The next, a Lord's Prayer, is from aDoctrina Christiana:
T'oga ti dama ca tum' ami da cama s'cuga m'aguna mu tuguiga, tubui divianna simu tuodidaga. Cosasi m'huga cugai kiti ti dama catum' ami gusuda huco bupo gusudana ia duburh' aba. Siari vugadi ti coadaga vutu ica tas' aba cati maca. Vpu gat' oanida pima s'cugati tuidiga cos' as' ati pima tuguitoa t'obaga to buy pima s'cuga tuidiga. Pima t' huhuguida tudana vpu pima s'cuga tuidiga, co' pi ti duguvonidani pima scuga ami durhu. Doda hapu muduna Jhs.
The next is a Lord's Prayer from Hervás:
T'oca titauacatum ami dacama; scuc amu aca mu tukica; ta hui dibiana ma tuotidaca; cosassi mu cussuma amocacugai titamacatum apa hapa cussudana inatuburch apa mui siarim t'hukiacugai buto ca tu maca. Pim' upu ca tukitoa pima scuca ta tuica cosas ati pima tukitoa t'oopa amidurch pima scuca tuitic; pim' upu ca ta dakitoa co diablo ta hiatokidara; cupto ta itucuubundana pim scuc amidurch.
The fourth, also a Lord's Prayer, is from the collection of the Mexican Geographical Society:
Chóga dáma cáta diácamá izquiáma ña meitilla tabus matúyaga cosamacai yí, dama cata gussada imidirraba Sulit ecuadaga butis maca vupuc chuan yiga cosismatito chavaga tiapisnisquantillos pinitiandaná copetullañi imisquiandura dodá maduná cetús.
From the same source I also take a Pápago Lord's Prayer:
Pan toc momo tamcaschina apeta michucuyca Santo:anchut botonia ati chuyca: entupo hoyehui maetachui apo masima motepa cachitmo, mapotomal pami buemasitaapa, jummo tomae, boetoicusipua chuyechica, apomasi maza china sugocuita juann motupay assimi qui, jubo gibu matama cazi pachuichica, panchit borrapi. Amen.[VII'-5]
THE DIALECTS OF THE ÓPATA LANGUAGE.
Wedged in between the Pima alto and the Pima bajo, is the Ópata, or Teguima, with its principal dialect the Eudeve. Although the Ópata and Eudeve have generally been enumerated as distinct languages, after careful comparison I think with the missionaries who were conversant with both, that it will be safe to call the one a dialect of the other. An anonymous author even says that the difference between them is not greater than between the Portuguese and Castilian, or between the French and the Provençal.[VII'-6]Like the Pima, it is a branch of the Aztec-Sonora languages. As is most frequent on the Pacific Coast, classification differs greatly according to fancy; thus it is with the Ópata; its classifications have been many, and among others it has been placed with the Pima family. Many dialects are mentioned, but little is said of them. Of these there are the Teguis, Teguima, Coguinachi, Batuca, Sahuaripa, Himeri, Guazaba, and Jova.[VII'-7]TheÓpata is represented as finished, easy to acquire, and abounding in eloquent expressions.[VII'-8]Of the Eudeve dialect I insert a few grammatical remarks. In the alphabet are wanting the lettersf,j,k,w,x,y, andl; vowels are pronounced as in the Spanish; nouns are declined without the aid of articles. Verbal nouns are frequently used;—hiósguadauh, painting or writing, fromhiósguan, I write. Nouns as names of instruments are formed from the future active of verbs, designating the action performed by the said instrument;—métecan, I chop; future,métetze, by changing its last syllable intosiven, formsmétesiven—as a noun, meaning axe or chopper. In some cases the endingrinais used instead ofsiven;—bícusirina, flute, frombicudan, I whistle, andbihirina, shovel, frombihán, I scrape. Abstract nouns are formed with the particlesraguaorsúra—váde, joyously,váderagua, joy;déni, good,déniragua, goodness;dóhme, man or people;dóhmeragua, humanity. All verbs are used as nouns, and as such are declined as well as conjugated;—hiósguan, I write, also means writer;nemútzau, I bewitch, is also wizard. Adjective nouns ending withtériandeisignify quality;—bavitéri, elegant;aresumetéri, different or distinct;tasúquei, narrow. The endingrávedenotes plenitude;—sitoráve, full of honey;sitóri, honey; andráve, full. Endings ine,o,u, signify possession;—esé, she that has petticoats;nóno, he that has a father, fromnónogua, father;sutúu, he that has finger-nails, fromsutú.Caprefixed to a word reverses its meaning;—cúne, married;cacúne, not married.Sguari, affixed, denotes an augmentative;—dotzi, old man;dotzísguari, very old man.
