. They removed him from Cozolin, taking him far away so that he would not bring an end to the community.
85. That is how it was.
86. They removed him [and] took him to another place.
87. And from there they say that the rain gods fled from him, and then Ahuehueht started to cry.
88. Ahuehueht started to cry.
89. “Why did you go away, and just as a big rainstorm started?” he thought to himself.
90. That is how they left him there.
91. He is always crying.
92. He always cries that way.
93. He has remained there up until today.

Nahuat transcription

1. Catca yetoya tech in Cozolin [Cozoltepec].
2. Yetoya itech in Cozolin yehha no nen Ahuehueht.
3. Huan ompa chanchihuaya.
4. Huan ompa chanchihuaya.
5. Ce tonal quinemiliqueh cuando tanecic que quitmoliah quiyauhteomeh, “Bueno nihin Ahuehueht, xe nican chanchihuaz.
6. Pero ta nican chanchihua, niman quinpoloz tech in pueblo.
7. Pos axcan para ticchihuazqueh, pos axcan mejor ticuicatih huehca para mazqui no mochihuaz in at huei pero ahmo tei pasaroz porque huehca yetoc.
8. Huan ta cerca pos, niman tamiz.”
9. Pos quinemiliqueh quit, “Bueno,” quihtoa, “huan,” quihtoa [ce] in quiyauhteomeh, “huan nin . . . queniuh para ticuicazqueh?”
10. Huan occe quihtoa, “’Pos queniuh ticuicazqueh?’
11. Ximacacan cuenta queniuh ticuicazqueh porque quiyauhteot quemeh ce dios.
12. In Ahuehueht quemeh ce dios.”
13. Huan monotza in Ahuehueht, monotza Juanito.
14. Huan quitmolia, “Pos queniuh ticuicazqueh, huan ahmo ticmatih toni nisanto?
15. Pero axcan,” quitquilia, “tictalitih ‘Juanito.’
16. Pero,” quitmolia, “bueno, quenin ticuitazqueh,” cequin quihtoah.
17. “Ticuicazqueh pero ximacan cuenta quenin cuicazqueh.
18. Pos axcan mejor ticuicatih huehca.
19. Ticuicatih huehca para ahmo niman polihuiz in pueblo.
20. Pos axcan ticacayahuatih que quichihuatih ce baile huan tiquiinvitaroazqueh ma yohui ta tacuati.
21. Pos quitaliqueh quit ca in atahuat [atahuit1] quemeh den achto ma ya mochihuac in at huei.
22. Pos itech in atahuat quitaliqueh huei, huei ihcon ma ya quitaliqueh cequin arcos pero nohon arcos ma ya quitaliqueh quit tacat.
23. Huan yehha quit occequin ahmo cuellitaque.
24. Entonces quinemiliqueh motaliti mejor nohon cozamalomeh.
25. Cozamalomeh peuhqueh motaliqueh tech in atahuat pero quemeh arco mochihuac.
26. Huan itech in atahuat mochihuac quemeh arco nohon cozamalomeh.
27. Huan quinemiliqueh, moliah quit, “Pos axcan mochihuac ya nen arco, pos axcan tyohueh ticnotzatih ya.”
28. Mochihuac den primero arco den nen cozamalomeh huan quitmoliah, “Axcan,” quitmoliah, “ticuicatih.”
29. Yahqueh quiyauhteomeh campa Cozolin huan quitquilia, “Axcan,” quitquilia, “xun ahmo ticchihuaz favor techcehuicaz neppa.
30. Mitzinvitaroqueh ma ta tacuati.
31. Tyohueh porque importa technahuatiqueh que xitechcehuica porque yetoc huehuehxo timictiqueh ya.
32. Mochihuateh baile.
33. Tehha tiquizati de compadre.
34. Pos axcan importa que tyohueh.”
35. Huan quihtoa nen Ahuehueht, “Pos axcan ahmo nihueliz nyaz porque ahmo hueli nicuicaz notamamal.”
36. Quiliah in quiyauhteomeh, “Pos quenahmo hueliz.
