[Page 58.] The machete, which I have translated "axe," is a long, heavy knife or cutlass, in extensive use in Spanish America, for domestic and agricultural purposes. It is shown in the following cut.
THE MACHETE.
Una yunta de botijas de vino, a yoke or brace of wine jars, probably so called from having been carried by a neck yoke, one suspended on each side.
[Page 60.] The Alguacil speaks to Güegüence of toasting, brindar, the Court, and Güegüence feigns to hear him speak of the provincial or ecclesiastical officer in charge of the province. It is an example of assonance which is lost in the translation. Managua and Nindiri are towns in the Mangue district of Nicaragua. See the map on page [xii].
The next affected misunderstanding of the old man is to take una yunta de botijas, a yoke of bottles, for una yunta de bueyes, a yoke of oxen.
[Page 62.] Hacer amigo, to make a friend. This is the phrase which is used by courtezans with reference to securing a male patron to pay their expenses, and for that reason Güegüence affects to be shocked by the employment of it by Don Forcico.
[Page 64.] The words of the Alguacil, "What a reputation, etc.," are with reference to the charge of Don Ambrosio, that Güegüence had taught his son evil ways.
The introduction of the mules, i. e., the actors dressed as mules, as described on page [xlviii], is the occasion of several extremely obscene puns and allusions.
[Page 68.] Potrero, colt-yard, or pasture-lot, a play on the similarity of the word to puteria, a brothel. The estaca referred to is, of course, an obscene allusion, as is also the fluccion por debajo de las piernas, i. e., the scrotum.