G>500 (^mmll Hmvmitg Jifcat^g THE GIFT OF ,"%UvU3*>VW^ Ti ySK/M "WVJU^ICU^O.. A..?L?.0(o\0. 9? '^ nk'. 678-2 BULLETIN UnSIIY OF NEW no WHOLE NO. 45 Language Series Vol. I., No. 1 LOS COMANCHES AURELIO M. ESPINOSA, A. M. ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO DECEMBER. 1907 Published Qaarterly by the University Cornell University Library The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924027805146 LOS GOMANCHES A SPANISH HEROIC PLAY OF THE YEAR SEVENTEEN HUNDRED AND EIGHTY I I Mi All V Cornell University Library PQ 6500.A1C72 Comanches: 3 1924 027 805 146 CRITICAL EDITION BY AURELIO M. ESPINOSA, A*. M., PROFESSOR OF ROMANCE LANGUAGES. UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO Oi -TO MY FATH E: R THIS STUDY IS AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED PREFACE This edition of Los Comanches is intended as a contri- bution to the study of the language and history of New Mexico. Though much has been written concerning the his- tory and language of our Territory, much remains to be done. Many documents are almost inaccessible, in spite of the diligent labors of many of our New Mexico students. It is hoped that this study may be of interest and utility to the student, whether the history or the language of New 'Mexico are being studied, and that it may inspire New Mexicans to study their history, a history so romantic and so full of inter- est and importance, if we are to investigate history in a critical manner.^ So rare are many of the documents, dealing with the early history of New Mexico, that very few people know, that our early annals, the conquest and settlement of New Mexico by Juan de Ofiate, in 1598 (22 years before the Pil- grim fathers landed at Plymouth Rock ! ) are written in the verse of the language of Castile, and indeed the very exist- ence of this famous epic poem, is known only to a few.^ The original plan was simply to give to New Mexico scholars an accessible text of our play, but the interest which many of our New Mexico friends have shown in the work has urged us to go into a further study, giving an account of the Comanche depredations in New Mexico and other facts of great interest and importance, which have to do with our play. In the notes, the author was often tempted to enter into philological discussions, but he has endeavored to avoid thern, since all matters touching New Mexican Spanish dialect will 'The full title of this famous New Mexico Epic, is, Historia de la Nueva Mexico, Del CapitS,n Gaspar de VillagrS,. , It is in 34 Cantos, and treats of the geography, conquest, and early settlers of New Mex- ico. Vide, Bancroft, History of Arizona and New Mexico, pages 112-115. This priceless gem, whether one views it from a historical or a literary standpoint, should be known to all New Mexicans, thousands of whom can read it in the original Spanish of the Golden Age, and it is my intention to putlish it, with an English translation in the near future. The original edition was published at Alcaia de Henares in 1610, or five years after the appearance of Part I of Cer- vantes Don Quixote. 6 Bulleiin Unmersity of Ne^ Mexico [Lang. ser. Vol. i be treated in detail in a forthcoming study, The Phonology and Morphology of New Mexican Spanish. In closing, the pleasant duty remains to me, to thank all those who generously assisted me in my work, especially Mr. Amado Chaves, of Santa Fe, N. M., the possessor of the ms. of Los Comanches, who kindly allowed me to publish his ms; Mr. Eusebio Chacon of Trinidad, Colo., who placed at my disposal, two most rare and valuable works concerning the early history of New Mexico, namely. Pine's "Noticias histo- ricas y estadisticas sobre la antigua provincia del Nuevo Mex- ico," and the Alvarez ms. ; and Father F. M. Troy of Old Albuquerque, who kindly offered me his assistance in looking through the Old Church Archi^'es of the Church of San Felipe de Neri. A. M. E. University of New Mexico, December, 1907. -BIBLIOGRAPHY OF AUTHORITIES QUOTED Alvarez, Manuel, ms. of New Mexico History of first half of the XlXth century. Bancroft, H. H., History of Arizona and New Mexico,, 13th volume of his History of the Pacific States, San Fran- cisco, 1888. Bello-Cuervo, Gramatica de la lengua Castellana, tenth edi- tion, Paris, 1907. Chaves, Amado, The Defeat of the Comanches in 1717, Santa Fe, 1906. Cuervo, R. J., Apuntaciones Criticas sobre el lenguaje bogo- tano, fifth edition, Paris, 1907. Encina, Juan del, Teatro Completo, Madrid, 1893. Echegaray, Jose, El Poder de la Impotencia, edition of A. M. Espinosa, Boston, 1906. -, El Gran Galeoto (A. M. Espinosa), Bos- ton, 1903. Gramatica, Castellana, Real Academia Espafiola, Madrid, 1900. Haines, Helen, History of New Mexico, New York, 1891. Hills, E. C, New Mexican Spanish, in Publications of the Modern Language* Association of America, XXI, 3, 1906. Larned, J. N., History for Ready Reference, 5 vols., Spring- field, Mass., 1905. Lummis, C. F., A New Mexico David, New York, 1891. Marden, C. C, The Phonology of the Spanish Dialect of Mexico City, Baltimore, 1896. Mira de Mesqua, Comedia famosa del esclavo del demonio, edition of M. A. Buchanan, Baltimore, 1905. Mooney, James, Calendar History of the Kiowa, in the 17th report of the Bureau of Ethnology, Washington, 1896. 8 Bulletin Uni-versity of Nem Mexico [Lan?- ^ct- vol. i Pidal, R. Menendez, Manual elemental de Gramatica His- torica Espaiiola, Madrid, 1905. Pietsch, Karl, The Spanish Particle He, in Modern Philology, Chicago, 1904. Pino, Pedro. B., Noticias Historicas y Estadisticas de la an- tigua provincia del Nnevo Mejico, Cadiz 1812, adicion- adas por .\ntonio Barreiro en 1839; y ultimamente ano- tadas por el Lie. J. .\. Escudero, Mexico, 1849. Poema del Cid, edition of R. Menendez Pidal, Madrid, 1900. Poema de Fernan Goncalez, edition of C. C. Marden, Madrid, 1904. Prince, L- B., Plistory of New Mexico, Kansas City, 1883. Ramsay, M. M.. A Text-Book of Modern Spanish, New York, 1894. Records, Ecclesiastical, since 1706, of Church of San Felipe de Neri, Old Albuquerque, N. M. Torres y Gomez, Gramatica historico-comparada de la lengua castellana, Madrid, 1899. Villagra, Caspar de, Historia de la Nueva Mejico, Alcala, 1610; (new edition by the Museo Nacional, Mexico, 1900). INTRODUCTION I. THE COMANCHE INDIANS. The Comanches are a tribe of American Indians, usually classified as belonging to the Shoshonean family. When first known early in the 18th century, they occupied and roamed throughout a region extending from the sources of the Colo- rado river on the north to the Arkansas and Missouri rivers on the east, and south to New Mexico and Texas, and even as far as Durango, Mexico. According to their tra- ditions, they came from the west, gradually pushing out other Indian tribes, until with other Indians, which they subdued, they came to occupy the region just mentioned. In their lan- guage, they called themselves, nauni (live people). The Kan- sas called them Padoucas, a name adopted by the French, and the Spaniards called them, Comanches or Cumanchis.-' The Comanches are first heard of in the beginning of the 18th century. In 1719 the French under Dustine visited them, and. in 1724 Bourgemont found some Comanche bands in the head waters of the Platte and Kansas river^. The first ap- pearance in history of the Comanches, however, was in New Mexico in 1716, when during Governor Martinez' absence in western New Mexico, where he was conducting an expedition against the Moquis, they attacked, with the help of the Yutas, Taos and the Tehua towns. Their forces were defeated by Captain Serna and most of the Comanches and Yutas were taken prisoners.^ From this first appearance in New Mexico in 1716 until the middle of the XlXth century, the Comanches were the terrible foe of the Nevv Mexicans. Only two years after this first appearance and defeat the Comanches were again committing depredations in New Mexico, and Governor Valverde marched against them in 1719, with a force of 105 Spaniards and many Indians. He explored in this expedition, Kansas and Colorado, but was unable to punish the enemy. ^ 'In New Mexican Spanish, this is usually pronounced, cumanchi. For the change of the final e to i, vide, E. C. Hills, New Mexican Spanish, page 712, (3). 'Vide Bancroft, History of Arizona and New Mexico, pages 234-235. ''Bancroft, History of Arizona and 'New Mexico, page 236. 