DECLENSION OF THE WORD SIIBI, HAWK.
The plural of nouns is usually formed by duplication;—dor, man or male, pluraldódor;hóit, woman,hóhoit, women. Some exceptions to this rule occur;—as,doritzi, boy, pluralvus, applied to both sexes, but when intended only for males, it isdódorus. In some cases females employ different words from those used by the male sex; for example, the father says to his son,noguàt, to his daughter,mórqua; the mother says to either,nótzgua; the son says to the father,nonógua; and the daughter,mósgua.
EUDEVE GRAMMAR.
Personal pronouns arenee, I;nap, thou;id,at, orar, he, or she;tamide, we;emet, oremíde, you;amét, ormet, these or they. In joining pronouns with other words, elision takes place, the last letter or syllable of the pronouns being dropped.
CONJUGATION OF THE VERB HIÓSGUAN, I PAINT.
There are seven other kinds of verbs mentioned, such as frequentative, compulsive, applicative verbs, etc.
The numerals show more particularly a strong affinityto those of the Aztec language: 1.sei; 2.godum; 3.veidum; 4.nauoi; 5.marqui; 6.vusani; 7.seniovusáni; 8.gos návoi; 9.vesmácoi; 10.macoi.
THE LORD'S PRAYER.
Tamo Nóno, tevíctze catzi, cannè teguà, uéhoa vitzua terádauh. Tomo canne venè hasém amo quéidagua. Amo canne hinádocauh iuhtépatz éndaugh, teníctze endahtevèn. Quécovi tamo bádagua óqui tame mic. Tame náventziuh tame piuidedo tamo canáde émca; ein tamide tamo. Ovi tamo náven tziuhdahteven. Cana tótzi Diablo tatacóritze tame huétudenta; nassa tame hipùr cadénitzeuai.[VII'-9]
ÓPATA GRAMMAR.
Of the Ópata, there exists a grammar written by Natal Lombardo, from which a few remarks are here given. The alphabet:a,b,ch,d,e,g,h,i,k,m,n,o,p,r,rh,s,t,th,tz,u,v,x,z. Most words end with a vowel. Long words are not rare, aschumikanahuinaguat, name of a plant;kuguesaguataguikide, spring (season);makoisenignabussanibegua, seventeen. Gender is expressed either by the addition of the word, male or female, or by distinct words. The plural is formed by duplication; the manner of duplicating varies; sometimes the first, and at others the last syllable being repeated, and very frequently letters changed;—Temachi, lad; plural,tetemachi;höre, squirrel; plural,hohore;uri, male; plural,urini;vatziguat, brother; plural,vapatziguat;maraguat, daughter; plural,mamaraguat, daughters. Ten declensions are described; they may be recognized by different endings of the genitive, which are:te,ri,si,gui,ni,tzi,ki,ku,ku,pi. The greater number of words belong to the first declension. In the 2d, 3d, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, and 10th, the accusative and dative are the same as the genitive; in the 8th the genitive, which ends inku, is formed from the accusative, while in the 9th, in which the genitive also ends inku, the accusative and dative are like the nominative.
1st DECLENSION OF THE WORD TAT, THE SUN.
2d DECLENSION OF THE WORD KUKU, THE QUAIL.
8th DECLENSION OF THE WORD CHI, THE BIRD.
9th DECLENSION OF THE WORD TUTZI, THE TIGER.
