The Native Races [of the Pacific states], Volume 3, Myths and Languages

Chapter X

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LANGUAGES OF CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN MEXICO.

THE PAME AND ITS DIALECTS -- THE MECO OF GUANAJUATO AND THE
SIERRA GORDA -- THE TARASCO OF MICHOACAN AND ITS GRAMMAR -- THE
MATLALTZINCA AND ITS GRAMMAR -- THE OCUILTEC -- THE MIZTEC AND
ITS DIALECTS -- MIZTEC GRAMMAR -- THE AMUSGO, CHOCHO, MAZATEC,
CUICATEC, CHATINO, TLAPANEC, CHINANTEC, AND POPOLUCA -- THE
ZAPOTEC AND ITS GRAMMAR -- THE MIJE -- MIJE GRAMMAR AND LORD'S
PRAYER -- THE HUAVE OF THE ISTHMUS OF TEHUANTEPEC -- HUAVE
NUMERALS.

North-eastward of the Otomí, is a language called the Pame, spoken in three distinct dialects; the first in San Luis de la Paz, in the Sierra Gorda; the second, near the city of Maiz, in San Luis Potosí; and the third in Purísima Concepcion de Arnedo, and also in the Sierra Gorda. I have at hand only the Lord's Prayer in three dialects; nor can I find mention of any vocabulary or grammar. It is described as difficult to acquire, principally on account of the many dialectic variations.[X'-1]

[Sidenote: PAME AND MECO LORD'S PRAYER.]

FIRST DIALECT.

Tata mícagon indis bonigemajá: indis unajá grotztacuz: Quii
unibó: Nage eu nitazá, unibó ubonigí: Urroze paricagon uvinguí
ambogón bucon gatigí bajir gomór, como icagon gumorbon
quipicgo hicnangó: nenanguí nandazó pacunimá: imorgo cabonjá
pajanor. Amen Jesus.

SECOND DIALECT.

Caucan xugüenan, que humiju cantau impains, achscalijon gee
nigiu yucant gee cumpó. Chaucat gee quimang, ac-gi cumpó acgi
cantau impain. Senté caucan senda gunó yucant chiné iguadcatan
caucan humunts, ac-gipain caucan hujuadptan á caucan humunts.
Y mi negenk do guaik guning cacaa yeket vali ening, ac-ge-bo.

THIRD DIALECT.

Ttattahghuhggg ighegh ddih uhvoh hinh gghih qquihhmissches:
ughgnjuhgh ttahghgihh innddisseh Qquihihihh uhggúho uhghg
gühihh rrehhino, Ih qquih üghgghihghh wohlluhn ttáh
ighschchahh, Assi uhggüghh commo ub vóhnnihghh. Uhnghehddi
uhvrá hhvíhn qquihhphpohggühuhh, yhchihh uh vehvéhh
ihghgühohgühuhh ih qqih ih chi wchveh ihhumhurhggühuhh
uhhohddi nuch hêhôhuág. Assi commo ahpe hpâhhddi ihec
âhggühuhh kuhmhûhrûhhg uhonnddi ahphpiggühúhh. Ih
qquihngnahghnhêhrrggühuhh phpahagh, Ahnâhssuhqquih huhnhéhh.
Mahhsséhh Uihbbráhrhr ihhehggühuhh. Ihghgôhttahhehrêh
Ggéhssúhs.

It will be observed that the third dialect displays a most singular combination of letters. It is a manifest absurdity. Pimentel does not mention where he obtained it, nor does he intimate what sounds are produced from this huddling of consonants. I give it more as a curiosity than with the idea that philologists will ever derive any benefit from it.[X'-2]

In the Sierra Gorda and in Guanajuato, another language is mentioned, called the Meco, or Serrano, of which no specimen but a Lord's Prayer exists:

Mataíge gui bu majetzi, qui sundat too, da guê rit tû jû da ne
pa quecque ni moc canáni, ne si dac-kaá na moccanzû; tanto na
sinfai, tengû, majetzi. Mat tumeje tá, át mapa, rac-je pilla,
ne si gi pungagé, mat-oigajé, tengû si didi pumjéé, too
dit-tuc-je, nello gijega je gatac-je ratentacion; man-aa
juêgaje, gat-tit-jov llaizoonfenni.[X'-3]

Still less is said concerning the languages spoken in the state of Tamaulipas; of them nothing is known but the names, and it cannot be ascertained whether they are correctly classified or not, as no specimens exist. The languages which I find spoken of are the Yuê, Yemé, Olive, Janambre, Pisone, and a general one named Tamaulipeco.[X'-4]

The Tarasco, the principal language of Michoacan, can be placed almost upon an equality with the Aztec, as being copious and well finished. It is particularly sweet-sounding, and on this account has been likened to the Italian; possessing all the letters of the alphabet.

Each syllable usually contains one consonant and one vowel; the letter _r_ is frequent.[X'-5] From the different grammars I compile the following:

[Sidenote: TARASCO GRAMMAR.]