37. Hueliz ticuicaz nochi pero technahuatiqueh xicuica mochan.
38. Technahuatiqueh xcuica mochan.
39. Ahmo iuhqui.”
40. Entonces quihtoa, “Pos nyo nimocahuati.
41. Ahmo nyo nimoquepati.”
42. Tayohuac quicuiaqueh.
43. “Pos axcan,” quitelia, “pos nechchiyacan tepitzin ma nicui nochan.”
44. Quicuatonac ce pedazo in tet in Ahuehueht, quicuatona ce pedazo in tet, mismo tepet quicotonac.
45. Quiteic huan quinemili cuicati porque mama in tet huei como quemeh torre nombon.
46. Quinemili quit quimama in tet, huei in tet huan quitmolia, “Pos axcan,” quitmolia, “nicuicati nomaleta.
47. Nicuicati nomaleta.
48. Pos quicotonac in tepet huan cuiac.
49. Ihcon quit cuica huan cuica ihcon quit hasta ihcon nochi tachixti [tachizti]2 por tahueliztiuh3 Ahuehueht que cualtzin tachihchiutoc.
50. “Ah,” quitmolia, “pos melauh,” quitmolia, “nechinvitaroqueh cualli huan pos ne tachihchiutoc,” quitmolia.
51. Pos ihcon quit cuica ihcon tamama huan cahcito tech ce at.
52. Ma ya huei in at.
53. Quitmolia, “Pos bueno,” quitmolia, “huan tanecic,” quitmolia, “huan tanecic ya,” quitmolia, “huan ahmo hueli tiahcih.”
54. Huan ma tataniz cox huehcauh.
55. Quilia, “Pos yequintzin hasta ahmo tahco in ohti huehca tiyetoqueh.
56. Huehca tiyetoqueh.
57. Pos axcan huan tieti ya,” quitquilia.
58. Quilia, “Quemah, tel nieti ya.”
59. Pos antes de taneciz, pos tech in at quicautiquiz nimaleta.
60. Mismo in tepet.
61. Huan melauh quica[hua]to in tepet.
62. Hasta axcan yetoc.
63. No nicmatoc campa yetoc.
64. Yetoc campa nen Tuxtla para tani . . .
65. Quemah yetoc.
66. Huan quihtoa ca yehha cuicuiac in Ahuehueht.
67. Mismo yeaxca.
68. Cuando tanecic, ompa quicautiquiz porque catca cuiaqueh yohuac.
69. Cuiaqueh yohuac.
70. Cuando ta quit ihciuhca ahciqueh quicautiquiz tech in at ne maleta.
71. Ahciqueh quit nen caxiuqueh [taxiuqueh]4 campa mocahuatiuh.
72. Quitquilia, “Nican ya,” quitquilia, “zayoh nican ya,” quitquilia, “mitzinvitaroqueh,” quitquilia.
73. “Yequintzin,” quitquilia, “pos techyaca,” quitquilia, “para nicuiti cequin musico para timihtotiz,” quitquilia nen Ahuehueht.
74. Pos yahqueh nen quiyauhteomeh huan yahqueh ma ya cacayautih huan nican yahqueh.
75. Pehuac occe quiyahuit, telcenca huan den pehuaco cequin quiyahuit telcenca por mohueichihuac in at huan ompa mocauh.
76. Pero ahmo miquic.
77. Hasta axcan tamandaroa.
78. “Bueno,” quilia, “pox axcan ahmo timoquepaz oc.
79. Axcan nican ya.”
80. Pos ihcon quit non tamandaroa.
81. Ma ya para quicauhqueh, mochihuiliqueh ya.
82. Pero mismo quiyauhteomeh cuiaqueh.
83. Mismo yehhan para ahmo [macamo] caxiuhqueh tech in Cozolin.
84. Huan caxiuhqueh in Cozolin huehca quichihuac para ahmo iziuhca tamiz in pueblo.
85. Ihcon.
86. Para caxiuhqueh ompa cuiaqueh.
87. Huan de ompa quit nohon quicholohuiliqueh huan después pehuac choca quit.
88. Pehuac choca Ahuehueht.
89. “Bueno,” quitmolia, “pos ne quenin tyaz,” quitmolia, “huan telcenca pehuaz in quiyahuit?”
90. Pos ihcon ompa quicauhqueh.
91. Nochipa choca.
92. Nochipa choca ihcon.
93. Pos ompa za mocahuac hasta axcan ompa yetoc.

