MATACHINES, mit'tA-chc'ntis (from Sp. matachin, clown performer, masked dancer). An itinerant Mexican dance society, popular along the Rio Grande, which goes about from town to town toward the close of the Lenten season giv ing a crude dramatic performance founded on the story of Montezuma, the Aztec Emperor. The performers, male and female, are in pseudo Indian costume, with especially resplendent head dresses, and carry Indian rattles with which they keep time to the songs. The principal char acters are El Slonarca, 'the monarch' (i.e. Monte zuma) ; Malinche, the Aztec girl who became the interpreter and mistress of Cortez; El Toro, 'the bull,' a clown and general disturber, enveloped in a shaggy buffalo skin with the horns above his head: Aguelo, 'the grandfather'; Agnela. 'the grandmother'; and the chorus dancers and musicians.
The presentation is based on the Aztec tradi tion which represents 2clontezuma, 'the sorrowful lord,' as of a gloomy and sullen disposition, quick to offense and slow to appeasement. In a fit of
anger he has left his people, who seek him long in sorrow. They find him at last, but he refuses to he conciliated, not even raising his head to notice the messengers who urge him to return to his throne. After several rebuffs of this kind, Malinche is sent for, and by her winning address and graceful dancing provokes first his notice and then his smile, with the result that the monarch finally rises from his place, and, taking her hand. escorts her to the throne between the files of dancers, who cross wands above their heads as the two pass and then fall in behind in procession to the music of an Aztec song and accompani ment. In the last act El Toro, who is held re sponsible for most of the trouble, is slain amid general rejoicing, when the door is cleared for a dance in which all the audience take part. Somewhat similar Indian-Spanish dramas are found in Central and Southern Mexico and Cen tral America.