Redes, "nets" of salted fish. The reference is to the method adopted by the Indians of Central America in carrying burdens. This is in a net which is suspended between the shoulders by means of a strap which passes across the forehead. Such a net is called in Nicaragua matate, and in pure Nahuatl, matlauacalli; the strap or band by which it is supported is the mecapal, Nah. mecapalli. When the material to be transported is a fluid, a jar of earthenware is suspended in the same manner. A small earthenware cup, found in Nicaragua exhibits this, and also some ingenuity of arrangement. It represents a woman, with one of these jars on her back, seated. (See p. [78].)
[Page 18.] Ojos de sapo muerto, lit. "eyes of a dead toad." Such eyes were considered to exercise an evil influence, and to bring bad luck.
[Page 20.] Doblar. This Spanish word means to toll a bell, as at a death. Güegüence chooses to understand the Alguacil's demand for doubloons to be a request to doblar, and hastens to announce to his sons that the Alguacil has suddenly died.
CUP FROM NICARAGUA.
[Page 24.] The coins which Güegüence names are those of the old Spanish currency. A cuarto was a brass piece, equal to a half-penny English, or one American cent (Delpino, Spanish and English Dictionary, 1763.) It was worth four maravedis, and eight cuartos equaled a real de vellon.
The phrase maneta congon is of uncertain signification. I have translated the first word as the imperative form of nextia, to show, to disclose; congon may perhaps be a corruption of conetontli, boy.
The Alguacil now begins his instruction, and repeats, for the benefit of Güegüence, the proper salutation which should be used in addressing the Governor. The old man pretends to misunderstand them, and makes use of other words, similar in sound, but of an insulting signification. I have not succeeded in showing, in the English text, this play upon words.
[Page 28.] Asonesepa negualigua, etc. This passage has proved unintelligible to me, and the rendering is little more than a guess. The phrase is the same as at the foot of p. [30].