“The Drunk”

by Mariano Isidro

English translation

1. Well, there was a drunk who got drunk, and he got drunk [and] arrived in front of the presidential palace.
2. He gave a wild shout.
3. A policeman came and grabbed him.
4. He said, “Well man, why are you going to eat me?
5. What are you doing?”
6. The drunk replied, “I am drunk and gave a wild shout.
7. Don’t you see that you have a need?
8. It has not rained for some time.”
9. “But how am I to blame?” [the policeman asked].
10. [The drunk] replied, “It has not rained because you are stupid.
11. I want it to rain in three days.”
12. “Really?”
13. “Yes.”
14. “Well, get out of here now.”
15. They lifted him [from his bed so he would leave].
16. But the next day the policeman went to speak to him.
17. He said, “The president wants to talk to you.”
18. [The drunk] replied, “Well, I do not have anything to take [say to] him.”
19. [The policeman] replied, “But nevertheless, I came to take you to him.”
20. “Good, well let’s go.”
21. [The drunk] arrived.
22. [The president] said, “You declared we are stupid.
23. That you want it to rain in three days.
24. Well now, you want it to rain, and if it does not rain, we are going to kill you and burn you so you will know not to be a fool.”
25. “But is there anyplace you can see from where I am going to bring the rain?”
26. “That is not our job.
27. May it rain, and if not, we are going to kill you.”
28. “All right,” [the drunk] says, “give me three days, and if it has been three days, and if it does not rain, well then so be it, kill me already.”
29. “Well then, go.”
30. So then he went.
31. He said to his wife, “Make me my lunch.
32. I am going away.
33. I am going away in a hurry.
34. The official there is going to kill me.”
35. “All right.”
36. She made his lunch, and he went away.
37. He traveled for one day [and] came to a wilderness.
38. And he traveled the next day, [and] in the evening, he came to [another place] after another day’s journey.
39. He arrived at a grassy place, in that wilderness.
40. It was a grassy place.
41. He found our mother sweeping a small hut.
42. “What are you doing, grandmother?”
43. “Well, nothing, son.
44. Where are you headed?
45. Where are you headed?”
46. He said, “I am going to a place where god will help me.
47. But it is late for me [to continue traveling].
48. Would you give me lodging here?”
49. “Here, of course.
50. Sit down over there.
51. I’ll finish sweeping in a short while and you can go inside.”
52. “Good.”
53. So then that was the house of the rain gods.
54. He had arrived at the rain gods’ house.
55. Our mother was their mother.
56. So then our mother finished sweeping and said, “Come inside, son.”
57. He went inside, and she said, “I am going to cover you because my children are very unruly.
58. They are very unruly.
59. So they will not hit you.
60. Uh hu.”
61. [The narrator gets ahead of himself]. It appears one arrived, and asked him.
62. “What happened to you?”
63. He said, “Well . . .”
64. [The narrator returns]. So then, that mother of ours picked up a petate and stretched him out with his down in one of the corners of the hut where he lay with his head covered.
65. The children arrived, there were two of them, they were small, just like these children, but they had curly hair [narrator points to children].
66. They arrived, [and] one of them said, “I have come, Mama!”
67. She replied, “Good, son.”
68. The other one said, “I have come, Mama!”
69. “Good, son, will you eat something?”
70. One of them said, “Well, I am very tired.
71. I shall not have any supper.”
72. “Well,” she said, “how about one taco?
73. One little taco?”
74. The boy replied, “Well, all right.
75. She said, “There is a boy over there who came from afar, and he is running away [because] a bad thing will befall him.”
76. One of the boys asked, “What happened, Mama?”
77. She said, “Well, he is running away.
78. They want to kill him.”
79. [The boy] asked, “And who are they and why are they going to kill him?”
80. She explained, “He got drunk.”
81. [The boy] says, “Well, let’s talk with him.”
82. “He is lying over there.”
83. She opened the petate.
84. And then [the drunk] told them, he said, “Well, it has been a while since it has not rained in my town, and I got drunk and shouted a savage cry, and they threw me in jail.
85. And I told them they are stupid.
86. And I wanted it to rain in three days.
87. But where am I going to get the water?
88. And for that reason, the next day they sent someone for me, the president sent for me [and declared that] if it does not rain in three days, I will have made [and lost] a wager, [and] he was going to kill me.”
89. “Uh hu,” the rain god said.
90. “That is right,” [the rain god] explained, “it has been some time since we have gone there.
91. We have not gone there for this reason.
92. Because we used to work there regularly.
93. Regularly we worked [there].
94. But then they cursed us and started tossing insults at us.
95. Well, then we stayed away.
96. It was better not to go because so they would not swear at us [for bringing rain].
97. Now we work on other things farther away.
98. Where they do not say anything to us.
99. We work on the question of plants.
100. [And] on the question of things requiring water.
101. So the plants [might grow] better.
102. We do not go to do a bad job.
103. And we involve ourselves and, we support [farmers where], we go.
104. We take ourselves [to those places].”
105. [The drunk] asked, “And do me a favor, [but] I do not have any money.
106. But do me the favor [of bringing rain, and] I shall wait for you there.”
107. “Of course.”
108. [The rain god] said, “Let’s go to your home, and you buy a candle and adorn a table.
109. Decorate it with flowers.
110. Light that candle and [place] chairs [around the table].
111. [Put] chairs all [around] it.
112. Just like when you are hosting a padrino at that table, so we can rest.
113. And we work quickly.”
114. [The drunk] replied, “If you do me the favor, sure.”
115. [The rain god] went on, “And warn the president to warn the others not blame us for working again.
116. Do not punish me anymore, eh.
117. Well good [if you agree], then we shall go there in a few days, eh.
118. And in the meantime adorn [the table] and we shall be there soon.”
119. [The drunk] really did return home.
120. He told the president, “Well, wait a little bit until such and such day when the [rain] workers will come.
121. They want everything to be ready.”
122. “Really?” [the president] said.
123. “If not, we are going to kill you.”
124. [The drunk] replied, “No man, I want to make things right.”
125. “Good.”
126. “Correct, is this [what you told us] really true?”
127. On that day they adorned the table.
128. He came to tell them to adorn the table, to adorn it completely.
129. They lit the candle, and clouds began arriving.
130. Thick ones.
131. They arrived already.
132. Then the bolts of lightning began to appear.
133. They lit up the sky, eh, [along with] claps of thunder.
134. So then they released a downpour, but a good one.
135. To beat the band.
136. And the [rain gods] sat around the table, they were all around it.
137. All at once there they were, all very small.
138. They gathered around the table, and it was raining very hard.
139. They were there at great cost, eh.
140. From there, the [rain gods] warned [the people] that at once they would release a wall of water, eh.
141. They came warning them [that they would release the water] at once, and [then] they left, eh.
142. From then on it has rained there on par ever since, eh.

