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 138

��INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF AMERICAN LINGUISTICS

��VOL. I

��hidi

this

��gok two

��vaik three

��t6noT sun

��nani'pkicihilruirda that I also yet will set.

inka'ok dios

��&o/b' < hap.mat6k' With which thus know;

pocumvi'ak'a

��me hear. God thee will sympathize.

NOTE

Large constrictor serpents are said to live in the forests of the Sierra Madre Occidental above Azqueltan and these are claimed to make excellent pets and house guardians. 1 If properly approached they will accompany the finder to his house and guard it for him. They give notice of danger by striking the ground with the tail and bind and hold any one who may come with intent to rob. If the owner is asleep they strike him in the face with the tail to awaken him. But they must be given bread to eat every Thursday if they are to remain content.

When a man wishes to secure one of them he first buys a candle and begs permission of Maria Santisima in the church. Then he takes a white cloth with which to bind the snake and hunts to the four cardinal points. When he has found it he recites this prayer.

TRANSLATION

Hail! my Father and my Mother. For- give me if I carry hence this serpent which I have found here. I will carry him to my house that he may be my guard. On this your green carpet where he belongeth was formed he who lieth here. He must go with me to where I rest, my home as it is called, to keep watch for me over anything which I may leave wherever I do mournfully appear in this world.

Thus do I pray here where I do sadly appear on this green carpet beneath the seven beautiful heavens. This serpent must not frighten me. I beg that he may stay hidden wherever I may put him. He must

1 Cf. Lumholtz, Unknown Mexico, II, p. 124.

��not allow my neighbors to meddle anywhere nor to steal from me. He must wrap himself around them if they come to rob me of any- thing. He shall not permit them. Therefore do I ask the favor that he accompany me to my home.

Likewise do I say unto my Father and my Mother who have given me leave to go be- holding in this world these few days which have dawned, that they shall still allow me yet a few days which shall yet come to a close.

Know it to be thus and hear me! May God bless thee.

��33. TO BEG RICHES OF THE TOLOACHE

adio's na'parino/'G' na'parinda''D

To God that thou art my Father, that thou art* my Mother.

pi'tunha'gicda ku.a - 'ni.a'nsapiwi -< nartun - - Thou me wilt pardon that I, I say, to him me-

ma'kia gako'frup- 2 a'niho'

will give that Toloache ! hereabouts

nampudadaR ganavargo'gur

that they are seated that which are great

to'hungio'am aniho' hasnaci'diidu

rock-piles on hereabouts thus that hoards.

kuni'puta'n'ia gago'guxdara

Then I will beg that fortune

ave'r.ti*nsokore''rota. ku'intane''tiD'a

to see if me will succor. Then me will lend

gago'gucdara go'kuni'puamtaN ha-'gicdara that fortune. Therefore I you beg pardon

napimaringo"korak vo'puhimdam

that ye are my manes before go on.

kuhapu.p'icS'p ni'cta'n gahd'gicdara

Then thus also I beg that pardon

gako't'rup' kupimima'kia lise^'nsia anih6 that Toloache. Then ye will give permission. Here- abouts

nampudadaT ha'snaci'diidu ci'arwot'ahowan that they are seated thus that hoards east beneath' there

2 Nahua toloatzin, Datura stramonium.

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