Abstract terms are formed by the affixragua;—massi, father;massiragua, paternity;naideni, good;naideniragua, goodness. The wordahkais used for a like purpose;—uri, man;uriahka, humanity;tossai, white;tossaiahka, whiteness. To express a local noun, the syllabledeis added;—denide, place of light;neomachide, difficult place.Suraua,guëua,ena,en,essa, andotze, signify much, and are used to form superlatives. Personal pronouns are:—ne, I;ta, we;ma, thou;emido, you;iorit, he or she;me, they. Possessive pronouns are:—no, mine;tamo, ours;amo, thine;emo, yours;are,araku, his;mereki, theirs.
CONJUGATION OF THE VERB NE HIO, I PAINT.
As in the Eudeve, there are in this language many classes of verbs, differing mostly in endings of certain persons. Prepositions and adverbs exist in great number. Finally I give a few of the conjunctions;—guetza, although;vesé, and;nemake, also;naneguari, why, etc.
THE LORD'S PRAYER.
Tamomas(Of our father)teguikaktzigua(heaven in)kakame(he who is)amo(of thee)tegua(name)santo(holy)ah,(is,)amo(of thee)reino(kingdom)tame(to us)makte,(give,)hinadoka(thy will)iguati(here)tevepa(earth on)ahnia(be done)teguikaktzi(heaven in)veri.(so.)Chiama(Of all the days)tamo(of us)guaka(food)veu(now)tame(to us)mak,(give,)tame(to us)neavere(forgive)tamo(of us)kainaideni(bad)ata(as)api(also)tamido()neavere(forgive)tamo(of us)opagua,(enemy,)kai(not)tame(to us)taotidudare;(fall let;)kianaideni(bad)chiguadu(of)apita(also)kaktzia.[VII'-10](deliver.)
Following is the Lord's Prayer in the Jova dialect:
Dios Noiksa: Vantegueca cachi, sec jan itemijunalequa itemijunalequa motequán. Veda no parin, embeida mogitápejepa. Ennio ju güidade, naté, vite tevá, nate vanteguéca. Necho cuguírra, setata veté toomacá ento oreirá, en tobarurra, como ité yté topa oreira toon oreira seeján. Caa ton surratoga canecho jorrá sacu nuna dogüe seejan iguité caagüeta.
SUPPOSED CERI AND WELSH SIMILARITIES.
East of the Ópata and Pima bajo, on the shores of the gulf of California, and thence for some distance inland, and also on the island of Tiburon, the Ceri language with its dialects, the Guaymi and Tepoca, is spoken. Few of the words are known, and the excuse given by travelers for not taking vocabularies, is, that it was too difficult to catch the sound. It is represented as extremely harsh and guttural in its pronunciation, and well suited to the people who speak it, who are described as wild and fierce.[VII'-11]It is, so far as known,not related to any of the Mexican linguistic families. As in many other languages, some have fancied they saw Welsh traces in it; one writer thought he detected similarities to Arabic, but neither of these speculations are worth anything. The Arabic relationship has been disproven by Señor Ramirez, who compared the two, and the statement regarding the Welsh is given on the hearsay of some sailors, who are said to have stated that they thought they discovered some Welsh sounds, when hearing the Ceris speak.[VII'-12]I give here the only vocabulary which I have been able to find of this language:
The Cahita and its Dialects—Cahita Grammar—Dialectic Differences of the Mayo, Yaqui, and Tehueco—Comparative Vocabulary—Cahita Lord's Prayer—The Tarahumara and its Dialects—The Tarahumara Grammar—Tarahumara Lord's Prayer in two Dialects—The Concho, The Toboso, The Julime, The Piro, The Suma, The Chinarra, The Tubar, The Irritila—Tejano—Tejano Grammar—Specimen of the Tejano—The Tepehuana—Tepehuana Grammar and Lord's Prayer—Acaxée and its Dialects, The Topia, Sabaibo, and Xixime—The Zacatec, Cazcane, Mazapile, Huitcole, Guachichile, Colotlan, Tlaxomultec, Tecuexe, and Tepecano—The Cora and its Dialects, The Muutzicat, Teacuaeitzica, and Ateacari—Cora Grammar.
We now come to the four Aztec-Sonora languages before mentioned, the Cora, the Cahita, the Tepehuana, and the Tarahumara, and their neighbors. I have already said that notwithstanding the Aztec element contained in them, they are in no wise related to each other.
NUMEROUS LANGUAGES IN SINALOA.
