146 



INSTITUTE OF SOCIAL ANTHROPOLOGY — PUBLICATION NO. 



as it is evident that they contain much literary 

 echo and perhaps are almost entirely derived 

 from literary sources. As considerable por- 

 tions of the relatos were secured from Agustin 

 Rangel, assistant on the project, who partici- 

 pated in both dances in 1940-41, it was felt the 

 expense of securing the complete relatos was 

 not warranted. 



The following is the relato of Agustin 

 Rangel for the ncgrito dance (spelling as given, 

 but punctuation added) : 



First act: Music, followed by a soyig 



Tu tienes! oh! Niiio, las adelfas y las Rosas, 



Ann en boton, con purpura brillante. 



Las Azuceiias puras y olorosas 



Colores en su tallo vacilante, 



Las amapolas frescas y poniposas, 



Se Abren, Seiior, bajo tu mano amante. 



Y del tomillo en las pequenas ramas 

 Mil Acres hermosisimas derramas. 



Second act: Music, followed bij a song 

 Second caminata, or ivalking figure 



(during which several speak; Agustin's 



part is as follows:) 

 Bellisimo Nino de amor y de ternura, 

 Divina criatura, 

 Te doy mi cariiio . . . 



(Second speaking i)art:) 



Haces crecer el Cedro en las montaiias 



Y el sauce a la orrilla del torrente, 

 Do nacen los helechos y las caiias 



Y las yervas mil en la estacion ardiente 

 De la tierra fecundas las Entrafias 

 Con el Calor y el agua dulcemente 



Y asi los campos de verdor revistas 

 Tornando alegres los que fueron tristes. 



Third act: Music, followed by a song 



Con gusto y con amor a ofrecer passemos 

 Felices ya seremos nacido el Salvador. 



(The folloiving is sung as they pretend to make offer- 

 ings) : 



Ante tus plantas postrado 

 Te ofrece aqui este negrito 

 Eecibe me niiio amado 

 Este fino Silloncito. 



Fourth act: A dance 



Fifth act: Music, followed by a song and the "farewell" 



Adios, Nino Santo, 

 Con suelo y amor; 

 Escucha mi canto 

 Nino Salvador. 

 Benedice toditos, 



Divino Creador. 

 Se van los negritos 

 Y llevan tu amor. 



TKANSLAllON LINE BY LINE 



Thou hast, oh Child, the rosebays and the roses. 



Still in bud with brilliant purple. 



The white lilies, pure and fragrant, 



Coloi-s in their waving stems. 



The calm and pompous poppies, 



They open, Lord, beneath Thy loving hand. 



And from the small branches of the thyme 



Seatterest Thou a thousand beautiful blossoms. 



Act J 



Lovely Cliild of love and of tenderness. 



Divine creature, 



I give you my love. 



Thou causest the cedar in the mountains to grow. 



And the willow at the brink of the torrent. 



Where the bracken and the canes grow. 



And the thousand herbs of the warm season, 



Prom the entrails of the fecund earth 



With the heat and the sweet water. 



And thus the fields you dress anew with verdure, 



Turning gay those who were sad. 



Act 3 



With pleasure and with love we go to make 



offerings, 

 Happy that now the Savior has been born for us. 

 Prostrate before your feet 

 This ncgrito offers Thee, 

 Receive from me, beloved Child, 

 This fine little saddle. 



Act 5 



Farewell, Holy Child, 



Comfort and love, 



Hear my song. 



Child Savior. 



Bless everyone. 



Divine Creator. 



The negritos go 



And take with them your love. 



Fragments of other relatos remembered by 

 Agustin are the following (given in English) : 



The Holy Child is born in a beautiful arcade in 



Bethlehem. 

 I have come to see your bii'th and to adore Thee. 

 Guided by a star, the negritos have come to 

 witness the birth. 

 (Following this each told where he came from and 

 the gift he brought: A little burro, a horse, a saddle, 

 a dog, and different playthings.) 



The main part of the relato is recited by a 

 person known as el letra and another called 

 el scgundo. These two .stand at the head of the 



