152 



INSTITUTE OF SOCIAL ANTHROPOLOGY — PUBLICATION NO. 



Musica 



Ya nos retiremos, 

 Del lugar Sagrado; 

 Llovando nos vamos, 

 !0h! Jesus amado. 



TKANSLATION 



Do not doubt it, well you know it, 



My respectable ancients, 



The 25th of the month 



Of December in the location 



There below the high heavens 



Has been born on this earth 



Our Lord who takes precedence. 



Instantly the shepherds. 



Knowing of the great portent, 



Started quickly at that moment 



To visit the Lord. 



Leaving the fields and the cattle 



As well as their cabins; 



They went through vifoods and mountains, 



And with growing contentment, 



Went to see the birth 



Of the beloved Child Jesus. 



When eight days were counted 



From the birth of the beloved Child, 



Likewise were made neighborly 



The true union [meaning unclear]. 



Veteran comrades, 



Remember the sixth of January 



Feast of the Epiphany, 



That happy day was glorious. 



From the beautiful morning star 



Came the manifestation 



Of the Child, God and Lord; 



For this with all love 



We go to adore Him. 



1st walking interval. Song 



Go forth hastily 

 Singing the glories; 

 To the Child raising 

 Songs of love. 



1st relation 



Also the Kings of the East 



March at this moment; 



Of God the Child at the birthplace 



To see my portent. 



Divine Light guided them 



And they went to the adoration. 



On such a happy occasion. 



They went singing the glories. 



Offering — Song 



Pass to the amount [meaning unclear] 

 With pleasure and love, 

 Offer to the Child 

 Love and consolation. 



The Offering 



I see Thee on humble straw 

 And I prostrate myself instantly, 

 I adore Thee, loving Child, 

 And I offer Thee these little shells. 

 (The dance is asked for when the 

 offerings are ended.) 



Da nee 



Well, we all are pleased, 



Now we have seen your birth, 



And all are pleased 



Because we will be happy. 



Child God, beautiful portent, 



Together we all go 



To put an end to the visit. 



Moreover in our hearts 



All faithful we carry Thee. 



Never, never forget us, 



Today all tell Thee, 



Until the coming year. 



But all with joy. 



Now we have seen your marvels; 



Oh, little Child Savior, 



Permit us great Lord, 



That with pleasure we dance for Thee 



Some joyous quadrilles. 



In such happy moments, 



I say "farewell companions." 



Let the instruments play 



And the lowland tunes . . . [Meaning 

 not clear — possibly abajenos is meant, 

 not abajemos, that is, "tunes of the 

 low country."] 



After the song, music is played 



Now we take ourselves away 

 From the Sacred place. 

 Weeping [?] we go, 

 Oh! beloved Jesus. 



The style of delivery of these relatos was 

 highly declamatory and monotonous. The 

 words were spoken in a level tone without 

 inflection or other interpretation of their 

 meaning. 



The sense of a few of the other individual 

 relatos was secured. One dancer said he was 

 very old, so old he couldn't walk on level ground. 

 If he couldn't walk on level ground, how was he 

 going to walk downhill ? Nevertheless, he was 

 going to the place of the Holy Child anyway. 

 Another said that if he got tired walking, he 

 would go on his knees to visit the Child, even 

 though they were scratched. Yet another com- 

 plained of his high squeaky voice, but even if 

 his voice gave out, he still vi^ould go to the Holy 