Nahuat transcription

1. Pos ne borracho mohuinti, huan de mohuinti, ahci ne palacio ixteno.
2. Cuauhtzahtzi.
3. Huitza in policia huan quitzquiya.
4. Quilia, “Pero hombre, que ye tinechtacuati?
5. Toni ticchiuhtoc?”
6. “Nihuintitoc huan nicuauhtzahtztoc,” quihtoa.
7. “Xa ahmo tiquitta toni necesidad ticpiya?
8. Quipiya tiempo ahmo quiyiuhtoc.”
9. “Pero neh ton culpa nicpiya?”
10. Quihtoa, “Que ahmo quiyuihui [quiyahui Huitzilan spelling] porque namehhuan nantontos.
11. Pero neh nicnequi,” quihtoa, “de que a tres dias quiyiuhui.”
12. Quihtoa, “Pero de veras?”
13. Quihtoa, “Uh hu.”
14. “Pos ahora ximologaro.”
15. Quiehualtiqueh.
16. Pero imoztica occe yohui in policia huan quinotzato.
17. Quilia, “Mitznotza in presidente.”
18. Quilia, “Pos ahmo tei nicuiquilia.”
19. Quihtoa, “Pero por todos modos,” quihtoa, “nimitzcuico.”
20. “Bueno, pos tyohueh.”
21. Ahcic.
22. Quilia, “Teh tiquihto porque titontos.
23. Que teh ticnequizquia quiyiuhui a los tres dias.”
24. Quihtoa, “Pos axcan,” quihtoa, “ticnequi ma quiyiuhui,” quihtoa, “huan ta ahmo quiyiuhuiz, timitzmictiti huan timitztatati para ticmatiz ahmo tixolopi.”
25. “Pero ahmo canah ticati [tiqui[tt]ati],” quihtoa, “de que forma nicuiti in quiyiuhuit?” quihtoa.
26. “Tehhuan ahmo totequiuh.
27. Ma quiyiuhui, huan ahmo, timitzmictitih.”
28. “Bueno,” quihtoa, “nechcahualican tres [dias],” quihtoa, “huan a las tres días,” quihtoa, “huan ahmo quiyiuhui,” quihtoa, “pos cuahcohn,” quihtoa, “nechmictican ya.”
29. “Bueno, pos, ahora xyo.”
30. Entonces yahqui.
31. Quilia ni cihuatzin, quilia, “Nechtali nolocnhi.
32. Neh nyo.”
33. Quilia, “Neh nyo de pelada.
34. Nechmictiti ompon in autoridad.”
35. “Bueno.”
36. Talic nilonchi huan yeh yohui ya.
37. Quichihuac ce tonal, cahcito cuauhyoh.
38. Huan imoztica, tiotac, ahcic in occe viaje tiotac ya.
39. Ahcic tech ce ixtahuat, ne cuauhyoh.
40. Ce ixtahuat.
41. Cahci ce tonana, ce xacaltzin tzictzin, tachpantoc.
42. “Toni ticchihua abuelita?”
43. “Pos ahmo tei hijo.
44. Can tyo?
45. Can tyo?”
46. Quihtoa, “Neh nyo,” quihtoa, “a ver campa dios nechpalehuia.”
47. Quihtoa, “Pero nimotiotaquili ya.
48. Nechmaca posada nican?”
49. “Quenamo nican.
50. Nican ompon ximotali,” quihtoa.
51. “Nitamitachpanati huan al ratito ticalaquiz.”
52. “Bueno.”
53. Entonces in ichan ne rayos.
54. Ichan ne rayos ahcique.
55. In tonantzin ne nimama.
56. Bueno entonces, entonces tamitachpana tonana huan quilia, “Xcalaqui hijo.”
57. Calaic ne huan quihtoa, “Nimitztzontzacuati porque nopilhuan cemi malitos.
58. Cemi malitos.”
59. Quihtoa, “Mocan [macamo] mitzmacaqueh.”
60. “Uh hu.”
61. [Narrator jumps ahead] Nez que ne ehoc ya huan quinonotzaz.
62. “Toni mitzpasaroa tehhua?”
63. Quilia, “Bueno . . .”
64. [Narrator returns] Entonces, quicuic ne petat ne tonana huan quitzontzohuac5 tech esquina, ompa tzontzactoc ya.
65. Ehoqueh ne in pipil, omeh yeh chiquititos, quemeh hin, pero chinos.
66. Ehoqueh, quilia, “Nihualla mama!”
67. Quilia, “Cualli hijo.”
68. In occe quilia, “Nihualla mama!”
69. “Bueno hijo, nancenarozqueh?”
70. Quihtoa, “Pues neh cemi niciuhtoc.
71. Ahmo nicenaroz.”
72. “Bueno,” quihtoa, “a ver ce taquito si quiera?
73. Ce taquito?”
74. Quihtoa, “Pos bueno.”
75. Quihtoa, “Ompon yetoc ce muchacho que huitza de huehca,” quihtoa, “huan yohui,” quihtoa, “quipasaroz ce mal.”
76. Quihtoa, “Toni quipasaro mama?”
77. Quihtoa, “A ver,” quihtoa, “pos yohui de pelada.
78. Quinequi quimictizqueh.”
79. Quihtoa, “Huan hon aconimeh por toni quimictitih?”
80. Quihtoa, “Pues mohuinti.”
81. Quihtoa, “A ver,” quihtoa, “ticnonotzacan.
82. Ahi,” quihtoa, “tzontzactoc.”