10 Buaetin Unvoerstty of New Mexico [L^ng. ser. Vol. i No important attacks of the Comanches are recorded for five years, but in 1724, they mercilessly attacked the Apaches at Jicarilla, forced them to give up half of their women and children, burned the place, and killed all but 69 men, two women and three boys.^ For more than 20 years after this no definite accounts are recorded concerning the Comanches, but it is probable that their guerilla warfare was continued. In 1746 they made a raid on Pecos, killing 12 persons, and other maurauding ex- peditions were ' conducted against Galisteo and other small settlements. This created a popular clamor for a campaign against the Comanches, and in 1747, Governor Codallos with 500 soldiers and allied Indians, surprised them near Abiquiii, killed 107, and captured 206 of their numbers, and 1,000 horse. The campaign was continued with vigor and in 1748, the governor defeated the Comanches again, near Pecos.* Two months after this last expedition, Governor Codallos gave a friendly reception to 600 Comanches, at Taos, on their assurances that they had not taken part in these wars, but during the same year, a junta was held at Santa Fe, at the viceroy's orders, to determine whether or not, the Comanches should be allowed to attend the Taos fairs. All admitted the treachery of the Comanche, but since, they always brought meat, skins, horses, etc., to Taos to trade, and since their coming to Taos, would bring them under Christian influence, it was decided, that they should be allowed to attend the fairs.* The Comanches, however, continued their depredations, making a raid on Galisteo, their favorite place for attack. In 1751, Governor Cachupin marched against them, burned a "tular" where they concealed themselves, captured 44 and killed 101 of them. These unimportant defeats did not drive the Comanches away, and their attacks on the small settle- ments did not cease. In 1760 they made a raid on Taos, killed many men and carried off 50 women. This created a general indignation against the dreaded foe and Governor Valle organized a strong force to punish them. He marched nearly 200 leagues, but failed to accomplish his purposes. A year later, they returned to Taos, just as if nothing at all had happened, for the purpose 'Bancroft, ut supra, page 239. ' "Vide Bancroft, ut supra, page 249. No- 1. I90ri Espinosa—Los Comanches 1 1 of trading, but they were not admitted. In December of the same year, however, they returned in large numbers, insisting on trading privileges. Governor Urrisola hastened to Taos with a small force and after many wrangles and quarrelsome negotiations, a desperate battle ensued, where 400 of the Co- manche warriors were left dead on the field.^ This victory and terrible defeat of the Comanches at Taos was thought to be conclusive, but the Comanches were by no means con- quered. In 1771 Governor Mendinueta concluded a treaty with the Comanches, and urged the people to observe the conditions of the treaty, lest the Comanches would again begin their depredations. We do not know definitely, how long this treaty was observed, but the Comanches were attacking the Spanish settlements again in 1776 or earlier. In 1777 they were routed, together with their Apache allies, by Governor Mendinueta, and 30 of them killed. A most merciless attack on Tome in 1777, however, was one of the most terrible and brutal raids of the Comanches, that has been recorded.^ I have no account of the attack and the horrible massacre of Tome other than the narrative of Lummis, which I suppose, is correct; but in the records of the Church of San Felipe in Old Albuquerque, there is found among the old burial records, a brief narrative of this merciless attack, to- gether with the names of the persons buried, by the Franciscan friar of Old Albuquerque who went down to Tome to bury the dead. The record reads thus : "En este libro de Difuntos de esta Parroquia de Sn Phelipe Neri de Albuquerque, Diosesises de Durango, en veinte y seis dias de mes de mayo de mil sete- sientos setenta y siete anos, di sepultura (sagrada?) en la cap- ilia de nuestra Sa. de la Consepcion de Tome alos siguientes, a Jose Miguel Pino" [Here follows a long list of the dead, etc., numbering 21 and including two members of the Pino family.] The last words of the record read thus: "Todos los muertos murieron sin resebir los (ultimos?) sacramentos, por la biolencia de sus muertes que fue a manos de los enemigos Cumanches, aunque acaecio que el dia anterior se avian con- ^Vlde Bancroft, ut supra, page 257. ^Prince and Haynes, merely mention this, while Bancroft says nothing about it. Lummis, (vide, A New Mexico David, pages 94- 1 (JO), has a complete account, but does not mention the sources of his narrative. 12, Bulletin Uni-oersity of Ne'W Mexico [Lang. ser. Vol. i fesado y comulgado en cumplimiento de Nuestra Sta. Madre Yglesia, y para qe conste lo firme en (dicho?) dia, mes y ano ut supra. Fr. Andres Garcia." It was after this massacre of the people at Tome at the hands of the Comanches, when not a person of the village was left to tell the tale, and numerous other attacks on the smaller Spanish villages that the inhabitants of New Mexico, became inflamed with indignation against the Comanches and the expedition of 1777 under the command of Don Carlos F'ernandez, which furnished the subject matter of the play Los Comanches (vide, II.) was planned. This is evidently the same expedition and victory over the Comanches, told by Mr. Amado Chaves, (vide, Amado Chaves, The Defeat of the Comanches), but the date is 1777 not 1717. Mr. Chaves states that the commanders and leaders of the expedition were Don Juan de Padilla, Carlos Fernandez and Pedro Pino. This may be a true account, but according to Alvarez (vide ms., pages 19-20) the leader in the battle was Don Carlos, presumably, Don Carlos Fernandez, and the same leader ap- pears as the commander of the Spanish troops in the play Los Comanches. According to the Alvarez ms. (vide supra) and also as Mr. Chaves^ states, this famous battle of Don Carlos and defeat of the Comanches took place near Las Orejas del Conejo, between el arroyo Don Carlos and the Colorado river, i. e., on the Staked Plains near the sources of the Colorado river. The Comanches were surprised by the Spaniards in the early morning, and according to Alvarez, the battle lasted all day long.^ The defeat of the Comanches was terrible, and hundreds were taken prisoners and brought to Santa Fe. It is the story of this disastrous defeat that furnishes the subject matter for the play Los Comanches. The account of Mr. Chaves (if the date is corrected), the narrative of Alvarez in manuscript and the story as narrated in Los Comanches are •the only accounts I know of this battle. It was thought that this defeat would forever end the Comanche depredations in New Mexico, but this was not the case. The Comanches who fled and escaped from the battle of Don Carlos in 1777 (or 1778) informed their comrades of the terrible disaster, and the Comanches gathered from all 'Vide, Aipadq Chaves, ut supra, 7 and 9. '^Alvarez ms., page 20, "Se dice que la batalla dur6 desde cosa de las dlez de la maiiana hasta la oraci6n:" No. 1, 1907] Espinosa—Los Comanches 13 parts for revenge. Early in 1778, Juan Bautista de Anza, a native of Sonora, and a man well versed in Indian affairs, be- came political and military governor of New Mexico. Hear- ing of new raids by the Comanches his first military enterprise was a vigorous campaign in 1779 against them. He marched north and east for some 300 miles, with a force of 645 men. He met the enemy in a fierce struggle which ended in disaster for the Comanches. Here, the famous Comanche chief Cuerno Verde (who appears in Los Comanches) was killed, together with his eldest son, four chiefs, his higii-priest and 32 famous warriors.