In the alphabet there is neither _f_, _v_, nor _l_; no words begin with the letters _b_, _d_, _g_, and _r_; _k_, has a sound distinct from that of _c_, being pronounced stronger. The letter _s_ is often intercalated for euphony; it must be inserted between _h_ and _i_, when a word ends with _h_, and the next begins with _i_. At the end of a word it signifies same, or self; _hi_, I; _his_, I myself. When a word ends in _s_ and the next begins with _h_, the letter _x_ is substituted for both. The letter _x_ at the end of a word indicates the plural. _Ph_ is never pronounced like _f_; the _h_ after _p_ only indicates an aspiration of the vowel which follows:--_p-hica_. _Hati_, third person singular of the pronoun used in conjugations, may be converted into _ndi_. The _p_ immediately following _m_ is converted into _b_. The _r_ and _t_ next following _n_ are converted into _d_; and _e_ and _q_ next following _n_ are converted into _g_. There are three kinds of nouns--rational, irrational, and inanimate. The last two are indeclinable in the singular. The plural of irrational animals is formed simply by the addition of the particle _echa_. Two other particles are used to express the plural of inanimate things;--_uan_, and _harandeti_, many, much. Five words of this species use, however, the particle _echa_ in the plural; _uata_, mountain; _ambocuta_, street; _ahchiuri_, night; _tzipaé_, morning; _hosqua_, star.

DECLENSION OF THE WORD FATHER.

SINGULAR. PLURAL.

CONJUGATION OF THE VERB POMI, TO TOUCH.

PRESENT INDICATIVE.

Active. Passive.
I touch, pohaca | I am touched, pogahaca
Thou touchest, pohacare | Thou art touched, pogahacare
He touches, pohati | He is touched, pogahati
We touch, pohacachuchi | We are touched, pogahacachuchi
You touch, pohacarechuchi | You are touched, pogahacuchuchi
They touch, potix | They are touched, pogatix

IMPERFECT.

I touched, pohambihca | I was touched, pogahambihca

PERFECT.

I have touched, poca | I was touched, pogaca

PLUPERFECT.

I had touched, pophihca | I had been touched, pogaphica

FIRST FUTURE.

I shall touch, pouaca | I shall be touched, pagauaca

SECOND FUTURE.

I shall have touched, thuvin pouaca
I shall have been touched, thuvin pogauaca

IMPERATIVE.

Let me touch, popa | Let us touch, popacuche
Touch thou, po | Touch you, paue
Let him touch, poue | Let them touch, pauez

I might touch, popiringa | I might be touched, pogapiringa[X'-6]

LORD'S PRAYER.

Tata huchaeueri thukirehaca auándaro santo arikeue
Father our thou who art heaven in holy be said

thucheueti hacangurikua uuehtsini andarenoni thucheueti
thy name make us arrive thy

irechekua ukeue thucheueti uekua iskire auándaro
kingdom be done thy will as in heaven in

umengahaca istu umengaue ixu echerendo. Huchaeueri
it is made as it be made as earth in. Our

curinda anganaripakua instcuhtsini iya canhtsini uepouachetsnsta
bread daily give us to-day and to us forgive

huchaeueri hatzingakuareta iski hucha uehpouacuhuantstahaca
our fault as also we forgive

huchaeueri hatsingakuaecheni ca hastsini teruhtatzemani
our debtors and not us lead us

terungutahperakua himbo. Euahpentstatsini caru casingurita
temptation but deliver us also evil

himbo.[X'-7]
of.

[Sidenote: MATLALTZINCA GRAMMAR.]

West of the valley of Anáhuac, in the ancient kingdom of Michoacan, and in the district which is now called Toluca, was an independent nation, the Matlaltzincas, whose language, of which there are several dialects, notwithstanding the assertion of some writers that it was connected with or related to the Tarasco, must still stand as an individual and distinct tongue. Comparisons may develop a few phonetic similarities, but otherwise the two do not approach one another in the least.[X'-8]

There are twenty-one letters used in the Matlaltzinca language:--_a_, _b_, _ch_, _d_, _e_, _g_, _h_, _i_, _k_, _m_, _n_, _o_, _p_, _q_, _r_, _t_, _tz_, _th_, _u_, _x_, _y_, _z_. Compounded words are frequently used and are considered very elegant;--_kimituhoritakimindutzitzi_, to look for something to eat; _kituteginchimuthohuinikuhumbi_, I give a good example. Gender is expressed and there is also a declension. There is a singular, a dual, and a plural; the dual is designated by the preposition _the_;--_huema_, the man; _thema_, the two men. The plural is designated by the preposition _ne_;--_nema_, the men; but there are some inanimate substantives with which this latter preposition is not used.

The personal pronouns are:--_kaki_, I; _kakuehui_, _kakuebi_, _kakuehebi_, we two; _kakohuiti_, _kakehebi_, we; _kahachi_, thou; _kachehui_, you two; _kachohui_, you; _inthehui_, he; _inthehuehui_, they two; _inthehue_, they. Possessives:--_niteyeh_, mine; _kaxniyeh_, thine; _niyeh inthehui_, his.

CONJUGATION OF THE VERB TO LOVE.

PRESENT INDICATIVE.

SINGULAR.

I love, kitututochi
Thou lovest, kitutochi, or kikitutochi
He loves, kitutochi

DUAL.

We two love, kikuentutochi
You two love, kichentutochi
They two love, kikuentutochi

PLURAL.

We love, kikuchentutochi
You love, kichehentutochi
They love, kirontutochi

IMPERFECT. PERFECT.