In the northern part of Sinaloa, extending across the boundary into Sonora, the principal language is the Cahita, spoken in many dialects, of most of which nothing is transmitted to us. Numerous languages, which were perhaps only dialects, are named in this region, and by some classed with the Cahita, but the information regarding them is vague and contradictory. No vocabularies or other specimens of them can beobtained, nor can I find anywhere mention that any were ever written. Of these there are the Zoe, the Guazave, the Vacoregue, the Batucari, the Aibino, the Ocoroni, which are mentioned as related, as also the Zuaque and Tehueco, and the Comoporis and Ahome. There are also the Mocorito and Petatlan, both distinct; the Huite, the Ore, the Varogio, the Tauro, the Macoyahui, the Troe, the Nio, the Cahuimeto, the Tepague, the Ohuero, the Chicorata, the Basopa, and two distinct tongues spoken at the Mission San Andres de Conicari, and four at the Mission of San Miguel do Mocorito.[VIII'-1]The only dialects of the Cahita, regarding which a few notes exist, and which at the same time appear to have been the principal ones, according to the best authorities, are the Mayo, Yaqui, and Tehueco.[VIII'-2]The Cahita language is copious, but will not readilyexpress polite sentiments.[VIII'-3]Father Ribas says that the Yaquis always speak very loudly and arrogantly, and that when he asked them to lower their voice, they answered: "Dost thou not see that I am a Yaqui?" which latter word signifies, 'he who speaks loudly.'[VIII'-4]
A grammar of the Cahita was written in the year 1737, of which I give here an extract. The alphabet consists of the following letters:a,b,ch,e,h,i,j,k,l,m,n,o,p,r,s,t,u,v,y,z,tz.
There are three declensions; two for nouns, and the third for adjectives. To the first belong those words which end in a vowel, and also the participles ending withmeandu; to the second, those ending with a consonant. Nouns ending with a vowel, and adjectives, form the plural by appending anmto the singular;—tabu, rabbit;tabum, rabbits. Those ending with a consonant affixim, and those ending withtaffixzim;—paros, hare;parosim, hares;uikit, bird;uikitzim, birds. The personal pronouns are:inopo,neheriua,neheri,nehe,ne, I;itopo,iteriua,itee,te, we;empo,eheriua,eheri,ehee,e, thou;empom,emeriua,emeri,emee,em, you;uahaa,uahariua,uahari, he;uameriua,uameri,uamee,im, they.
CONJUGATION OF THE VERB TO LOVE.
Of the many prepositions I only insert the following:—
The dialectic differences between the Mayo, Yaqui, and Tehueco are as follows;—the Yaquis and Mayos use the letterh, where the Tehuecos useswhen it occurs in the middle of a word, and is followed by a consonant;—tuhta, by the Tehuecos is pronouncedtusta. Other words also, by some are pronounced short, while others pronounce them long. The interjection of the vocative is with somehiua, and with othersme. The pronounnepo, the Yaquis use instead ofinopo. The Mayos use the imperfect as before given; the Tehuecos end it witht, and the Yaquis withn. The pluperfect of the Tehuecos ends withk; that of the Yaquis withkam; that of the Maya withkai.
To illustrate dialectic differences, I insert a short comparative vocabulary, made up from a dictionary, a doctrina, and from words of the Mayo and two Yaqui dialects:
The Lord's Prayer in the Cahita:
Itom(Our)atzai(father)teuekapo(heaven in)katekame(he who is)emtehuam(thy name)checheuasu(very much)ioioriua,(be respected,)itom ipeisana(to us that he may come)emiauraua(thy kingdom)emuarepo(thy will)imbuiapo(earth in)anua(let it be done)aman(also)teuekapo anua(heaven in is done)eueni.(as.)Makhukve(Each day)itom(our)buaieu(bread)ieni(to-day)itom(to us)amika,(give,)itome(to us)sok(also)alulutiria(forgive)itom(us)kaalanekau(sins)itome(we)sok(also)alulutiria(we forgive)eueni(as)itom(our)beherim(enemies)kate(not)sok(and)itom(to us)butia(lead)huena(fall)kutekom(temptation)uoti:(in:)emposi(thou)aman(also)itom(us)ioretua(save)katuri(no good (bad))betana.(of.)