-' This ended the Comanche troubles for all time. After this defeat, no important attacks on New Mexican villages are recorded. So much for the history of the Comanches in New Mexico. We will now give an extract from Pino's work (vide Bibliography), which gives a good idea of their man- ners and customs. CAPlTUIvO DECIMO QUINTO OF' PINO's WORK^ PAGES 82-85.' Sec. I. Naciones de Gentiles que rodean'las Provincias de Nuevo Mexico, Etc. Es imposible poder enumerar las diversas naciones y su total de individuos de cada una de las que rodean la parte que habitamos. Al principio de aquel descubrimiento, se dieron a conocer por los nombres de Piros, Queres Tiguas, Sufiis, Gemes, Picuris, Pecos, Thaos, Theguas, Thanos, dando algunas el nombre a varios pueblos de la provincia, como se advierte en el capitulo de la poblacion. Despues se han descubierto, entre otras, las siguientes : Apaches, Gilenos, gente traicionera cruel, ladrona y siempre en cueros. Idem Laneros, lo mismo. Idem mescaleros, no tan malos. Idem Carlanes, tampoco son tan malos como los Gilenos ; andan vestidos y son muy corpulentos. Idem Lipanes, muy guerreros y diestros en el manejo del fusil. Todos son Apaches con estos diferentes nombres provinciales, aunque jamas fijan residencia ni sociedad. Llamparicas ; quiere decir en su lengua, come yerbas, Los 'Vide Bancroft, page 264, and note. The statement of Pino and other authors concerning' Cuerno Verde's death in 1783, etc., is un- founded. Cf. Bancroft, page 267 and note. 14 Bulletin Uni'oersity of New Mexico l^ang. Ser Vol i Ancavistis, quiere decir gente colorada. Los Cuechunticas, comedores de cibolos. Los Juipis, gente del palo. Los Muares, capitanes grandes. Los Chaguaguanos, ignoro lo que quiere decir. Los pasuchis, Cahiguas, Aas-orejones, Ju- manes, Cumpes, Pananas,^ Canceres, Guasachis. Quedan in- clusos en estas naciones los yulas, con quienes tenemos paz: lo mismo con los navajoes y honrados Comanches, que son las tres naciones mas poderosas y que han puesto la provincia en el mayor riesgo de perderse. Sec. IL idea del comanche. Es conocido en todos aquellos paises por su robusta y gallarda presencia, aire marcial y franco, y vestir honesto [particularmente las mugeres] y por otras calidades que le recomiendan. Sus Vestidos. Son todos de pieles curtidas, los finos para camisas y los gordos para ropa de los hombres. Gastan estos un camison bianco 6 color de yesca que baja hasta cerca de la rodilla, pantalon del mismo corte que el nuestro, y zapato bien hecho, observandose que ningiin Comanche anda des- calzo. En la cabeza traen un plumaje, y los colores de las plumas y altura suelen ser la senal de distincion en grados. — Las mugeres usan de tiinicos mas largos con mangas hasta la mufieca y cerrados hasta el pescuezo, los zapatos suben hasta esconderse bajo del tiinico; de modo que solo la cara y manos deja ver la Comancha, y cuaiido tiene que caminar, cubre el cutis con almagre para librarlo del aire y del sol.^ — Los Ca- misones y tiinicos suelen estar bordados con varias figuras de rosas, claveles, animales, etc. ; cuyos hermosos matices son de puas de puerco-espin en lugar de seda : tambien por estos bor- dados se distinguen sus personajes. El cabello de los Co- manches cae en trenzas, con mucha gracia, hasta cerca de los muslos. y por lo regular es bermejo (rubio lacio). Las Co- manchas andan pelonas. Su religion. Confiesan un Ser Supremo, a quien llaman Xiatpo [mi padre] ; mas no le tributan culto senalado. Tienen ^Las habitaciones de los Pananas son cuevas bajo de tierra y al- gunas casas cublertas de paja 6 zacate, yerba, muy aseadas; son dies- tros en el arma de tuego, tienen almacenes de balas, p61vora, etc., mlnlstradas por los Estados-Unldos. Cosechan malz, frljoles, hortali- zas, etc. =Las Comanchas son rublas y hermosas. No. 1. 1807] Espinosa—Los Coma.nches 15 sus adivinos, que se distinguen con el nombre de pujacantes, que es lo mismo que si dijeran hechizeros, porque hacen rela- ciones del modo con que las mugeres hermosas juntan en los monies alrededor de si los venados y demas cacerias y ellos lo hacen tambien. No faltan entre los Comanches quienes se burlen de estas relaciones y sus autores, sefialandolos con el dedo como a embusteros. Su gobierno. Viene a ser el de una republica, reunida mas por la necesidad que por las leyes, porque si le faltase su union, seria acometida de todos las naciones que le rodean, con quienes jamas ha querido hacer paz ni alianza; el mando esta repartido en capitanes subalternos ; del que por su talento y valor es nombrado general en gefe, que los gobierna militar- mente.^ — Suelen tener los hombres de calidad hasta siete mu- geres, numero que parece es entre ellos el permitido. El adu- lter io en la casada es castigado con pena de muerte; lo mismo la prostitucion publica. Sus casamientos se celebran por cam- bios de regalos. El novio presenta al padre de la novia ca- ballos 6 relaciones ciertas de acciones de guerra y la recibe, cuyo dia se celebra con danzas publicas por los vecinos y allegados parientes. Su ocupacion. Es la caza del cibolo, venado, etc., de que hacen acopios para curar su carne y comerla hecha cecina en el invierno, cuando la nieve les obliga a mantenerse debajo de techo, como sucede en la misma estacion que en Espana. Cur- ten las pieles de un modo admirable. Solo ellos poseen el secreto de los simples mas activos para curtir con pelo, sin el y de muchos modos, toda suerte de gamuzas, las que sirven en sis tiendas de Campafia en lugar de lona y resisten mejor que esta todos los intemperies. Sus Uantos por los difuntos. ,,Si son de calidad, van en- vueltos al sepulcro con los mejores pieles curtidos : encima les ponen todos los arneses de guerra de su uso, ademas de los instrumentos de su oficio, como la alesna si hacia zapatos, etc. : es acompaiiado el cadaver por todos sus parientes con un llanto noble y lastimoso. Las viudas, mientras llevan el ca- daver de sus maridos, se hieren 6 rajan con cuchillos 6 peder- ^Hace como veinte anos que uno de estos gefes, nombrado Maya, puso 5, un hijo suyo en la escuela de la capital, encomendado al tlenlente. D. Vicente Troncoso, (despu6s de hacer la paz con nosotros). Muerto Maya, reclam6 su nacion al joven para que fuese 5, los ensayos de la guerra. Se le entreg6 sabiendo leer, y en el d!a ocupa el lugar de su padre y ama de coraz6n &, los Espafioles. 16 BulleUn University of Netv Mexico t^ang. Ser, Vol. I nales el rostro, hasta quedar desfiguradas. Matan todos los caballos [puncos en su idiomaj que habia montado el difunto; se regalan algunos a los que sin ser parientes se acercan a au- mentar el llanto: los hijos (llamados titcos) se guardan per algunos dias de concurrir a las fiestas y placeres, y el tibithnasuncat (le queria mucho) que es el saludo al en con- trarse con los parientes, tios, etc. Sus campanas. Ninguna de las demas naciones se atreve a medir sus fuerzas con la Comancha; aun aliados han sido vencidos repetidas veces : no admite cuartel y lo da a los ven- cidos. Prefiere la muerte, por no sujetarse al mas minimo acto de humillacion : en las acciones de guerra jamas acomete con ventaja ni traicion ; sino siempre cara a cara y despues de haber hecho la serial con sus pitos. Aunque su principal arma es la flecha (patca), usa de la lanza y armas de fuego, como nuestros soldados, y de una tactica siempre variada que impone en todos sus movimientos. Las guerras que han tenido con nosotros han sido siempre tenaces y sangrientas : ponian en mucho cuidado a la provincia, hasta el ano de 1783, que el gobernador D. Juan Bautista de Anza trato de escarmentarlos. Salio en persona despues de haber dado todas las disposiciones para una accion.dicisiva, y la logro, venciendo mas de treinta capitanes [ninguno quiso cuartel] y hasta su general en gefe Tabivo naritgante [her- moso y valiente] nombrado Cuerno Verde perecio en esta memorable campafia, en lo que hicieron las tropas nuestras prodigios de valor. Desde aquella fecha se mantienen en paz y buena armonia con nosotros, cumpliendo con el mayor esmero todo el con- tenido de los tratados ; bien que lo mismo procuraremas ob- servar por nuestra parte por no ofender su delicadeza.^ 11. The play los comanches. Los Comanches is a Spanish popular heroic dramatic composition of the last half of the 18th century. The date of its composition cannot be definitely settled until the question of the auth oriship, and the dates of the battle or battles which 'Tan satlsfechos estamos de su buena f.5, que los veinte soldados que me escoltaron hasta la villa de Altamira y mis dos criados, acor- damos hlciesen su regreso para el Nuevo Mexico, por entre esta na- ciOn, si se hallase alguna partida en las Inmedlaciones de CoahuUa, para veriflcarlo con mfis reguridad y menos rodeo No.i, i9on Espinosa.