I loved, kimitututochi | I have loved, kitabutochi

FUTURE.

I shall love, kirutochi, or takimitututochi

IMPERATIVE.

Let me love, kutochi

PASSIVE.

I am loved, kitochikikaki | We are loved, kitochikakehebi
We two are loved, kitochihuehuikakuebi|

REFLEXIVE.

I love myself, kitutecochi

He who loves, inmututochi | He who will love, inkakatutochi

LORD'S PRAYER.

Kabotuntanki kizhechori ypiytiy tharehetemeyuhbutohui
Father our thou art above in heaven sanctified be

inituyuh tapue nitubeye tharetehehui inunihami
thy name come thy kingdom do above the earth

inkituhenahui ipuzka hetehehui ypiytiy. Achii ripahkehbi
thy will as it is done in heaven. To-day give us

inbotumehui indahmutze dihemindikebi inbotubuchochi
our bread every day forgive us our fault

pukuehentukahmindi indorihuebikeh nuximenkarihechi
as we forgive our debtors let us not fall

kehbi muhe dishedanita kehbi pinita
us and deliver us from

inbuti.[X'-9]
evil.

A language spoken in Toluca, the Ocuiltec, is mentioned by Sahagun and Grijalua, about which, excepting the name only, no information can be obtained.[X'-10]

* * * * *

[Sidenote: DIALECTS OF THE MIZTEC LANGUAGE.]

Principally in the state of Oajaca, but also in parts of the present states of Puebla and Guerrero, the Miztec language is spoken even to this day. Of this language there are many dialects, of which the following are mentioned as chief;--the Tepuzculano, the Yangüistlan, the Miztec bajo, the Miztec alto, the Cuixlahuac, the Tlaxiaco, the Cuilapa, the Mictlantongo, the Tamazulapa, the Xaltepec, and the Nochiztlan. As related to the Miztec, the Chocho, or Chuchon, also an Oajaca idiom, is mentioned.[X'-11] As the Miztecs are generally classed among the autochthones of Mexico, their language is considered as of great antiquity, being spoken of in connection with that of the Ulmecs and Xicalancas.[X'-12] Almost all of the old missionaries complained of the difficulty of acquiring this tongue and its many dialects, which necessitated often a threefold or fourfold study.[X'-13]

The Miztec may be written by means of the following letters:--_a_, _ch_, _d_, _e_, _h_, _i_, _j_, _k_, _m_, _n_, _ñ_, _o_, _s_, _t_, _u_, _v_, _x_ or _ks_, _gs_, _y_, _z_, _dz_, _nd_, _tn_, _kh_. The pronunciation is very clear; the _h_ is aspirated; _v_ is as in English; _kh_, _nd_, and _tn_, are nasal. Long words are of frequent occurence. I give two of seventeen syllables each;-- _yodoyokavuandisasikandiyosanninahasahan_, to walk stumbling; and _yokuvuihuatinindiyotuvuihuatusindisahata_, to conciliate the good graces of a person. Words are compounded or agglutinated in five different ways;--First, without changing either of the component words, as;--_yutnù_, tree; and _kuihi_, fruit; _yutnukuihi_, fruit-tree. Second, one of the component words changes, as;--_huaha_, good, and _ñaha_, no; _ñahuaha_, bad. Third, words which are first divided and cut up, are afterward, so to say, patched together again. Fourth, one word is intercalated with another; as;--_yosinindi_, I know; _mani_, an estimable thing; _yosinimanindi_, I love or esteem.

There are many words in this language which express quite different things, according to the connection in which they are used, as;--_yondakandi_, I accompany somebody, means also I ask; _yoyuhuindi_, I counsel, signifies also, I go to receive somebody on the road; also, let us go; etc. Reverential terms are of frequent occurrence, necessitating almost a separate language when addressing superiors. For instance;--_noho_, teeth; _yeknya yuchixa_, teeth of a lord; _dzitui_, nose; _dutuya_, nose of a lord; _dzoho_, ears; _tnahaya_, ears of a lord. There is no regular plural, but plurality is expressed by the word 'many,' or the number. Personal pronouns are;--I, speaking to inferiors or equals, _duhu_, _ndi_; I, speaking with superiors, _ñadzaña_, _ñadza_, _ñdza_; thou, _doho_, _ndo_; thou, used by females speaking to their children, _diya_, _nda_; you, or your honor, _disi_, _maini_, _ni_; he, _ta_, _tay_, _yukua_; she, _ña_, (also used by women speaking of men); he or she, speaking respectfully, _ya_, _iya_; we, _ndoo_; you, _doho_; they, _ta_, _tay_, _yukua_. The pronouns, _ndi_, _ndo_, _ta_, are affixed to the verb; and the pronouns, _duhu_, _doho_, and _tai_, are prefixed; _ñadzaña_, is usually prefixed; _ñadza_ or _ndza_, affixed; _disi_, and _maini_, are generally prefixed, _ni_ is affixed; _diya_, is prefixed and _ña_, _ndoo_, and _ya_, are affixed.

[Sidenote: MIZTEC GRAMMAR AND LORD'S PRAYERS.]

CONJUGATION OF THE VERB TO SIN.

PRESENT INDICATIVE.

I sin, yodzatevuindi | He sins, yodzatevuita
Thou sinnest, yodzatevuindo | We sin, yodzatevuindoo

IMPERFECT. PLUPERFECT.