83. Quitzontapoa in petat, eh.
84. Huan entonces ompa quinilia, quilia, “Pos quipiya tiempo que ahmo quiyiuhtoc nopueblo,” quihtoa, “huan neh nimohuinti,” quihtoa, “huan nicuauhtzahtzic huan nechtamotac carcel.”
85. Quihtoa, “Huan niquinili que por tantos.”
86. Quihtoa, “Neh nicnequi que a las tres dias quiyiuhui.
87. Huan nehhua can nicuiti in at?”
88. Quihtoa, “Huan por hon,” quihtoa, “nechtatitaniqueh imoztica nechtatitani in presidente que ta ahmo quiyiuh a los tres dias, nitatanic in chance, nechmictiti.”
89. “Uh hu,” quihtoa.
90. Quihtoa, “Hon eh eh,” quihtoa, “quipiya tiempos ompa ahmo tiyactoqueh.”
91. Quihtoa, “Por ahmo tiyactoqueh por hin forma.”
92. Quihtoa, “Porque tehhuan ompa titequitiah parejo.
93. Parejo tequitiah.”
94. Quihtoa, “Pero después,” quihtoa, “techhuihuicaltiah6 huan peuc techtamotiliya descomunios.”
95. Quihtoa, “Pos entonces timoquetzqueh.
96. Mejor ahmo tyohueh porque techhuicalticozqueh7.”
97. Quihtoa, “Axcan titequitih,” quihtoa, “occe cosa, cachi huehca,” quihtoa, “tyohueh.”
98. Quihtoa, “Pero ompa ahmo tei quihtoa.
99. Tehhuan tequitih,” quihtoa, “en cuestión de plantas.
100. Cuestión de cequin cositas,” quihtoa, “para in at ma oncac.
101. Ne plantas ma yetoz de mejor.”
102. Quihtoa, “Ahmo tyohueh titequitih por ticchihuatih mal obra.”
103. Quihtoa, “Huan tehhuan,” quihtoa, “timocomprometen, huan como ticsosteneros,” quihtoa,” tyohueh.
104. Tyohueh tehhuan mismo,” quihtoa.
105. Quihtoa, “Huan necchihuilia in favor,” quihtoa, “neh ahmo nicpiya centavos.
106. Pero nan nechchuili[c]an in favor,” quihtoa, “[ni]namechchiya ompa.”
107. “Ta can ahmo [quenamo].”
108. Quihtoa, “Tyohueh mochan,” quihtoa, “huan ticoa,” quihtoa, “ce cerita, huan ticadornaro in mesa.
109. Ti[c]talia,” quihtoa, “xochit.
110. Ticprenderoa,” quihtoa, “ne velita huan nin asientos,” quihtoa.
111. “Nin asientos nochi ne.
112. Como cuac ce padrino ticnamiqui,” quilia, “ne tech in mesa,” quihtoa, “para tehhuan timocehuizqueh,” quihtoa.
113. Quihtoa, “Huan tequititihueh rapido.”
114. Quihtoa, “Como nan nechchihuiliah in favor, quenamo.”
115. Quihtoa, “Huan tanahuati in presidente que ma quinahuati los demás, que ma ahmo quemah techhuicaltican por titequitizqueh occe viaje.
116. Pero ahmo,” quihtoa, “nechcastigaroa [techcastigaroa] un porquito más, eh.”
117. Quihtoa, “Pos bueno,” quihtoa, “entonces ompa tyohueh nihin tonalmeh, eh.”
118. Quihtoa, “Hin tonal titachihchihua,” quihtoa, “huan ompa tiyetoqueh,” quihtoa, “rápido.”
119. Melauh hualla.
120. Quilia in presidente, “Pos motachaa tepitzin oc todavia hasta tal día huallazqueh in tequitineh.
121. Que quinequih arreglaro ya,” quihtoa.
122. “De verás?” quihtoa.
123. “De ahmo, timitzmictitih.”
124. Quihtoa, “Ahmo hombre,” quihtoa, “nicnequi nicarreglaro,” quihtoa.
125. “Bueno.”
126. “Correcto, de verás?”
127. Chihchihuac in mesa ten tonal.
128. Quilico, chihchihuac in mesa, nochi bien adornada.
129. Quixoltalti in cerita huan pehuac huitza in mixti.
130. Duro.
131. Huitzeh ya.
132. Entonces pehuac quizacoh in rayos.
133. Tatecuiniaya8, eh, ne truenos fuertes.
134. Entonces quicahuili ce aguacero, pero bueno.
135. Que se entiende!
136. Huan zance moyohuallocoh tech in mesa, parejito nochi.
137. Ceppaza nochi tzictzitzin.
138. Nochi moyohualtihuetzi tech in ne, huan ne quiyiuhtoc fuerte.
139. Ne yehhuan mociuhuitoqueh [moihuihuitoqueh], eh.
140. De ait, se viaje quinahuatitiuzqueh9, quixtiquizqueh pero rollo de at yactoc, eh.
141. Ceppaza quinahualtitiuzqueh ne huan yahqueh, eh.
142. Quemah de ahi continuamente quiyiuhuaya parejo, eh.