—Los Coma.nches 17 furnished the subject matter of this interesting dramatic nar- rative are definitely known. ^ If the battle which Mr. Chaves describes (Vide, Amado Chaves, The -Defeat of the Coman- ches in 1717), took place after the attack on Tome in 1777, and not in 1717, and if (Vide supra I) as we have no reason to doubt, the Alvarez ms. is authentic, which states definitely that the expedition and battle were under the command of Don Carlos,^ (pages 19-20, "Uno de los recientes hechos de armas de los Espaholes se efectuo en el arroyo de Dn. Carlos, llamado Don Carlos, de quien el arroyo tomo el nombre. Los Comanches habian recientemente cometido algunas depreda- ciones en las poblaciones del norte de N. Mejico, y havian tam- bien, hacia poco tiempo cometido otras en el rio abajo de donde se havian llevado mujeres de una familia cuyos decendientes reclaman parentesco con los Pinos"), we can be pretty sure in saying that the battle took place in 1777 or 1778. The attack on Tome (vide supra, I.) was early in 1777. That this is the same event mentioned in the Alvarez ms. (see above) we do not doubt, since mention is made of the two members of the Pino family, etc. Furthermore, Cuerno Verde was killed in 1779 by de Anza (vide supra I, and Bancroft, page 264), so that the events narrated in Los Comanches must be placed after March, 1777, and before August, 1779.* The defeat of the Comanches by Don Carlos, etc., was, therefore, in 1777 or 1778, and undoubtedly this furnished most of the material for the play, Los Comanches. It is very probable, however, that the play was written after 1779 and events of the defeat of the Comanches by de Anza in 1779, were included by the enthusiastic author, in Don Carlos' battle. This question will be definitely settled when the lives of all the Spaniards men- tioned in the play are all known. The Alvarez ms. speaks of an Alferez Pefia, who took part in the battle of .1779, and he may be don Jose de la Peiia, of Los Comanches, and may have ^Mr. Amado Chaves has informed me that the author of Los Comanches is Don Pedro Pino, of Santa F6, one of the members of the expedition against the Comanches, with Don Carlos Fernandez and Juan de Padilla. 'Don Carlos Fernandez appears as the leader of the Spaniards in Los Comanches, hut the other two mien are not mentioned. Of Pino and the question of his authorship of our play, I have found no notices, other than the information of Mr. Chaves. ^Governor de Anza's victory over the Comanche.'? was in .Aug.- Sept., 1779. (Vide Bancroft, page 265, note.) 18 Bulleiin University of He'd) Mexico [Lang. ser. vol. i fought also in 1777 with Don Carlos. In fact, the story as narrated in the play may be rigorously historical. As to the exact date of the composition of the play, noth- ing can be definitely known until the author is known. If one of the members of the expedition as Mr. Chaves states, is the author,^ we may be safe in saying that the play was written after 1777 and before 1800. Jt is possible, however, that the enthusiastic soldier wrote it on returning from his expeditions, hence we might venture to place the year of the composition of Los Comanches as the year 1780. For the full description of the battles of 1777 of Don Carlos and 1779 of De Anza, the first of which furnishes the subject matter of our play, see above, I. III. THE MS. AND CORRECTED TEXT. The present edition of Los Comanches, is based on a single ms. While there are said to exist several mss. of the Comanches in New Mexico I have not succeeded in finding more than one. The ms. in question is in the possession of Mr. Amado Chaves, through whose kindness our publication was made possible. The ms. probably dates from 1840-50. At the head of the ms. and at the end is the name of the copyist, J. J. Vigil, who states that he has made an exact copy : "Esta copia se ha hecho Verbatim et literatim, no he atentado corregir la ortogrofia ni aclarar ideas. J. J. Vigil." If 'this is true, our copyist had a very poor original, and evidently not the original ms. The Chaves ms. consists of fourteen leaves written on both sides, and numbered only on one side 1-14. The script is clear and not at all difficult to read. Our edition is practically an exact reproduction. The errors for the most part are, those of a Xew Mexican copyist and treated in the notes. In a few instances slight changes were made, all of which are mentioned in the notes. A few verses still remain obscure, but, I have not wished to change them, thinking that it would be best to keep all that was possi- ble of our ms. The capitalization, punctuation, etc., of the ms. is very poor, and this I have ventured to correct in all cases. The 'Chaves. The defeat of the Comanches, page 9. No. 1, 19071 Espinosa—Los Comanches 19 language I have left intact. All words which for the sake of the versification or other reasons, should be oriiitted, I have included in brackets, while all words or verses which I have introduced into the text, are included in parenthesis. The play Los Comanches has been very popular in New Mexico. Up to some twenty years ago, it was produced in many parts of New Mexico, during the Christmas holidays or other important feast days. The popularity of the play during the last century is confirmed by the fact that very few New Mexicans over fifty years of age' are not able to recite large portions of Los Comanches from memory. IV. LANGUAGE AND VERSIFICATION. The language of Los Comanches is the standard Spanish of the 18th century. The author of Los Comanches was not an Ercilla ; in fact, not a learned man, as can be judged from his work. While the language is good Spanish, it is very simple, almost the language of the uneducated. At the same time there are passages which compare favorably with the verses of the Araucana and the language of the Golden Age. The opening lines are very good and the versification finished. The fact that the original ms. was not printed, however may account for many poor passages in our play as we now have it. I do not believe,- for instance, that the author of Los Comanches would confuse the pronouns vosotros and ustedes in the same sentence, as we find repeatedly in our ms., (See lines 146-150 and 235-245, etc.). These are undoubtedly the copyists' errors, if not our copyist the one before him or others, for in New Mexican Spanish vosotros is not used, hence, ustedes crept in here and there until the text of the ms. came to be in the present state of confusion in this respect. As to dialetic peculiarities, these are also undoubtedly due to the New Mexican copyist. While the dialetic changes found in the ms. are very few, all are New Mexican Spanish forms, so that we are justified in attributing them, not to the author of the play, but to the copyists through whose hands the ms. has passed. Of course, a few forms may not only be necessarily New Mexican Spanish peculiarities, as indicated in the notes. As has been stated in the Preface, a complete study of the Phonology and Morphology of New Mexican 20 Bulletin Unmersity of Nem> Mexico [Lang. ser. vol. i Spanish is now in the course of preparation by the author of this study, so that both here and in the notes, no serious study of the language of Los Comanches or New Mexican Spanish will be entered into. The versification of our play is very good. It is in octosyllabic verses and the author adheres to this measure with almost perfect precision. There are found some four verses of nine syllables, only, and the verses of seven all end with an accented vowel in accordance with the Spanish rules of versifi- cation. Ocosyllabic verse was common in the 16th and 17th centuries, (vide, Mira de Mescjua, Famosa Comedia del Es- clavo del Demonio, Buchanan) and also in modern Castilian verse, (vide Jose Echegaray, El Gran Galeoto, Espinosa). The opening lines start with some regularity in rhymes, but soon the author entered into irregular assonance and blank verse. Good old Spanish romance is found in a large number of verses. V. POPULAR VERSOS^ ABOUT THE COMANCHES. 1. El Apache y el Comanche Se citaron pa la guerra, Se citaron pa la guerra, El Apache gime y llora, Y el Comanche se le aferra, Y el Comanche se le aferra. 