I sinned, nidzatevuindi | I had sinned, sanidzatevuindi

FIRST FUTURE. SECOND FUTURE.

I shall sin, dzatevuindi | I shall have sinned, sadzatevuikandi

IMPERATIVE.

Let me sin, nadzatevuindi | Let us sin, nadzatevuindoo
Sin thou, dzatevui | Sin you, chidzatevui
Let him, or them sin, nadzatevuita

Verbal nouns are formed by prefixing the syllable _sa_, or _sasi_, to the present indicative of the verb. Regarding the dialects of the Miztec, Pimentel quotes the following from Father Reyes' grammar. All the dialects may be grouped into two principal languages, which are those of Tepuzculula and Yangüitlan. That of Tepuzculula is the best understood throughout the district of Mizteca.

The Pater Noster in the Tepuzculula dialect is as follows.

Dzutundoo yodzikani andevui nakakunahihuahandoo,
Our father thou art heaven let us praise,

sananini nakisi santoniisini nakuvui ñuuñayevui inini
thy name come thy kingdom be done (in the) world thy will

dzavuatnaha yokuvui andevui. Dzitandoo yutnaa yutnaa
as also be done (in) heaven. Our bread each day

tasinisindo huitno dzaandoui kuachisindoo dzavuatnaha
give us much to-day forgive us our sins as well as

yodzandoondoo suhani sindoo huasa kivuiñahani nukuitandodzondoo
we forgive debtor ours not lead us we will fall

kuachi tavuiñahani sañahuahua. Dzavua
in sin deliver you from evil. So

nakuvui.
be it made.

For the purpose of illustrating the difference between the dialects, I insert two other Pater Nosters, the first of Miztec bajo, and the second of the alto dialect:

Dútundo hiadícani andívi ñacùú hii ña nániní: naquíxidíca satónixiní: nacúu ndúdu ínìní ñunahívi yóhò daguatnaha yo cúu ini andivi. Ditàndo itián itían taxinia nundi vichi: te dandooni cuachindi dagua tnaha dandoondi naa ni dativi nundi: te maza dáñani ntziuhu uncaguandi ña dativindi: te cuneguahanindi nuu nditaca ña unguaha. Duha na cuu Jesus.

Dzutuyo iyoxicani andivi nacui hii ñanánini. Naquixi xatòniixini. Nacúhui ndudzuinìni uñaiviyóhò, sahuatna yocúhui ini andivi. Dzitàyo itian itian taxini nundi vichi: sandoo-ni cuáchiyo, sahuatanha yo sandondi nanidzativi nundi taun-sayáhani ñacanacahuandi zadzativindi. Sacacunino ñahani nuu nditaca ña hunhua. Dzaa nacuu Iya Iesus.[X'-14]

Another language, said to be connected with the Miztec is the Amusgo. Wedged in between the Miztec and Zapotec are several tongues, of which, excepting a few Lord's Prayers, I find nothing mentioned but the names; it is not improbable that some of them were only dialects of either the Miztec or Zapotec. These are the Mazatec, Cuicatec, and Chinantec, which latter is described as a very guttural tongue, with a rather indistinct pronunciation, so that it is difficult to distinguish the vowels; further there are mentioned the Chatino, Tlapanec, and Popoluca.[X'-15] Orozco y Berra declares that the following names designate the Popoluca in different states. Thus the Chocho, Chochona, or Chuchon, is said by him to have been called--in Puebla, the Popoluca; in Guerrero, the Tlapanec; in Michoacan, the Teco; and in Guatemala, the Pupuluca.[X'-16] Of these languages I have the following Lord's Prayers:

CHOCHO OR CHUCHON.

Thañay theeñingarmhi athiytnuthu y ñay dithiñi achuua
dinchaxiñi atatçu ndithetatçu caguñi, nchiyatheetatçu
ngarmhi andaatatçu saçermhi y tçama caatuenesacaha cahau
atzizhuqhee caa tuënesacaha di ëñihay a taanguyheene cagüñi,
ditheethaxengaqhine tuënesacaha nchiyaquichuu,
ditheetaanguyheene cagüquichuu ... sacaha,
thiytheecheëxengaqhine quichuu sacaha netçanga yhathamiñi
çixitçeyasacaha yhee cheecaamiñi cheecaaqhi nemiñi
caatuënesacaha caanenndiñaña andataazu.

[Sidenote: MAZATEC AND CUICATEC LORD'S PRAYERS.]

Of the Mazatec there are two specimens, which do not appear to accord, thus showing how little regard was paid to names:

Nadminá Nainá ga tecni gahami, sandumí ili ga tirrubanajin
nanguili. Cuaha catama janimali, jacunit dic nangui cunit
gahami. Niño rrajinna tey quitaha najin; qntedchatahanajin
gadchidtonajin jacunitgajin nedchata alejin chidtaga
tedtunajin. Guquimit tacuntuajin, tued tinajin cuacha ca tama.

* * * * *

Tata nahan xi nacá nihaseno: chacuca, catoma ñieré; catichová
rico manimajin. Catoma cuazuare, donjara batoó cor nanguí,
bateco, nihasen: niotisla najin ri ganeihinixtin, tinto najin
dehi; nicanuhi ri guitenajin donjara batoo, juirin ni canojin
ri quiteisjajin, quiniquenahi najin ri danjin quis anda nongo
niqueste. Meé.

