[24] Duran, Historia de Nueva España, Tom. I, p. 230.
[25] The singer who began the song was called cuicaito, "the speaker of the song."
[26] The most satisfactory description of these concerts is that given by Geronimo de Mendieta, Historia Eclesiastica Indiana, Lib. II, cap. 31. I have taken some particulars from Boturini and Sahagun.
[27] Literally, "the broken drum," from tlapana, to break, as they say tlapanhuimetzli, half moon. It is described by Tezozomoc as "un atambor bajo." Cronica Mexicana, cap. 53.
[28] From yollotl, heart, and pi, to tear out. The instrument is mentioned by Tezozomoc, Cronica Mexicana, cap. 48. On the Yopico, and its ceremonies, see Sahagun, Historia de Nueva España, Lib. II, cap. 1, and Appendix.
[29] Simeon, however, thinks the name arose from the growing and swelling of the sound of the instrument (notes to Jourdanet's translation of Sahagun, p. 28). Mr. H.H. Bancroft gives the astonishing translation of teponaztli, "wing of stone vapor!" (Native Races of the Pacific States, Vol. II, p. 293.) Brasseur traced the word to a Maya-Quiche root, tep. In both Nahuatl and Maya this syllable is the radicle of various words meaning to increase, enlarge, to grow strong or great, etc.
[30] Sahagun, Hist. de Nueva España, Lib. II, cap. 27.
[31] See The Güegüence, a Comedy ballet in the Nahuatl Spanish dialect of Nicaragua, Introd., p. 29. (Philadelphia, 1883.)
[32] Theodor Baker, Ueber die Musik der Nord-Amerikanischen Wilden., pp. 51-53. (Leipzig, 1882.)
[33] Omitl, bone, chicahuac, strong. A specimen made of the bone of a fossil elephant is possessed by Señor A. Chavero, of Mexico. See Tezozomoc, Cronica Mexicana, cap. 55, and the note of Orozco y Berra to that passage in the Mexican edition. Also Sahagun, Hist. de Nueva España, Lib. VIII, cap. 20, who likewise describes most of the instruments referred to in this section.