“The Drunk” II

by Juan Mauro

English translation

1. Once there was a drunk who lived in the tavern.
2. He lived drinking in the tavern.
3. And then someone was collecting a contribution to pay for a Mass.
4. [The contribution] was to pay for the priest to say a Mass to bring rain because it had not rained in the town.
5. It had not rained.
6. So then many joined together and collected a contribution for the Mass.
7. It was so the priest would say a Mass so it might rain.
8. And that drunk drank, he drank, and he drank.
9. Well, one of the many [collecting for the Mass] said to him, “You, man, don’t you attend Mass?
10. Won’t you give a small contribution so the priest will say a Mass?
11. You are hindering us.”
12. [The drunk replied], “Uh.
13. Now you want rain.
14. Remember how it was when, yes, it really rained.
15. And you scolded the rain.
16. You made them stop [the rain].
17. Because you [wanted] them to stop the rain, the lightning bolts got angry with you.
18. That is why they no longer bring us rain.
19. The rain gods got angry because you scolded the rain.
20. Do not feel hurt by this now.
21. Rain [or] no rain is all the same to me.”
22. So then they got angry.
23. They went to tell the authorities.
24. They said, “Fulano there scolded us saying that we, who knows when, scolded [the rain], that we are to blame because we scolded the rain gods.
25. Then the rain gods became angry [and] stopped bringing us rain.”
26. “He scolded you?”
27. “Yes, he scolded us.”
28. “All right, send the police to bring him and put him in jail.”
29. They went to get the drunk.
30. They put in him jail.
31. There he was in jail.
32. The comandante said, “Pay your fines and you will get out.”
33. Pay your fine to get out.”
34. “I have nothing [with which to pay a fine].”
35. They went the next day to ask him, “What happened, did you or did you not come up with the money for your fine?”
36. “No,” he said, “but get me out of here now, and it will rain tomorrow at noon.
37. And if you do not get me out, there is going to be more sun.
38. It is going to get hotter.”
39. “All right, I must go tell Señor Presidente.”
40. [The comandante] went [to tell the Presidente].
41. The comandante said, “Señor Presidente, that prisoner told us to release him now, and it will rain tomorrow at noon.
42. And if they do not release him, it will get hotter.”
43. “Damn, it would be better if we burn him in a fire.
44. Well go on, bring him.”
45. They went and removed him from [jail].
46. “What do you have to say?”
47. “I do not have anything more to say.
48. Set me free now, and it will rain tomorrow at noon.
49. And if you do not set me free, it will get hotter.”
50. “Well, if it rains tomorrow, then you will go home.”
51. As for what that little man did [after they released him on his promise it would rain tomorrow], he packed his bag with clothes and left [home].
52. He went on and on and on.
53. Until he came to a forest.
54. It was getting dark.
55. He came upon a woman.
56. She asked, “Where are you going, my good man?
57. Where, my good man, are you going?”
58. “I go without any purpose because where I live they locked me up because I scolded them because they wanted to collect money to pay for a Mass so it might rain.
59. And I told them, ‘Now you cry because it does not rain.
60. When it rained, you scolded the rain.
61. So since you scolded the rain, the rain gods became angry and stopped bringing us rain.’
62. So that is why they locked me up.
63. And now I left [after saying that] tomorrow it will rain.
64. And it will not rain, [and] I cannot do anything about it.
65. So I left right away.
66. I fled.”
67. Then the woman said, “Do not run away anymore.
68. We shall go to your home and talk tomorrow.
69. Let us see what you will do.”
70. She took him, she took him, took him to her house.
71. She was the mother of the rain gods.
72. In a little while he heard thunder and saw lighting and heard more thunder.
73. And then there was a week of wind.
74. And a week of wind came.
75. A little boy came.
76. He was an angel.
77. He had bloody wounds all over, he was hurt all over from banging into the mountains, the rocks, the trees, the thorns, since he was one of the wind persons.
78. And in a little while came the brother of the wind.
79. He was a water person.
80. They were rain-men.
81. The other little boy was an angel who was cleansed by the water.
82. He was a rain god [quiyiuhuitzin].
83. One [of the little boys] said, “Mama, it appears a Christian is here from earth.”
84. “Yes, my children.
85. He passed through here.”
86. “Oh good, anyway we shall talk to him.”
87. They spoke the next day.
88. [One of the little boys] asked [the drunk], “What happened to you, sir?”
89. “They locked me up because I scolded the ones who were taking up a collection to pay for a Mass so that it might rain.
90. And I told them, ‘Now you cry because it does not rain, and when it rained you scolded the rain.
91. Since you scolded the rain, the rain gods got angry.
92. For that reason they do not bring us rain.’
93. For that reason they put me [in jail].
94. Now they are in a bad way.
95. Rain or no rain is all the same to me.
96. So then they locked me up, and I tricked them [by saying] ‘Let me go, and it will rain now at noon.’
97. And they let me out [of jail].
98. And I wanted it to rain today at noon.
99. And where can I go?
100. I do not know of anywhere [I can go].”
101. “Ah well, do not worry.
102. Go home right now.”
103. He only knew they pushed him in the face when he realized he was in his patio.
104. His wife said to him, “What did you bring?
105. You went far away and what did you bring?
106. The federales looked for you to kill you.
107. What if it is noon, the sun is shining noon and it does not rain?
108. You just tricked them.
109. [You just said]. ‘I’m going.’”
110. But those [rain gods] brought him and told him, “They must place a table decorated with flowers and they must light a candle where they were going to burn you.
111. And [there must be] an incense pot, an incense pot with copal, for filling the middle of the plaza with incense where they were going to burn you.
112. Place these things [in the middle of the plaza] at twelve o’clock sharp, and then we shall arrive lighting [up the plaza] as we come.”
113. That is what the rain gods told him.
114. Those men, who were the winds, were rain gods [rayitos].
115. “There, in the middle of the plaza, place that table decorated with flowers and light a candle, and with that we shall arrive lighting up the place with a rocket, bolts of lightning, and thunder.
116. And those who live in the valley should do this.
117. And as for those [living] on in the hills, they may stay where they are.
118. As to where the flash flood will take [those in the valley], if you do not tell them what to do, the flash flood will wash them away, it will wash them away.
119. So you go tell this to Señor Presidente.
120. ‘Señor Presidente, what is going on?
121. It is noon already.
122. It is not raining.
123. But wait a little bit.
124. Issue an order to those who live in the valley telling them what to do.
125. And [they must] immediately place [in the middle of the plaza] a table adorned with flowers, and a lighted candle and an incense pot smoking with copal.
126. Come also with flowers, light a rocket, but do it quickly before it is too late.
127. By noon on the dot.’”
128. [Señor President] went with the order to warn [the people of the town who lived in the valley].
129. The inspector [said], “Prepare for a big rainstorm that is coming here.”
130. “Who said?”
131. “Fulano, that crazy drunk.”
132. “It is not true, it is not true.”
133. “Oh good, then I will not issue the warning to you.”
134. On the dot of noon there was a windstorm, a whirlwind, and clouds, and all at once bolts of lightning flashed, there was lightning.
135. And there was no incense and there was no lighted candle.
136. There was a downpour, but a real downpour.
137. The storm washed away Christians, cattle, dogs, [and] pigs where they did not do what they were supposed to do.
138. Only those who lived in the hills survived.
139. The ones who remained in the hills, they are alive.
140. As for those who were not living in the hills, the water took them away, that flash flood did.
141. That cyclone.
142. This little old drunk, who was not worth anything, he was nothing special, he was like anyone else.
143. Since he did a favor for the rain gods, they helped him.
144. He earned a lot of money.
145. There it ended.