* * * * *

Of the Cuicatec there are also two dialects:

Chidao, chicane cheti jubí chintuico ña; cobichi, jubi ña;
chichií, chicobi no ns: ñendi ña; cobichi ñenoña. Duica ñahán,
ñahán tando cheti jubi. Nondo ñecno; chi jubi, jubi; techi ni
nons: má dinenino, ni chi canticono, dinen, tandonons;
dineninono chi canti co ñehen nons, ata condicno; na tentac
ioñ, ante danhi, dinenino ni chin que hé danhi.

* * * * *

Chida deco, chicanede vae chetingue cuivicu duchi dende cuichi
nusun dende vue chetingue cui, tundube vedinun dende tica
nañaa, tandu vae chetingue yn dingue deco de huehue techide
deco guema yna dechecode deco ducue ticu tica, tandu nusun
nadecheco deevioducue chichati cusa yati, tumandicude cuitao
vendicuido nanguaedene ducue chiguetae.[X'-17]

* * * * *

[Sidenote: ZAPOTEC GRAMMAR AND LORD'S PRAYER.]

The ancient kingdom of Zapotecapan, in which the Zapotec language was spoken, extended from the valley of Oajaca as far as Tehuantepec. The different dialects were, the Zaachilla, Ocotlan, Etla, Netzicho, Serrano de Ixtepec, Serrano de Cajones or Beni-Xono, and Serrano de Miahuatlan.[X'-18] The Zapotec is a more harmonious language than the Miztec, and is spoken with considerable elegance, metaphors and parables abounding.[X'-19] Yet it is in some places pronounced indistinctly; so much so that Juan Córdova, the author of a grammar, complains that the letters _a_ and _o_, _e_, _y_, and _i_, _o_ and _u_, _b_ and _p_, and _t_ and _r_, are often confounded. The _h_ is used only as an aspirate. The following letters of the alphabet represent the sounds of the Zapotec: _a_, _b_, _ch_, _e_, _g_, _h_, _i_, _k_, _l_, _m_, _n_, _ñ_, _o_, _p_, _r_, _t_, _u_, _y_, _x_, _z_, _th_. There are also five diphthongs: _æ_, _oe_, _ei_, _ie_, _ou_. The plural is expressed either by numerals or by adjectives;--_pichina_, deer; _ziani pichina_, many deer. Like the Aztec, Miztec, and others, the Zapotec has reverential terms. The personal pronouns are;--_naa_, _ya_, _a_, I; _lohui_, _loy_, _looy_, _lo_, thou; _yobina_, your honor (when speaking to superiors); _nikani_, _nike_, _nikee_, _ni_, _ke_, he or they; _yobini_ or _yobina_, he, (speaking respectfully); _taono_, _tono_, _tonoo_, _tona_, _no_, _noo_, we; _lato_, _to_, you.

Possessives;--_xitenia_, mine; _xitenilo_, thine; _xitenini_, his; _xitenitono_ or _xitenino_, ours; _xitenito_, yours. Interrogatives used with animate beings, are;--_tuxa_ or _tuia_, _tu_ or _chu_; and with inanimate things: _xiikaxa_, _xiixa_, _xii_; _koota_ is used for either animate or inanimate objects.

There are four conjugations, which are distinguished by the particles with which they commence. The first uses, in the present, _ta_, in the past, _ka_, and in the future, _ka_; the second has _te_, _pe_, and _ke_; the third, _ti_, _ko_, _ki_; and if they are passives, _ti_, _pi_, _ki_, or _ti_, _ko_, and _ka_; the fourth uses _to_, _pe_, and _ko_.

CONJUGATION OF THE VERB TO DIG.

PRESENT INDICATIVE.

I dig, tanaya | We dig, tieenano
Thou diggest, tanalo | You dig, tanato
He digs, or they dig, tanani |

IMPERFECT. PERFECT.

I dug, tanatia, konatia, or konaya | I have dug, zianaya

PLUPERFECT.

I had dug, huayanaya, konakalaya, zianakalaya,
or, huayanakalaya

FIRST FUTURE.

I shall dig, kanaya

IMPERATIVE.

Dig thou, kona
Let us dig, lakeyanano, or kolakieenano
Dig you, kolakana

OTHER FORMS.

If I would dig, nianalayaniaka
If I have dug, zianatilaya
If I shall dig, nikanaya

The following is an example of the differences between the dialects. Child in the Zaachilla is _batoo_; in the Ocotlan, _metho_; in the Etla, _binnito_; in the sierra, _bitao_; in the tierra caliente, _bato_.

The Pater Noster with literal translation taken from the _Catecismo_ of Leonardo Levanto, reads as follows.

Bixoozetonoohe kiiebaa nachiibalo nazitoo ziikani
Father our heaven thou who art above great has been done

laalo kellakookii xtennilo kita ziika ruarii nitizigueelalo
thy name kingdom thine will come here thy will

ziika raka kiaa, kiiebaa laaniziika gaka ruarii
as is done above, heaven as be done here

layoo. Xikonina kixee kixee peneche ziika anna chela
earth. The bread of all us to-morrow give also to-day and

a kozaanañaaziikalo tonoo niiani ya kezihuina: peziilla
not lead us us that we sin: deliver

zika tonoo niiaxtenni kiraa kellahuechiie. Gaga ziiga
also us of all evil. Will be done so

ziika.[X'-20]
so.