2. El Comanche y la Comancha Se salieron a pasear, Se salieron a pasear. El Comanche lleva el arco Y la Comancha el chimal, Y la Comancha el chimal. New Mexicans call verso, a short, (usually of four or six lines or verses) popular poetic composition on varied subjects and sung at dances and at home during social gatherings. The author of this .^■turlyhus collected some son of these "versos" which he expects to publish at some future time. No. 1, 19071 Espinosa—Los Coma.nches 21 El Comanche y la Comancha Fueron a buscar amole, Fueron a buscar amole; Del camino se volvieron, Se les olvido el pinole, Se les olvido el pinole. El Comanche y la Comancha Se fueron a presentar, Se fueron a presentar; Salieron primos hermanos, No se pudieron casar, No se pudieron casar. El Comanche y la Comancha Se fueron pa Santa Fe, Se fueron pa Santa Fe, A vender a sus hijitos Por aziicar y cafe, Por aziicar y cafe. 6. El Comanche y la Comancha Se fueron a confesar Se fueron a confesar, Del camino se volvieron, Por que no sabian rezar Porque no sabian rezar. LOS GOMANGHES LOS GOMANGHES Cb'ERNO VERDE. Desde el oriente ai poniente, Desde el sur al norte frio, Suena^ el brillante clarin Y brilla el acero mio.^ 5 Entre todas las naciones Campeo, osado, atrevido, Que es tanta la valentia Que reina en el pecho mio. Se levantan mis banderas 10 Por el viento giro a giro, Y de las que traigo liadas Refreno al mas atrevidOj Devoro al mas enojado, Que con mi braveza admiro 15 Al oso mas arrogante; Al fiero tigre^ rindo, Que no hay roca ni montaiia Que de ella no haga registro ; Al mas despreciado joven, 20 Aquel que mas abatido Se ve porque su fortuna [A] tal desdicha lo ha traido. Y como aliora lo ha de ver Este soberbio castillo;'' 25 Hoy lo he de ver en pavezas, Lo he de postrar y abatirlo' Con sus rocas y baluartes. Se que se hallan prevenidos De mi nacion que arrogante 30 Hoy con el tiempo se ha visto; Diganlo tantas naciones A quien® quite el seiiorio, Como lo canta la fama Y un cuartelejo de gritos; 26 Bulletin UniversHy of New Mexioo [LanK. ser. Vol. I 35 Hoy se ven desboronados Sus pueblos dando gemidos. Diga la nacion Caslana'' Cuando se vio combatida Huyendo® de mi furor; 40 Hoy se le ha acabado el brillo. Se remonto de tal surte Que hasta ahora no la hemos visto. Pero, i para que me canso^ En referir lo que digo, 45 Cuando solo el Cristianismo Traje de tantas naciones, Que no le alcanza el guarismo ? Pero hoy ha de correr sangre De un corazon vengativo, 50 Que solo los Espanoles Refrenan el valor mio. Me recuerda la memoria De un EspanoP*^ atrevido, Que opuesto y con valentia 55 Y con tan osado brillo. El campo vistio de flores, Con sangre sus coloridos. De los muertos la distancia, Hombres, mujeres y ninos 60 No se pueden numerar, Ni contarse los cautivos. Genizaros valerosos, Que se pregone mi edict(i, Que yo como general 65 He de estar aprevenido ;^ ^ Que general que descansa^- A vista de su enemigo, Bien puede^^ ser vigilante Bien puede ser atrevido. 70 Yo no me he.de conformar Con estos bajos vecinos, Y asi comiencen'"' un cante, Suenese tambor 6 pito. El cante a punto de guerra, (AquI entonan un cante de Indios acompaftado con tombS/' v luego oontintla (Cuerno Verde).) ^"^ '• 'S""! Espinosa~Los Coma.nches 27 7S Pasaremos el distrito^" Buscando (a) este general Que con loco desvario/^ Uso de tanta fiereza Y destruyo como digo. 80 i Quien es y como se llama? Lo llamo a campal batalla, Lo reto y lo desafio. DON CARLOS. i Aguarda, infiel, impio! Que vengo sin que me llames, 85 Que no es menester carteles, Que tus valentias he oido. Dime tu nombre y porque, De todo quedo entendido Para honrarme^* de palabra 90 A lo que te tengo dicho. CUERNO VERDE. Yo soy aquel capitan, No capitan, poco he dicho, Que^^ solo por gran senor De todos soy conocido. 95 Yo soy y por el turbante Este cuerno c|ue ha aplaudido, Verde y dorado que ves, Hoy se me postran rendidos No solo- de mi nacion 100 Que emprendio mi seiiorio, Sino toda la nacion Que coloca el norte frio.^" Ciegos me dan obediencia Caiguas,^^ Quituchis,^* Indios 105 Cuampes,^^ Pananas,^' Jumanes Y otros muchos infinitos Que por no cansarte callo, Pues baste lo que te he dicho. ^" DON CARLOS. i Aguarda, deten, espera! 110 Que he de doblar tu servicio 25 28 BuSetin Unmerscty of Nem) Mexico LLanp. ser. Vol. i Y quebrantar tu soberbia; Sabras que en la mejicana^^ El sefior que nos gobierna Es un sefior soberano 115 Que a todo el mundo gobierna. Encumbro los cuatro polos Que se encumbran en la tierra; ]3rilla su sobrenia, Y de oir su nombre tiemblan^* 120 Alemanes, Portugueses, Turquillos, Ingalaterra,^® Porque mentando Espanoles Todas las naciones tiemblan. Tu no has topado un rigor 125 Ni sabes lo que es fiereza De las catolicas armas; Por eso tanto braveas. Si quieres saber quien soy, Te lo dire porque^" sepas, 130 Que no es la primer batalla^^ La que tii (ahora) me muestras. Las que he hecho son infinitas. Siempre he pisado tus tierras ; (Y) aunque avanzado en anos 135 Y me veas de este manera,^^ Siempre soy Carlos Fernandez Por el mar y por la tierra, Y para probar tu brillo, Voy (a) hacer junta de guerra. CUERNO VERDE. 140 Pues yo voy (a) hacer !o mismo, El sol es quien gobierna. DON CARLOS.** La guerra mando tocar, Para que con la destreza De las catolicas armas 145 Concurrais en esta empresa, Viendo nobles capitanes, Que siempre luce y campea Vuestro esforzado valor. No- 1, 1907] EspinosA—Los Comanches 29 Y el hablar de esta manera. 150 Sabran como el Comanche** Como una barbara fiera Se arrojo despavorido Y me hablo de esta manera, Preguntando con (desprecio,)^^ 155 Ouien era diestro en la guerra, quien era el capitan Que habia pisado sus tierras, Que hizo correr tanta sangre, Que (hizo palpitar) las tierra.*® 160 Yo saliendole al encuentro Con claridad le di muestra De aquel cas'tillo sin par*^ Que (al) mentar*^ el pecho tiembla, Pero mejor es callar 165 Y que enmudezca la lengua. Pero vamos adelante, Hov se trata de la guerra; Denme vuestro parecer Como expertos en la guerra. 170 Saiga don Tomas Madril Y don Jose de la Peha, Sargentos, cabos de escuadra Y don Salvador Rivera, Que visto su parecer 175 Se apercibira la guerra. DON JOSfi DE LA PENA. Esforzado Comandante Cuyo valor cuyo aliento (Son de todos conocidos,)^"' Viendo que puede mandar 180 Yo (le) dare la obediencia,*" Yo que podre responder Cuando es tan justa la guerra, Y que este infame canalla Hoy que corra de mi cuenta. 185 Tomar^^ la justa venganza Y todo pecho por tierra, Porque confio en Maria''" Quien** nos ha de dar victoria 30 Butlettn Universify of Netu Mexico l^ang. ser. Vol. i For su concepcion suprema, 190 Concebida sin.pecado Tan limpia y de gracia lleua. Y yo tengo de mi parte Aquellas tropas excelsas, Esas nuevas jerarquias 195 A quien''* mi fe reverencia, El aixangel San Miguel A quien mi pecho venera. Gran senor, esto respondo Y esta es toda mi respuesta. EL TENIENTE. 200 Pues yo con el parecer De don Jose de la Pena, Hoy dire en una palabra, Y me conformo y que sea Toda mi conformidad, 205 Y mi voluntad queda hecha f'' Y luego,'^" seiior don Carlos, Siendo mi lealtad tan cierta, A quien pretendo servir Es mi gloria haciendo fuerza. 210 Oiga,^' ilustre general A quien toda la obediencia Debo dar y se la do}', Y mi lealtad dando muestra Del atributo gallardo 215 Del cual con tan altas prendas, No siendo merecedor, Asi mi fe lo confiesa De que en este empleo honroso Huesa*^ merced me pusiera ; 220 Yo digo que me conformo, Y esta es toda mi respuesta Con lo que ha dicho el teniente Y don Jose de la Pena. DON SALVADOR RIVERA. Seiior don Carlos Fernandez 225 Ya he visto su parecer Y me conformo }' que sea No. 1,1907] Espinosa.~Los Comanches 31 Con lo que ha dicho el teniente Y don Jose de la Pena ; Polvora y bala con ellos, 230 Para que asi se arrepientan De su gran pensar, y asi Con fiereza se atropellan. CUERNO VERDE, (a sus capitanes) i Ea, leones,** capitanes, Aquellos mas animosos, 235 Todos preparen sus armas Para que embistair"' furiosos, Para que en vista de todos, Esten todos prevenidos!'^ Advierto que con la union 240 Que me teneis prometida, (Dbreis con grande prudencia,^^ Que por regimo ha°^ tenido Toda nuestra decendencia. Asi, como el mas impio,^* 245 He de mostrar mi fiereza, He de .postrar y abatirlos, Que con esta lanza 6 vidrio, Al oso mas arrogante, Al fiero tigre^^ rindo. 