Nahuat transcription

1. Ce viaje ce borrachito zayoh nemia tech in cantina.
2. Por cantina zayoh tahuantinemia.
3. Huan entonces ne aqui10 quinechicohuaya nilimosnita para quixtahuazqueh misita.
4. Para quixtahualizqueh in señor curita para ma quichihua misita para ihcon hin ma quiyiuhui porque melac ahmo quiyiuhui tech in ne pueblo.
5. Ahmo quiyiuhuiyaya.
6. Entonces ne mocentalizqueh ne miaqeh huan quinechicoa, quinechicoa limosnita para quixtahuazqueh misita.
7. Ma quichihua in señor curita misa para ma quiyiuhui.
8. Huan ne borrachito quitanahuia, quitanahuia, quitanuahuia.
9. Bueno, ce de tanto quilia, “Tehhua no hombre, tehhua ahmo timisa caqui?
10. Tehhua ahmo titemaca niyo limosnita para ma quichihuati misita in señor curita?
11. Xa teh titechzalarotoc.”11
12. “Uh.
13. Axcan nanquinequih ma quiyiuhui.
14. Xiquelnamican ihcon quemah den melac ne quiyiuhuia.
15. Huan nancahhuaqueh12 quiyiuhuitzin.
16. Nanquitatamiliqueh.
17. Nan, como tatamiliqueh quiyiuhhuatzin, entonces in rayitos cualanqueh.
18. Por eso axcan ahcmo techcualcuilia in quiyiuhuitzin.
19. Yeh por nancahhuaqueh in quiyiuhtzin, cualanqueh in rayitos.
20. Es que axcan ahmo xmoicococan.
21. Para nehhua quiyiuhuiz, ahmo quiyiuhuiz, neh igual.”
22. Entonces ne cualanqueh.
23. Entonces yahqueh huan quiliah autoridad.
24. Quiliah, “Fulano nepa techahhua que ahmo, que tehhuan, quien sabe cuando ticahhuaqueh, que tehhuan ticpiyah culpa porque ticahhuacui quiyiuhtzin.
25. Entonces cualanqueh in rayitos por eso ahmo techcualcuiliah quiyiuhtzin.”
26. “Namechahhua?”
27. “Eh he, techahhuac.”
28. “Ándale, ma yahcan policias ma cuiti, ma calaquiti in carcel.”
29. Cuitoh ne borrachito.
30. Calaquitoh in carcl.
31. Por ompa yetoc ne carcel.
32. Quilia comandante, “Xiconsequiros in mocrrectivos para tiquizaz.
33. Conseguiros momulta para tiquizaz.”
34. “Ahmo tei nicpiya.”
35. Occeppa yahqueh imoztica, quilia, “Ton pasaroa, timoconsequiroa para momulta o ahmo timoconsequiroa?”
36. “Ahmo,” quihta, “pero xinechquixtacan axcan huan mozta a las doce quiyiuhuiz.
37. Huan den ahmo nechquixtiah, cachi más tonati.
38. Cachi mas totonic oncac.”
39. “Bueno, ma niquiliti Señor Presidente.”
40. Yahque.
41. Comandante quilia, “Senor Presidente, quihtoa ne preso quimaquixtican axcan huan mozta a las doce quiyiuhuiz.
42. Huan de ahmo quixtia, cachi totonic.”
43. “Puta pos cachi timiquitih más de tit.
44. Pos ándale, xcuiti.”
45. Quixtitoh.
46. “Toni tiquihtoa?”
47. “Ahmo tei más niquihtoa.
48. Nechcahcahuacan axcan huan mozta quiyiuhuiz a las doce.
49. Huan de ahmo nechcahcahua, cachi más totonic huitza.”
50. “Bueno, si tacan quiyiuhuiz mozta, xyo mochan.”
51. Toni quichihuac ne tacatzin, cuihcuiquixic13 nimaleta de tazal huan yahque.
52. Yohui huan yohui huan yohui huan yohui.
53. Hasta de cuauhtah.
54. Tayohuatoc.
55. Quinamic ce cihuatzin.
56. Quilia, “Can tyo buen hombre?
57. Can tyo buen hombre?”
58. “Neh nyo zan elihuiz porque ne tal parte nechtzactoya porque niquinahhua porque nicnequia [quinnequiah] ma quinmacan limosnita para quixtahuazqueh misita para ma quiyiuhuiz.
59. Huan neh niquinilique, ‘Axcan choca por ahmo quiyiuhui.
60. Cuando quiyiuhuia, cahhuaqueh quiyiuhuitzin.
61. Entonces quemeh cahhuac quiyiuhuitzin, cualaniqueh rayitos huan ahcmo techcuililiyah quiyiuhuitzin.’
62. Entonces por hon techtzactoyah [nechtzactoyah].
63. Huan axcan niquincacahua por mozta quiyiuhuiz.
64. Huan ahmo quiyiuhuiz, neh ahmo tei nicchiuhque.
65. Entonces ahorita nyo.
66. Niccholoti.”
67. Entonces quihto ne cihuatzin, “Ahmo xicholoti.
68. Tyohueh mochan huan mozta timononotzah.
69. A ver tiquittazqueh quenin ticchihuaz.”
70. Cuiyac, cuiyac, cuiyac ne ichan.
71. Ta ca mama de rayitos.
72. A poco ratito caqui taticuini huan tapetani, taticuini [tatzini]14 huan tapetani ihcon, ichon.
73. Hasta huallaz ce semana de ehecatzin.
74. Icuin hualla ce semana de ehecatzin.
75. Hualla ce oquichpiltzin.