Between the head waters of the Rio Nexapa and Goatzacoalco the Mije language is spoken. It is described as guttural and rough, and by some as poor in words, necessitating auxiliary gestures. The bishop of Oajaca, to whose diocese they belonged, in a letter to Archbishop Lorenzana stated that he had a people under him, who could only converse during daylight, for at night they could not see their gestures and without these were unable to understand each other.[X'-21] The following alphabet is used by Pimentel in writing this language;--_a_, _b_, _ch_, _e_, _h_, _i_, _k_, _m_, _n_, _ñ_, _o_, _p_, _t_, _u_, _v_, _x_, _y_, _tz_. Two and more consonants frequently follow one another in the same syllable, as;--_akx_, _epx_, _itzp_, _otzk_, _mma_, _mne_, _mpi_, _mto_, _mxu_, etc. Vowels are also frequently double, as;--_kôô_, arms; _teikkaa_, and _tinaak_, stomach. In declensions the genitive is formed by prefixing the letter _i_;--_xêuh_, name; _dios ixêuh_, name of God. The plural is formed by the terminal _toch_;--_toix_, woman; _toixtoch_, women.

PRONOUNS.

I ôtz, n, nôtz
Thou ix, mitz, mi, mim, n
Thou, speaking with reverence mih
He t, i
He, or they who hudiiphee, hudii
He, or they who (affixed) phee, hee
This, these phee, hee, yaat
Who pôn
We ôôtz, n
They yâó
Mine nôtz
Thine m, mitzm
His i
Our, ours ôôtzn, nôôtz, n

[Sidenote: MIJE ADVERBS, PREPOSITIONS, AND CONJUNCTIONS.]

ADVERBS, PREPOSITIONS, AND CONJUNCTIONS.

Here ya
No katii
Thence heem
Always xûma
Never kahundiin
More niik
Then hueniit
When ko
For, in, to, above, with kûxm
Of kûxmit, it
In, between hoitp
In huiñ
With môôt
Inside, within akuuk
Before huindui
Why, what for heekûxm
That huen
As much, so that ixtanôm
Not yet katiinam
How, since ixta

THE LORD'S PRAYER.

Nteitôôtz tzaphoitp mtzônaiphee konuikx itot mitzm
Father our in heaven who lives blessed be thy

xêuh momoikôôtz mitzm konkion itunot mitzm tzokn
name give us thy kingdom be done thy will

ya naxhuiñ ixta ituiñu tzaphoitp. Oôtzn kaik opomopomit
as in earth as is done in heaven. Our bread daily

momoikôôtz yoniit etz moyaknitokoikôôtzn
give us to-day and forgive us

pokpa ixta ôôtz niaknitokoi ôôtzn yachotmaatpa etz
sin as we forgive our offender and

katii ôôtz ixmomatztuit heekuxm katii ôôtz nkedai
not as lead that not as let us carry

huinonn kûxn. Etz mokohuankôôtz nañihum kaoiaphee
temptation in. And deliver all evil

kuxmit.[X'-22]
from.

The language of the Huaves spoken on the isthmus of Tehuantepec, is, according to tradition, not indigenous to the country. It is related that these people came by water from a place down the coast, although the locality whence they came is not given.[X'-23] I have only the following numerals as a specimen of the language.

FOOTNOTES:

[X'-1] 'Es mucha la dificultad del idioma, porque en treinta vecinos suele haber cuatro y cinco lenguas distintas, y tanto, que aun despues de mucho trato no se entienden sino las cosas muy ordinarias.' _Alegre_, _Hist. Comp. de Jesus_, tom. i., p. 282.

[X'-2] _Pimentel_, _Cuadro_, tom. ii., p. 267; _Col. Polidiómica Mex._, _Oracion Dominical_, pp. 31-3.

[X'-3] _Pimentel_, _Cuadro_, tom. ii., p. 267.

[X'-4] _Berlandier_, _Diario_, p. 144; _Orozco y Berra_, _Geografía_, p. 296.

