[cami'bbll] the ancient LITERATURE OF AMERICA 63 



among various tribes of British Columbia and others of the United States, 

 Mexico, Central and South America. The drama is part of their religion, 

 ixnd when they act they perform an act of devotion, although it is very 

 hard for a Avell-trained Christian to see it in that light. Perhaps the 

 monk who takes the part of Satan at Oberammergau, like the Jesuit, 

 does it ad majorem (jlor'nim Dei, or in plain English, to the greater glory 

 of God. Frequently these dramatic representations constitute the initi- 

 ation of young members of tribes into the mysteries of their religion, 

 answering to the old Orphic rites and the arcana of Eleusis in ancient 

 Greece. 



Some of the Spanish ecclesiastics composed miracle plays and mys- 

 teries, and farces too, for the benefit of their converts in Mexico and 

 Central America ; but the drama was there before them. The Comedy 

 Ballet of Guëguënce, written in the Nicaraguan jargon of the Aztec, and 

 edited and transla ted by Dr. Brinton in its present form, belongs to post- 

 Columbian days, but is evidently a rehash of an old aboriginal work, full 

 of coarse, rough Rabelaisian humour. In his Aboriginal Authors, Dr. 

 Brinton says : " The characters are a wily old rascal Guëguënce and his 

 two sons, the one a chip of the old block, the other a bitter commentator 

 on the family failings. They are brought before the governor for enter- 

 ing his province without a permit ; but, by bragging and promises, the 

 foxy old man succeeds both in escaping punishment and in effecting a 

 marriage between his scapegrace son and the governor's daughter. The 

 interest is not in the plot, which is trivial, but in the constant play on 

 words and in the humour of the anything but venerable parent." 



A work by an anonymous aboriginal Shakspeare is the Quiche 

 drama entitled Eabinal Achi, which, whatever the account of its present 

 form may be, plainl}' belongs to pre-Columbian days. Once more 1 quote 

 from Dr. Brinton : " Eabinal Achi is a warrior who takes captive a dis- 

 tinguished foe Canek, and brings him before the ruler of Rabinal, King 

 Hobtoh. The fate of the prisoner is immediate death and he knows it, 

 but his audacity and bravery do not fail him. He boasts of his warlike 

 exploits and taunts his captors, like an Iroquois in his death song, and 

 his enemies listen with respect. He even threatens the king and has to 

 be restrained from attacking him. As his end draws near he asks to 

 drink from the royal cup and eat from the royal dish ; it is granted. 

 Again, he asks to be clothed in the royal robe ; it is brought and put 

 about him. Once more he makes a request and it is to kiss the virgin 

 mouth of the daughter of the king, and dance a measure with her • as 

 the last sign of his death and his end.' Even this is conceded, and one 

 might think that it was his uttermost petition. But no : he asks one 

 year's grace wherein to bid adieu to his native mountains. The king- 

 hears this in silence and Canek disappears ; but, returning in a moment, 

 he scornfully inquires whether they supposed he had run away. He 



