diff --git a/mercurial/i18n.py b/mercurial/i18n.py
new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/mercurial/i18n.py
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+"""
+i18n.py - internationalization support for mercurial
+
+Copyright 2005 Matt Mackall <mpm@selenic.com>
+
+This software may be used and distributed according to the terms
+of the GNU General Public License, incorporated herein by reference.
+"""
+
+import gettext
+t = gettext.translation('hg', '/usr/share/locale', fallback=1)
+gettext = t.gettext