[X'-5] _Mendieta_, _Hist. Ecles._, p. 552. 'Tarascum, quod hujus gentis proprium erat et vulgare, concisum atque elegans.' _Laet_, _Novus Orbis_, p. 267. 'La Tarasca, que corre generalmente en las Prouincias de Mechoacan, esta es muy facil por tener la mesma pronunciacion que la nuestra: yassi se escriue con el mesmo abecedario. Es muy copiosa, y elegante.' _Grijalua_, _Crón. Augustin_, fol. 75; _Herrera_, _Hist. Gen._, dec. iii., lib. iii., cap. ix.; _Alegre_, _Hist. Comp. de Jesus_, tom. i., pp. 90-1; _Acosta_, _Hist. Nat. Ind._, p. 506. 'La loro lingua è abbondante, dolce, e sonora. Adoperano spesso la R soave: le loro sillabe constano per lo più d'una sola consonante e d'una vocale.' _Clavigero_, _Storia Ant. del Messico_, tom. i., p. 149. 'Les Tarasques ... célèbres ... par l'harmonie de leur langue riche en voyelles.' _Humboldt_, _Essai Pol._, tom. i., p. 255; _Beaumont_, _Crón. de Mechoacan_, p. 43; _Mühlenpfordt_, _Mejico_, tom. ii., pt ii., p. 364; _Romero_, _Noticias Michoacan_, p. 5; _Heredia y Sarmiento_, _Sermon_, p. 83; _Anales del Ministerio de Fomento_, 1854, p. 185, et seq.; _Wappäus_, _Geog. u. Stat._, p. 35; _Hassel_, _Mex. Guat._, p. 152. 'Die Sprache in dieser Provinz wird für die reineste und zierlichste von ganz Neu-Spanien gehalten.' _Delaporte_, _Reisen_, pp. 313-4; _Vater_, _Mithridates_, tom. iii., pt iii., p. 125. '_Tarasca_ een nette en korte spraek, die eigentlijk alhier te huis hoort.' _Montanus_, _Nieuwe Weereld_, p. 256. Ward, speaking of the Tarasco, has made the serious mistake of confounding it with the Otomí, and seems to think that they are both one and the same. Two languages could hardly be farther apart than these two. _Mexico_, vol. ii., p. 681. _Raffinesque_, the indefatigable searcher for foreign relationships with Mexican languages, claims to have discovered an affinity between the Tarasco, Italian, Atlantic, Coptic, Pelasgic, Greek, and Latin languages. He writes that he was 'struck with its evident analogy' with the above and with the 'languages of Africa and Europe both in words and structure, in spite of a separation of some thousand years.' In _Priest's Amer. Antiq._, p. 314.

[X'-6] _Pimentel_, _Cuadro_, tom. i., pp. 275-309; _Gallatin_, in _Amer. Ethno. Soc., Transact._, vol. i., pp. 245-52; _Moxo_, _Cartas Mejicanas_, p. 68; _Vater_, _Mithridates_, tom. iii., pt iii., p. 126; _Manuel de San Juan Crisostomo Nájera_, _Gram. Tarasca_, in _Soc. Mex. Geog., Boletin_, 2da época, tom. iv., pp. 664-684.

[X'-7] _Pimentel_, _Cuadro_, tom. i., p. 304; _Vater_, _Mithridates_, tom. iii., pt iii., pp. 126-7; _Araujo_, _Manual de las Santos Sacramentos en el Idioma de Michuacan_.

[X'-8] 'Estos tolucas, y por otro nombre _Matlatzincas_, no hablaban la lengua mexicana, sino otra diferente y obscura ... y su lengua propia de ellos, no carece de la letra R.' _Sahagun_, _Hist. Gen._, tom. iii., lib. x., p. 129; _Grijalua_, _Crón. Augustin_, fol. 75; _Brasseur de Bourbourg_, _Esquisses_, p. 33.

[X'-9] _Pimentel_, _Cuadro_, tom. i., pp. 499-539; _Guevara_, _Arte Doctrinal_, in _Soc. Mex. Geog., Boletin_, tom. ix., pp. 197-260; _Vater_, _Mithridates_, tom. iii., pt iii., p. 126.

[X'-10] '_Ocuiltecas_, viven en el distrito de Toluca, en tierras y terminos suyos, son de la misma vida, y costumbre de los de la Toluca, aunque su lenguage es diferente.' _Sahagun_, _Hist. Gen._, tom. iii., lib. x., p. 130. 'Ocuilteca, que es lengua singular de aquel pueblo, y de solo ocho visitas, que tenia sujetas àsi, y assi somos solos, los que la sabemos.' _Grijalua_, _Crón. Augustin_, fol. 75.

[X'-11] 'Y aunque la lengua los haze generalmente à todos vnos en muchos partes la han diferenciado en sylabas, y modo de pronunciarlas, pero todos se comunican, y entienden.' _Burgoa_, _Geog. Descrip._, tom. i., fol. 127, 130; _Grijalua_, _Crón. Augustin_, p. 75; _Brasseur de Bourbourg_, _Esquisses_, pp. 34-6; _Laet_, _Novus Orbis_, p. 260; _Herrera_, _Hist. Gen._, dec. iii., lib. iii., cap. xii-xiii.; _Orozco y Berra_, _Geografía_, pp. 189-96; _Villa-Señor y Sanchez_, _Theatro_, tom. ii., p. 137; _Remesal_, _Hist. Chyapa_, p. 712.

[X'-12] _Torquemada_, _Monarq. Ind._, tom. i., p. 32. 'Ein Volk, das zu den Autochthonen von Mexico gehört.' _Buschmann_, _Ortsnamen_, p. 18.

[X'-13] 'Mistica, cuya entera pronunciacion se vale algunas vezes de las narizes, y tiene muchos equiuocos que la hazen de mayor dificultad.' _Dávila Padilla_, _Hist. Fvnd. Mex._, p. 64. 'La lengua dificultosissima en la pronunciacion, con notable variedad de terminos y vozes en vnos y otros Pueblos.' _Burgoa_, _Palestra, Hist._, pt i., fol. 211. 'Que como eran Demonios se valian de la maliciosa astucia de variar las vozes y vocablos en esta lengua, asi para los Palacios de los Caziques con terminos reuerenciales, como para los Idolos con parabolos, y tropos, que solos los satrapas los aprendian, y como era aqui lo mas corrupto.' _Id._, _Geog. Descrip._, tom. i., fol. 156. 'La lengua de aquella nacion, que es dificultosa de saberse, por la gran equiuocacion de los bocablos, para cuya distincion es necessario vsar de ordinario del sonido de la nariz y aspiracion del aliento.' _Remesal_, _Hist. Chyapa_, p. 321. 'Ser la Lengua dificultosa de aprender, por las muchas equiuocaciones que tiene.' _Dávila_, _Teatro Ecles._, tom. i., p. 156.