The Lord's Prayer in the Yaqui dialect:
Ytoma chay teque canca tecame emteguam cheheguasullorima yem iton llejosama. Emllauragua embalepo ynim buiajo angua. Aman teguecapo anguaben matehui itom buallem yan sitoma mica. Sor y toma a hitaria cala ytom á hitaria y topo á litariame ytom begerim catuise ytom bulilae contegotiama, ca juena cuchi emposu juchi aman ytom lloretuane caturim betana. Amen Jesus.[VIII'-5]
GRAMMAR OF THE TARAHUMARA LANGUAGE.
East of the Cahita, in the states of Chihuahua, Sonora, and Durango, an uncivilized and barbarous people inhabit the Sierra Madre, who speak the Tarahumara tongue, which contains the same Aztec element as the Cahita, but is otherwise, as previously stated, a distinct language. The principal dialects are the Varogio,Guazapare and Pachera.[VIII'-6]The Tarahumara is a rather difficult language to acquire, mainly owing to its pronunciation. The final syllables of words are frequently omitted or swallowed, and sometimes even the first syllables or letters. The accentuation also differs much, nouns generally being accentuated on the penultimate, and verbs on the ultimate. The alphabet consists of the following letters:a,b,ch,e,g,i,j,k,l,m,n,o,p,r,s,t,u,v,y. These letters, and also the following grammatical remarks refer specially to the language as spoken in Chinipas. Other dialects have the letterhin place ofjorr, andzfors. The plural of nouns is formed by duplicating a syllable;—mukí, woman;mumukí, women; or, in some cases an adverb, indicating the plural, is appended. Patronymics form the plural, by duplicating the last syllable. The particleguaalso indicates the plural. The possessive case is formed by annexing the syllablerato the thing possessed;—Pedro bukúra, house of Pedro. Comparatives are expressed by adding the terminalbe;—gara, good;garabé, better; and superlatives by simply putting a heavier accent on the comparative terminal;—reré, low;rerebé, lower;rerebéé, lowest. Personal pronouns are:nejé, I;mujé, thou;senú, he;tamujéorramujé, we;emejéoremé, you;güepuná, they.
CONJUGATION OF THE VERB TO COUNT.
Of the different dialects there are five specimens, all Lord's Prayers, a comparison of which will show their variations. The first is from Father Steffel:
Tamí Nonó, mamú reguí guamí gatíkí, tamí noinéruje mú reguá seliméa rekíjena, tamí neguáruje mú jelalikí henná guetschikí, mapú hatschíbe réguega quamí. Tamí nutútuje hipelâ, tamí guecáuje tamí guikelikí, matamé hatschíbe réguega tamí guecáuje putsé tamí guikejámeke, ké tá tamí sátuje, telegatígameke mechcá hulá. Amen.
The second is from Tellechea, who lived in Chinipas and at Zapópan:
Tamú nonó repá regiiegáchi atígameque muteguárarí santo níreboa, mu semárarí regiiegáchi atigá, tamú jurá muyerarí jenagiiichíqui mapú regiiegá eguarígua repá regiiegáchi. Sesenú ragiiê tamú nitugára, jipe ragiiê tamí nejá, tami cheligiie tamucheína yorí yomá matameregiiegiá, cheligué tamú ayoriguámeque uché mapú requí chàti ju mecá mu jurá, mapú tamí tayoràbua quéco.
The third is in the dialect spoken in the district of Mina:
Taminonó tehuastiqui tehuara santi riboa razihuachi tamuperá arimihuymira nahuichi chumiricá tehuanehuario teamonetellá sinerahué hiperahuí tamenejá. Seoriqui cahuillé chumaricá cahuillé quiamoqué tarubé chimerá chiniariqui mastí nahuchimoba. Amen Jesus.
TARAHUMARA LORD'S PRAYERS.
For the next two no localities are given:
Tami nono guami repá reguegachi atiame: tá cheiquichi ju, màpu müreg uéga repá asagá mu atiqui: Jená ibi, guichimòba quima neogarae mu naguára; mu llelá litae guichimòba mü llolára guali mü cii mollenara, mi, repá reguegachi. Amen Jesus.