76. Ce angel, vaya.
77. Nochi tacococol nochi za ezti, nochi tacocol momacatihualla tech tepemeh, tech tetzin, tech cuauhtzin, tech huitzti momacatihualla pues yeh in ehecatzin tacah.
78. Bueno a poco ratito huitza occe hermano de ehecatzin.
79. Huitza ya ompa atzin.
80. Quiyiuhuitzin tacah.
81. Occe oquichpiltzin angelito chipactzin ya in atzin.
82. Yeh quiyiuhuitzin.
83. Quilia, “Mama, nez ompon yetoc ce taltcipac cristiano.”
84. “Eh he hijitos.
85. Icuin quipasaro.”
86. “Ah bueno, todos modos tehhuan timonotzah.”
87. Imoztica quinonotzah.
88. Quihta, “Toni mitzpasaro señor?”
89. “Icuin nechtzactoya porque niquinahhuac nen aquin quicentalia in limosnita para quixtahuazqueh in misita entonces para ma quiyiuhui.
90. Huan neh niquiniliqueh, ‘Axcan choca por ahmo quiyiuhui huan cuando quiyiuhuia cahhahuiah quiyiuhtzin.
91. Ihcon quemeh quiahhuaqui quiyiuhtzin entonces in rayitos cualanqueh.
92. Por eso ahmo techcuiquiliah in quiyiuhuitzin.
93. Ca hon [ahmo] techcualcuilia.
94. Axcan pos mojoderocan.
95. Quiyiuhuiz, ahmo quiyiuhuiz para neh igual.
96. Entonces por nechtzacuaqueh huan nihin [niquin-]cahcayauhqueh que axcan hin a las doce quiyiuhui huan ma nechquixtia.
97. Huan nechquixtilique.
98. Huan nicnequi axcan quiyiuhuiz a las doce.
99. Huan can nyaz?
100. Ahmo tei nicmati.”
101. “Ah pos ahmo xicpiya cuidado.
102. Ahorita tyo mochan.”
103. Zayoh quimatican que icuin quixcatopeuqueh15 icuac yeh quimac cuenta yeh yetoc tech ipatio.
104. Quilia nicihauh, “Ton ticuico?
105. Tyaca ya huehca huan toni ticuito?
106. Nican mitztemoah in federales, mitzmiquititih.
107. Que tal a los doce tonatoc huan ahmo quiyiuhui?
108. Ciyoh tiquincacayauhtiuh.16
109. [Tiquilia], ‘Ahorita nyo.’”
110. Pero ne cual[cu]iliqueh huan quihtah, “Campa mitztatizquia17 ma quitalican ce mesa xochillo huan ce velita ma xotato.
111. Huan ce popoxcaxit, popoxcaxit ca copaltzin ma popocato ne tahco plaza campa mitztatazquiah.
112. Ma motalican al punto a las doce, huan entonces tehhuan tiahcizqueh ticxotacotiahci.”
113. Ihcon que quihtoqueh in rayitos.
114. Tacah in ehecat rayitos.
115. “Ompa ne tahco plaza ma quitalican nihon mesita xochillo huan velita xotatoz huan por si ompa tehhuan tiahcizqueh ticxotaltitatih ce cohetito, relampago huan trueno.
116. Huan lo que ten viviroa, calyetoloc atahuit ma chichihuacan.
117. Huan lo que den loma, ompa ma yetocan.
118. Ta can quincuica creciente18, ahmo tiquilizquizque ma chihuazqueh, ma quinhuican creciente, ma quinhuican.
119. Ihcon tiquilitiahci19 Señor Presidente.
120. ‘Señor Presidente, toni pasaroa.
121. Las doce ya
122. Ahmo quiyiuhuiz.
123. Ma nechchacan tepitzin.
124. Ce xtali ce mandadito lo que viveroa tech in atahuit, ma chichihuacan.
125. Huan talican inmediatamente ce mesita xochillo, huan ce velita ma xotatoc, huan ce popoxcaxitzin popocatoc ca copaltzin.
126. Huitza no xochihuatzin, quixotaltitecozque20 ce in cohetito, pero rapido, antes de panoa in hora.
127. Al punto de las doce.’”
128. Yahque ce mandado nepa nahuatito.
129. Ce inspector, “Xmachihuacan nican huitza creciente.”
130. “Aconi quihtoa?”
131. “Fulano, loco borracho.”
132. “Ahmo melac, ahmo melac.”
133. “Ah bueno, neh ahmo namechnahuatia.”
134. Pos apunto a las doce, moformaro ce ehecat, ce malacaehecat huan mixti, huan zanceppa tapetanico, ompon yetoc in relampago.
135. Huan ta que ahmo tei popoxtzin huan ahmo tei vela.
136. Ce aguacero pero aguacero.
137. Cristianos, cuahcuehmeh, itzcuimeh, pitzomeh campa ahmo ma chiuhqueh, quinhuiac.
138. Zayoh mocauhqueh libre tech in loma, lo quen ten viviroaya.
139. Ompa lo que can calyetoya tech in loma, yehhuan mocauhqueh libres.
140. Huan lo que ten ahmo, quinhuiac in ne at, ne creciente.
141. Ne ciclon.
142. Nihon catca pobrecito borracho, que ahmo tei valoraya, cualquiera catca, como cualquiera.
143. Como yahqueh a favor de rayitos, quipalehuiqueh in rayitos.
144. Quitanic miac tomin.
145. Ompa tamic.

.