250 Diganlo vuestras personas, Se testifica y es visto. OSO PARDO."" Respondo porque es preciso. Entre todas las propuestas Que habeis dado al capitan, 255 Bien sabeis que estan eleitos-''^ Pero en la conformidad Que venimos a la guerra Y que de eso se platica,^'"'' Que lo demas es "quimera. 260 Y que saiga un capitan A destrozar esta fiera - Que horroriza la montatia Y hace^** sufrir a la selva. El oso mas arrogante 32 Bulletin Uni'oersity of Netu Mexico LLang. Ser. Vol. i 265 Se encoge de mi fiereza, El tigre"" en la montana Huye en la inculta^^ sierra, Y habra quien lo desbarate; Tanta altivez pues*'^ se encierra 270 En lo altivo de mi pecho, Que no hay quien lo desvanezca. DON JOSfi DE LA PENA. Yo quebrantare esa furia, Que soy la mas alta pena; . So}' penasco en valentia, 275 En brillo y en fortaleza, Esas locas valentias Son criadas de la soberbia; Tanto me infundio el valor, Y en vosotros la manteca 280 , Que comeis y con la bula,''^ Y con eso criais la fuerza De vuestras disposiciones, For vuestra industria compuestas. Nace el sol y luego muere, 285 Porque munca cuerpo a cuerpo Habeis hecho resistencia. En un choque que tuvimos Siendo cien hombres de guerra, Siendo el numero crecido 290 De tu barbara nacion, Pues"** fue la victoria nuestra. Esa si que es arrogancia De historia muy vardadera, Que exceden en valentia 295 (A) Alemania e Ingalaterra."' Los doce pares de Francia Lejos quedan de tu tierra; Yo te los pondre delante, Te ha de temblar la contrera. 300 CABEZA NEGRA. No hay que detenerse un pun to, Que como barbara fiera Con esta lanza animosa, N°- •> iso^l Espinosa.—Los Comanches 33 He de cortar la cabeza"* De aquel cristiano arrogante 305 Que opuesto y con ligereza Y osado se propasare, Sin hacer reminiscencia"'' De que soy el sin segundo En brillo y en fortaleza; 310 Y si alguno en su arrogancia Quisiere probar''* mis fuerzas Y renir campal batalla, Cuerpo a cuerpo la defensa. LOBO BLANCO. Deten insignia^® y sefior, 315 Porque es tanta mi fiereza Que contestarte'^'' no puedo Dejar mi resoluci6n.''i Para que vean mis fuerzas Y que mi loca arrogancia 320 Reconozcan, y es por fuerza, Yo saque de los gentiles Dos niiios, con tanta fuerza Los rescate, es la primera, Y que en cumplimiento de ellos 325 Vine y no quedo faltar, Y asi transite la tierra. Y ahora es fuerza (que empecemos,) Que se introduzca la guerra En defensa de mi ley, 330 De mi natural empresa. ZAPATO CUENTA. Genizaros'^ valerosos Consultar^^ bien el distrito Y apercibir^^ la distancia Conque logremos el tiro, 335 Que con la incomodidad'^"' Del repentino descuido Sera mas osado el brilloJ' Canten alegres, que ya Se ha de comenzar la guerra; 340 Suenen pifanos, tambores, Suenen, qtie la hora se llega. 34 BuUetin UnUoersUy of Neiv Mexico LL-^ng. ser. vol. i De que falta un capitan No se admite mas respuesta Para echar'^" mano a las armas 345 Sin ninguna resistencia; Saiga, porque ya es preciso, Que yo soy un capitan Que Uaman Zapato Cuenta. TABACO. Como nobles capitanes 350 Han mandado disponer, Como las cristianas armas Guerra nos quieren hacer/'' Dire que soy capitan''^ Y falta mi parecer; 355 Mi valor es sin segundo Porque ninguno me iguala; Tiembla de oir mi nombre el mundo. A Taos fui de embajador''* A solicitar la paz, 360 Y ninguno me siguio Porque no se hallo capaz. Se me concedi6^° al momento En virtud de mi valor, Porque toda la nobleza 365 Reina en el pecho espafiol. Y asi mis armas estan Rendidas por la ocasion;*^ No quiero ser enemigo. No quiero ser mas traidor, 370 Gozar quiero del empleo Que tengo de embajador. Suenen, pifanos, tambores, Se apercibira la guerra Con esfuerzo y con valor, 375 Que yo me voy a avisarle Al capitan espafiol. "Chupa janchi nimaca."*^ (Vuelvan k entonar un cante, acompanado del tombfi y luej- slgue.) (Estas palabras dice el Indio ouando Uega ft donde estftn los Es- paftoles de donde estftn los Indios, y luego sigue hablando ft los Espafloles.) No. 1. 19071 Espinosa.—Los Comanches 35 Parar** veleroso martir, Para insignia^* y senor; 380 Sabras como Cuerno Verde, El y toda su nacion Han levantado bandera En busca del Espanol; Y yo vengo de Napeiste^° 385 Solo a traerte*" esta razon. Sabras como el Oso Pardo Junto con Cabeza Negra Han compuesto esta campana Para darte cruda guerra; 390 Y asi, vete a preparar,*^ Que ya me voy a mi tierra. DON TORIBIO ORTIZ. Yo soy don Toribio Ortiz, Que en todo soy general, Al alto gobierno sirvo 395 Con un esmero especial. De las tropas de milicia Soy la base principal; Vean si hay entre vosotros®^ Quien me pueda contestar, 400 Quien es mi competidor, Quien de estos me cabe en suerte; Saiga luego aqui, al instante. Vera si le doy la muerte. Cuerno Verde, me han dicho 405 Que es el hombre mas valiente; No tengo para empezar*^ Con el y toda su gente. De mis tropas arregladas,"" Ninguno se descomponga, 410 Estar a mi voz atentos, (Que) hoy el sol en su carrera Ha de hacer algiin portento"^ Un cabo tan adecuado, Un lance®^ tan importune, 4J5 Hemos de rendir la vida de estos no queda ni uno. La concepcion de Maria* ^ 36 BuUetin Unmerstty of Nem Mexico LLang. ser. Vol. i Sea nuestro amparo y guia Contra esta gente cobarde. DON CARLOS. 420 Viendo esas resoluciones, Conozco bien que concuerdan®* Con la mi a, y asi digo Que toda nuestra propuesta Queda ya en una palabra 425 Concluida de esta manera. Y asi esforzados leones, Todos al arma, guerreros. Suenese tambor y^° guerra En el nombre de Santiago 430 Y de la Virgen Maria.^" Marchense pronto al campo Atravesando esa selva, A tomarles el terreno A lo mejor que se pueda. CUERNO VERDE. 435 Ya vienen apercibidos, Ya el encuentro me da muestra, Ya este insigne capitan Ya desahogar®' no me deja, Ya suenan el instrumento, 440 Ya se comienza la guerra. Genizaros valerosos, Hoy vuestro valor se muestra; Canten para dar principio, Que no es.la primera vez 445 Que con esta gente infame Se encuentran mis banderas.^^ Acometer^^ valerosos Y a quebrantar la soberbia. Bx\RRIGA DUCE.i^'" i Que mueran ! que para mi 450 Todos sus despojos quedan; Tiendas, antas"^ y conchelles'"- Para que mis hijos duerman ; Y la carne a mi mujer No.i, 190T1 Espinosa—Los 'Comanchns 37 La he de hacer que me la cueza 455 Y me la guise con chile, Que es una comida buena. ! Aprietenles compaileros! Que de eso mi alma se alegra. Hemos de llegar al tronco 460 Donde esta mi panadero. Yo entrare por este lado/"^ Que no quiero que me ofenda""* Alguna (de sus) saeta(s), Pues^"' de eso no gusta el cuerpo. 465 Vaya yo de animador De esa prenda que me cuesta ; Lo he de apropiar para mi Y lo hare hasta que muera.^"® No saben que soy el duce, 470 La cajeta,^"'^ la ensalada, La azucar,"^ el piloncillo, Los anices y la gracia, Porque en todas las funciones^"® Siempre se halla mi valor, 475 Y mi nobleza en las armas.^^" Tengo siempre en mi cintura Mi honda (muy bien) fajada, Y si alguno me replica, Lo convencere con pruebas 480 Y no solo con la lengua,^^^ Porque esta gente vulgar^ ^^ Ya no quiere decir nada. i Aprietenles, companeros ! Vamos a romper el cerco 485 Y (a) hacer que muera esta fiera ; A destruirlos, que son pocos Y a quebrantar su"* soberbia. Piensan que el baculo mio Y mi honda no valen nada. 490 Conque venci al pastarcillo Y al moro que l^vantaba Hasta el cielo la grandeza De la gloria que llamaba, Y callo porque ya es tiempo,"^ 495 Pues sigamos la batalla. La caja na se nos pierda. 38 Bulletin University of Nem) Mexico C^ang. Ser. Vol. I Que como prenda estimada 'Es la que nos da el valor. i Santiago! i Jesus nos valga!'^^ 500 Ahora si voy a mi tierra A ver a mi Catalina, Y a una gallina con polios Que deje cuando me vine. No podemos estar safos, 505 Que venimos a buscarlos. No estaban libres las pecas^^® Porque ahora estan amarradas; Pues me hallaba yo en la sombra, Encima*^'' de la montaiia, 510 Sentado y en contigencia De escaparnos de pagarla. i Albricias ! que se nos van, Huyen y ninguno queda; El guarape"® en el comanche, 515 Cuerno Verde ya se queda. Fin. EXPLANATORY NOTES 'The ms. reads, suene, px-obably an error of the copyist, due to the influence of the e of el. In reading Spanish verse, New Mexicans usually drop a before any vowel, so that even if it appears on the printed page, it is never pronounced. The full treatment of hiitus, elision, etc., in New Mexican Spanish will appear in a separate work. -This boastful statement of Cuerno Verde, is, of course, an exag- geration. For the extent of the Comanche country, vide Introduc- tion, I. 