[X'-14] _Pimentel_, _Cuadro_, tom. i., pp. 41-79; _Vater_, _Mithridates_, tom. iii., pt. iii., pp. 31-41; _Catecismo del P. Ripaldo, traducida al Misteco; Catecismo en idioma Mixteco_.

[X'-15] _Remesal_, _Hist. Chyapa_, p. 712. Chinantec 'con la dificultad de la pronunciacion, y vozes tan equiuocas que con vn mesmo termino mas blando ò mas reciò dicho significa disonante sentido.' 'Por que la locucion es entre dientes, violenta, y con los accentos de consonantes asperas, confusas las vocales, sin distincion vnas de otras que parecian bramidos, mas que terminos de locucion.' _Burgoa_, _Geog. Descrip._, tom. i., fol. 183., tom. ii., fol. 284, 286; _Villa-Señor y Sanchez_, _Theatro_, tom. ii., pp. 137, 141, 163, 187, 189, 197; _Orozco y Berra_, _Geografía_, pp. 187-197; _Hakluyt's Voy._, vol. iii., p. 497.

[X'-16] _Sahagun_, _Hist. Gen._, tom. iii., lib. x., p. 135; _Pimentel_, _Cuadro_, tom. ii., p. 262.

[X'-17] _Pimentel_, _Cuadro_, tom. ii., pp. 259-62.

[X'-18] _Villa-Señor y Sanchez_, _Theatro_, tom. ii., pp. 190-9; _Museo Mex._, tom. ii., p. 554; _Mühlenpfordt_, _Mejico_, tom. ii., p. 186; _Wappäus_, _Geog. u. Stat._, p. 36; _Orozco y Berra_, _Geografía_, p. 177; _Burgoa_, _Geog. Descrip._, tom. ii., fol. 312.

[X'-19] 'Su lenguage era tan metaforico, como el de los Palestinos, lo que querian persuadir, hablaban siempre con parabolas.' _Burgoa_, _Geog. Descrip._, tom. i., fol. 196. 'La langue Zapotèque est d'une douceur et d'une sonorité qui rappelle l'Italien.' _Brasseur de Bourbourg_, _Esquisses_, p. 35.

[X'-20] _Pimentel_, _Cuadro_, tom. i., pp. 321-60; _Nouvelles Annales des Voy._, 1841, tom. xcii., p. 260, et seq.

[X'-21] 'Expressa el Illm^o Señor Obispo de Oaxaca en su Pastoral, que en su Diocesis hay una Lengua, que solo de dia se entienden bien, y que de noche en apagándoles la luz, ya no se pueden explicar, porque con los gestos significan.' _Lorenzana y Buitron_, _Cartas Pastorales_, p. 96, note 1. 'Tambien su idioma tiene fuerça y energia.' _Burgoa_, _Geog. Descrip._, tom. ii., fol. 271. 'Lingua illorum, rudis et crassum quid sonans instar Allemanorum.' _Laet_, _Novus Orbis_, p. 262; _Barnard's Tehuantepec_, pp. 224-5; _Villa-Señor y Sanchez_, _Theatro_, tom. ii., pp. 155, 199-201; _Mühlenpfordt_, _Mejico_, tom. ii., p. 143; _Museo Mex._, tom. ii., p. 555; _Orozco y Berra_, _Geografía_, p. 176.

[X'-22] _Pimentel_, _Cuadro_, tom. ii., pp. 173-88.

[X'-23] 'Y se dixo antes, que la nacion destos Indios huabes avian venido de tierras muy lexanas, de allà de la Costa del Sur, mas cerca de la Eclyptica vezindad del Perù, y segun las circunstancias de su lengua, y trato de la Provincia ò Reyno de Nicarahua.' _Burgoa_, _Geog. Descrip._, tom. ii., fol. 396; 'El huave, huavi, guave, llamado tambien en un antiguo MS. guazonteca ó huazonteca, se habla en el Estado de Oaxaca, Los huaves son originarios de Guatemala; unos les hacen de la filiacion de los peruanos, fundándose en la semejanza de algunas costumbres, mientras otros les suponen hermanos de los pueblos de Nicaragua. La segunda opinion nos parece la mas acertada, y aun nos atreveriamos á creer que el huave pertenece á la familia maya-quiché.' _Orozco y Berra_, _Geografía_, pp. 44, 74. 'Il paraît démontré, cependant, que la langue des Wabi a de grandes analogies avec quelqu'une de celles qu'on parlait à Nicaragua.' _Brasseur de Bourbourg_, _Hist. Nat. Civ._, tom. iii., p. 36.

[X'-24] _Sivers_, _Mittelamerika_, p. 290.

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The Native Races [of the Pacific states], Volume 3, Myths and LanguagesChapter X

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