'This verse is one syllable short. If we should adopt the reading, tlguere, as New Mexicans say, the verse would be complete. Vide line 121, note. *On the representation of Los Comanches, a Spanish castle is erected which the Comanches attack. "Observe the pleonastic use of lo. This is poor Spanish, but prob- ably influenced by the pleonastic .use of pronouns in such construc- tions as, le veo k el, les doy a ellos, etc. "Quien was used both for the singular and for the plural in Span- ish until the end of the XVth century. Quienes was not used until the XVI century, and even today quien is sometiines used for quienes. Vide, R. Mengndez Pidal, Manual Elemental de Gramatica HistSrica Espanola, Sec. 101, and Bello-Cuervo, Gramatica Castel'lana, Sec. 329, Notas, pages 63-54. "Of this Indian tribe I have not been able to find anything other - than Pino's statement in his, Noticias Histfiricas y Bstadlsticas de la antigua provincia del Nuevo Mfixico, page S3. Vide the reprint of part of Chapter XV of Pino's work in Introduction, I. Pino writes Carlanes, but since in New Mexican Spanish the change, r to s is very common, caslana may be an error of the -copyist for carlana. 'The ms. reads, hullendo, but since in New Mexican Spanish, ll=y, the sound is the same whatever may be the spelling; ll = y in nearly all of Spanish America, Andalucia, Estremadura, etc., vide R. J. Cuervo, Apuntaciones criticas sobre el lenguaje bogotano. Sec. 740. "The ms. reads, canzo. In Spanish America c(e. i), z = s. This pronunciation began in Andalucia and other Spanish states, in the 16th century, and was carried from there to America, vide R. J. Cuervo, Apuntaciones, Sec. 762. I believe that Cuervo has placed the date o'f the change of z, c to s, in Spain too late. Marden's state- ment in this question is also a very conservative one. Colonists from Spain began to settle in new Spain from 1500 on, so that the change must have been practically perfected in many parts of Spain by the end of the XV century, and since linguestic changes do not take place in a few years, we must place the change of z to s in the XV century. The full treatment of this question, I reserve for another time. (Vide Preface.) '"Don Carlos Fernandez? "In line 28 is found, prevenidos. In New Mexican Spanish both forms occur. Vide, also, Cuervo, Apuntaciones, Sec. 903. 42 BuUetin Unmersity of Nem Mexioo LLang. Ser. Vol. I "The ms. reads, descanza. Vide line 43, note. "The ms. seems to read, pueda. "The ms. reads, comienzen. 'Hombfi = tambor. "The ms. reads destrito, which is frequent in New Mexican Spanish. "The ms. reads, disvario, common in New Mexican Spanish. "The ms. reads, honrrarme. Rr was frequently used after n and at the beginning- of a word in Old Spanish. "The ms. reads, y. Que, makes better sense and does not change the versification. ""Lines 95-102 are very obscure. I have copied the ms. exactly. The sense seems to be: Lo soy (conocido) y por el turbante, este cuerno que todos ban aplaudldo, verde y dorado que ves, hoy se me postran rendidos, no s61o los de mi nacidn que me han eligido como su seiior, sino etc. Line 96 has no connection with the rest, at all. ^'Calguasrr Kiowa. Caigua is the name used by the Comanches, from whom the Spaniards learned the word. This tribe or family was in long communication with the Comanches, and even it's lan- guage was influenced. The tribe, however, belongs to a, distinct fam- ily, and was formerly located in the upper Arkansas and in the Las Animas river. Their legends say that they pressed the Comanchs from the north, assimilated with these, and made a treaty as early as 17 90. Vide Mooney, Calendar History of the Kiowa, in the 17th re- port of the Bureau of Ethnology, page 163. ^''About this Indian tribe, I have found nothing. ^'Cuampes=Cumpes, merely mentioned by Pino, in the work al- ready mentioned. Vide, Introduction, I. ''■'PS,nanas = Pawnees, who inhabited the region from the Niobrara to the Arkansas, until 1833. Vide also, Pino's statement, in Estadls- ticas. Introduction, I. Cf. also Bancroft, History or Arizona and New Mexico, nage 236. ^Only mentioned by Pino. Vide supra, 23, 24. ""Lines 107-108, read in the ms: 'Y por no cansarte callo Basta con lo que te he dicho.' "mejicana = tierra mejicana=mgjico. New Mexico, though a separate province with its own governor, was when under Spanish rule, subject to the viceroy of Mexico. In lines 112-20, the author of Los Comanches, in his enthusiasm, changes the thought suddenly from the viceroy of Mexico (113-114) to the King of Spain, (115-120). "*The ms. reads, y de oir su nombre (el mundo) tiembla. I have omitted (el mundo), for the sake of the meter, and changed tiembla to tiemblan, since Alemanes, etc., are evidently the subjects. '^Thus reads the ms. This is also the popular New Mexican form, and indeed necessary for the meter here. The groups, cl gl, Ig, gr, are frequently broken up in New Mexican Spanish and an epenthetic vowel appears. Other New Mexican forms where this change takes place are tiguere, (vide line 16, note 3) indulugencia, culeco, gurueso. According to Cuervo, (Apuntaciones Sec. 794), Ingalaterra and in- dulugencia occur also in Spain and Bogota. I have also many in- stances of such forms in Spanish literature, but I do not care to treat of this matter in detail here. (Vide Preface.) '"Porque is rarely used to express purpose. Para que would be a more common construction in Spanish. Here para que would made the verse too long, but the New Mexican apocopated form paque, might have been used. Porque to express purpose, however, has the sanction of the best of modern writers. Vide, Echegaray, El Poder No- 1. IS""! Esplnosa.—Los Coma.nches 43 de la Impotencia (Espinosa), page 111, lines 8-9, "me caso porque mi madre no quede abandonada." "The ms. reads, campal before batalla, which I have omitted for the sake of the meter, de esta manera." The reasons for the changes made, are obvious. ^After, Don Carlos, the ms. reads, (a sus oficiales). '"The ms. reads, Comanche arrogante. Arrongante must be omit- ted for metrical reasons. '"The ms. reads, disfrgs or dispigs, (probably meaning disfraz?), and finding no way of solving the question', I changed to, desprecio, which makes good sense and keeps the meter. It is indeed unfortunate, that in spite of my efforts, I was unable to have at my disposal other mss. of Los Comanches, which are said to exist in New Mexico. ""Line 159 reads in the ms, 'que palpitando la tlerra'. This is a poor and almost meaningless construction, so that I was compelled to rearrange the words so as to make a sensible verse. °'See line 24, note. "'The ms. reads, 'que decir el pecho tiembla'. Decir is a poor word to use here, so I changed it to mentar, and added, al, to avoid what would be an extremely questionable case of ellipsis. ""This line is all my own. One or more verses were apparently omitted here by the copyist. "Line 180, reads in the ms, 'y yo darg la obediencia.' "The use of the infinitive for the imperative is not infrequent in Spanish. Vide, Echegaray's, El Poder de la Impotencia (Espinosa), page 109, lines 17-18, note. For numerous examples in old Spanish literature, see Bello-Cuervo, GramAtica Castellana, Notas, page 62. Cf, also Gramatica de la lengua Castellana (1900), por la real Academia Espanola, page 274, and K. Piets.ch, The Spanish Particle He, page 7. ■"The reverence of Catholic Spaniards to the Virgin Mary is well known. Among instances of the mention of the Virgin in early popu- lar heroic poetry, as the guide in battle, etc., we might mention the following: — El Poema del Cid, 218, "Valan me tus vertudes, gloriosa santa Maria!" El Poema de Fernan Goncaies, 23, a, "A ty me manifyesto Virgen Santa Maria," 271, a, "Rrendieron a Dios gracias e a Santa Maria." "The ms. reads, que, which I changed to, quien. "Vide line 32, note 6. "The ms. reads, 'y queda mi voluntad hecha'. "The ms. reads, lueg. Lines 200-209 are very poor Spanish and poorer poetry. "The ms. reads, oye, but since the rest of the speech of Don Tomas Madril is addressed to Don Carlos in the third person, oiga seems necessary. ■"Huesa merced = vuesa merced=vuestra merced. For the differ- ent forms found in Spanish literature for vuestra merced, from vuesa merced to usted, etc., see Bello-Cuervo, Gramatica Castellana, Notas, page 43. Cuervo does not mention huesa merced, nor do I know of the existence of it in Old Spanish literature. We may have here two explanations, initial v falls, as in usted, and h is prosthetic, having an aspirate sound as in huerta, hueso, etc., i. e., a fricative g sound, or we may have initial v to h, (fricative g, as in bueno to gueno, volver to golver, vomitar to gomitar, etc., forms common in New Mexico and in the Vulgar speech of all Spanish countries). I am in- 44 BuUetin Unmcrstty of Nem Mexico LLang. ser. Vol. I clined to favor the first explanation, inasmuch as the fricative s (or h in Older Spanish, representing-, I believe, the fricative sound of g, as h in modern Spanish huevo, huerta, etc.) is found as a rule before ue (other cases being- probably analogical), a dlpthong which calls for an initial fricative g for physiological reasons. In ahuelo and hueco, Pietsch also believes that the h is epenthetic in the first and prosthetic in the second, and that the h does not represent Latin v. Vide K. Pietsch, The Spanish Particle He, page 2, note 3. '"The ms. reads, liones. In Ne-w Mexican Spanish e = i, when before a, o or u, and o=:u, -when before a, e or i. Vide a'.so R. J. Cuervo, Apuntaciones, Sees. 757, 768, and Marden,'The Phonology of the Spanish dialect of Mexico City, Sees. 20, 23. ''"The ms. reads, enbistan. The choice bet-ween m or n before labials, is a very confused matter in Old Spanish. "The verbs seem to follow, aquellos of line 234 as their subject in the third person. °-The ms. reads, 'obrgis como prudentes', a verse one syllable short and of little meaning. °^The ms. reads, he. "The ms. reads, 'Asl yo como el mas impio,' a verse of nine syl- lables. ■-'■tigre should, read, tfguere; vide line 16, note. -''"The ms. reads, Hoso (oso) Pardo. The h here is probably in- tended for an aspirate h, as English h in he. This sound approaches the sound of Spanish j, and in New Mexico, Spanish j being soft and lacking the rough Castilian guttural articulation, h aspirate and j are identical. Joso for oso is heard in New Mexico, evidently, by analogy to words with silent h, formerly aspirated h (from Latin f) and still preserved in some words, in the vulgar speech of nearly all Spanish- speaking countries, as, jun-io, jondo, etc. Even before the dlpthong ue where Spanish usually preserved the initial Latin f, examples are not lacking of h in literature. Juan del Encina, last half of XV century, writes, hu = fue, Teatro Complete, page 18. In New Mexico appear also the forms, juerza, juS, juego, dijunto, perjume, Jelipe, etc. = fuerza, fuc5, fuego, difunto, perfume, Felipe. It is interesting to note the contrary change in, Fuan from Juan. "Thus reads the ms. This is probably an error for eleitas from electas. ""The ms. reads, 'y que solo se platica.' ""The ms. reads, base. Vide line 43, note, ""tjgre should be tlguere. Vide supra, note 55. "'The ms. reads, esa, instead of, la. "^The ms. reads, que, instead of, pue?. "'Thus reads the ms. I do not know exactly what is meant by bula. It may be the copyists' error for gula. The only instance of initial g to b in New Mexican Spanish is, huevo = guevo to buevo. Bula for gula I have never heard, nor do I know of any instances in literature of initial g to b. Buevo from guevo and also rarely buesc from gueso, in New Mexican Spanish occur only after n( = m in this case): um buevo (un guevo^un huevo), um bueso (un. gueso = un hueso). Of medial g to b, I have many instances in New Mexican Spanish, and also in Spanish literature, but I do not care to treat more fully of this matter here. (Vide Preface.) "'The ms. reads, y, which I changed to-, pues. ""See line 121, note. In reading the verse a + a = a, a-fe = e. I shall treat of contiguous vowels in New Mexican Spanish, in a thor- ough manner in my work on. The Phonology and Morphology of New No. 1, 1907] Espmosa.—Los Comanches 45 Mexican Spanish, now in the course of preparation. (Vide Preface.) ™The ms. reads, 'te he de cortar la cabeza'. "The ms. reads, 'sin haser remenicencia'. °*rhe ms. reads, provar. "The ms. reads, insinia. In New Mexican Spanish, gn = n, as in the popular Spanish of all Spanish countrie.s. cf. Cuervo. Apuntaciones Sec. 815. '"The ms. reads, contestar. ■'The a, is omitted after dejar, for the sake of the meter. The prose version would be: no puedo dejar a mi resolucifin que te conteste. '^The ms. reads, Jenlzaros. In many parts of South America, J is used for g, before e and i. Vide Ramsay, A Text-Book of Modern Spanish, page 7. "Vide line 185, note. "The ms. reads, inconiunidad. ''Between lines, 336-337, I had to omit a line, 'serS, la incomuni- dad', which means nothing. ™The ms. reads, hechar. "The ms. reads for line 352, 'la guerra os hago saber'. "'The ms. reads, 'yo tambien soy capitan'. ™This may refer to the incident of 1761 (See Introduction, I), or to a later journey of the Comanches to Taos, before 1771, when gov- ernor Mendenueta, con.cluded a. treaty which was not broken until 1777. (Vide Introduction, I.) ■"The ms. reads, consigui6. ■"The'ms. reads, 'Rendidas por la ocaci6n'. Pa (para and not por would make a better construction here. '^If these are Comanche words, I do not know what they mean. '^See line 185. note. '*The ms. reads insinia. Vide line 314, note. ''The ms. reads, 'y yo vendo de Napeiste (Napeshte)'. Napeiste, also pronounced by New Mexicans, Napeisljte and Napeshte, is the name given by Spaniards to the Arkansas river. Even now some New Mexicans say, el rio de Napeshte. ""For the sake of the meter, traer, must here be pronounced, trS-ir or trai, which are common New Mexican pronunciations. Other New Mexican Spknish forms for traer, are trer and trayer. There occur likewise, cair, cai, cayer and quer (caer). *'The ms. reads, componer. '"Vosotros, should be ustedes. Vide Introduction, IV. ®The ms. reads, empesar. Vide line 43, note. '"The ms. reads, "Ah! de mi tropa arreglada." "Above, portento, the ms. reads, parente. "''The ms. reads, lanse. Vide supra, note 89. _ . ^ °^The verse iri the ms. reads, 'Santiago y la concepci6n de maria', a. verse three syllables too long. Por maria, vide lines 187-189 and note. As to Santiago, ( = Sanctus Jacobus), this has been since early times the war cry of the Christian Spaniards. Among instances of this in early heroic poetry, we might mention: Poema del Cid, 731, "Los moros laman Mafomat e los christianos santi Yague," 1691, "Hyr los hemos fferir enel nombre del Criador e del Aposto) Santl Yague;" 1138-1139, "Enel nombre del Criador e del apostol sant Ya- gue, Peridlos, caualleros, damor e de grado e de volun- tad," 46 Balktin UnmersHy of New Mexico LLansr. ser. Vol. i El Poema de Fernan Goncilez, 511, a, b, "Comencaron el pleito a do lo avyan dexado, Llamando 'Santyago,' el apostol onrrado." "For lines 420-421, the ms, reads, 'ya veo vuestra resoluciOn y conozco que contesta'. "The ms. reads, 6. ""Lines 429-430, I have written in place of the ms. reading, 'San- tiago y la concepci6n de Maria'. Vide, line 187, note and line 417, note. ■"The ms. reads, desogar, erased before desahogar, which is the popular New Mexican form. Lilcewise, one often hears, orrar, orcar, ora, etc. "The ms. reads, 'se ha encontrado mis banderas'. ""Vide line 185, note. ™Duce = dulce, is a common form in New Mexican Spanish. Compare French douce. Of instances of intervocalic Ic = c in Spanish literature, I do not care to treat here. '"Anta, a masculine or feminine noun, meaning elk. I suppose it means elk skin, here. There is in New Mexican Spanish, a saying, 'pel6 I'anta', he died. '"^conchelle or conchelii (concheyi), in New Mexican Spanish, a masculine noun, meaning, buffalo skin (dressed). I do not know the source of this word, but I suspect, that it. is of Indian origin. '"'The ms. reads, 'por esta punta'. '"The ms. reads, 'no sea que me ofenda'. '"The ms. reads, que, instead of, pues. '°°I suppose the meaning is, 'y ai3n lo hare morir'. ""In New Mexico and Mexico, cajeta, means, jelly or jelly-box. '"'Thus reads the ms. The copyist has taken azflcar as a feminine noun, as it is in New Mexican Spanish. The a of the article, how- ever. Is elided, so that the pronunciation is I'azflcar, (or I'azflcara). In New Mexican Spanish the definite article, singular, before a vowel is 1', whether the noun Is masculine or feminine, hence, el az