Hono tami niguëga matu ati crepa: guebrucá nilrera que mubreguá. Tami nagüibra que munetebrichi, nilrelra que mu el rabrichi gená güichimoba: mapu breguegal repa. Brami goguáme epilri bragüe brame jipeyá, brami güecagüe. Mata igui güicá mapu bregüega bramegé. Güecagüe mapu brami güique ta nobri brami guichavari que chitichi natabrichi. Habri brami guaini mane brisiga equimé. Amen Isuis.[VIII'-8]
Although in possession of Tellechea's grammar, Gallatin denies the connection between the Tarahumara and the Aztec.[VIII'-9]I give here some of their grammatical resemblances. These are, the incorporation of the noun with the verb in some cases; the combination of two verbs, the dropping of the original end-syllables when joining or incorporating several words together, the formation of the plural by duplication, and the traces of a reverential end syllable. All these are important points, and combined with the similarity—in some cases even identity—of a great number of words, they make the relationship or traces of the Aztec language in the Tarahumara incontestable.[VIII'-10]
Passing to the north-eastern part of Mexico I enter atotally unknown region, of whose languages mention is made, but nothing more. Neither vocabularies, nor grammars, nor any other specimens of them exist, and in most cases it is even difficult to fix the exact geographical location of the people who are reported to have spoken them. Of these I name first the Concho, which language is reported to have been a dialect of the Aztec, but this is denied by Hervás, who had his information from the missionary Palacios, although the latter admits that the people spoke the Aztec. Their location is stated to have been near the Rio Concho.[VIII'-11]In the Bolson de Mapimi, the Toboso language is named. This people are reported to have understood the language of the Zacatecs and the Aztecs; and furthermore, to have had their own distinct tongue.[VIII'-12]Other idioms mentioned near the same region are the Hualahuise, Julime, Piro, Suma, and Chinarra.[VIII'-13]Of the Piro I find the following Lord's Prayer:
Quitatác nasaul e yapolhua tol húy quiamgiana mi quiamnarinú. Jaquie mugilley nasamagui hikiey quiamsamaé, mukiataxám, hikiey, hiquiquiamo quia inaé, huskilley nafoleguey, gimoréy, y apol y ahuléy, quialiey, nasan e pomo llekey, quiale mahimnague yo sé mahi kaná rrohoy, se teman quiennatehui mukilley, nani, nani emolley quinaroy zetasi, nasan quianatehuey pemcihipompo y, qui solakuey quifollohipuca. Kuey maihua atellan, folliquitey. Amen.
The Irritila, which was spoken by a number of tribes, called by the Spaniards the Laguneros, inhabiting the country near the Missions of Parras, is another extinct tongue.[VIII'-14]In Coahuila, the Tejano or Coahuiltec language is found. A short manual for the use of the priests was written in this language byFather García, and from it a few grammatical observations have been drawn by Pimentel.
EXTRACT FROM THE COAHUILTEC GRAMMAR.
The letters used area,c,ch,e,g,h,i,j,l,m,n,o,p,q,s,t,u,y,tz. The pronunciation is similar to that of some of the people who inhabit the Northwest Coast, as the Nootkas, Thlinkeets, and others. A kind of clicking sound produced with the tongue, which García designates by an apostrophe, thus—c',q',t',p',l'. Thec', andq', are pronounced with a rasping sound from the root of the tongue;t'with a click with the point of the tongue against the teeth, etc. There is no plural in the language except such as is expressed by the words many, all, and some. Pronouns aretzin, I;jamin, oram, thou;nami, mine;ja, thine;jami, ours. Interrogation is expressed by the lettereafter the verb;—japtû pôé?are you a father?pobeing the verb. Negation is expressed byojua, if it stands for 'no' alone, but if it is joined to a verb it is expressed byajâmfollowing the verb, and if the verb ends with a vowel, byyajâm. The Tejano is divided into several dialects which vary chiefly in the different pronunciation of some words: as forchethey saychi, orsoforse,cueinstead ofco, etc. The following soul-winning dogma with the translation is given as a specimen of the language.
Mej t' oajâm pitucuêj pînta pilapâm chojâi pilchê guatzamôjuajâmaté, pilâpajuáj sauj chojai: Mej t' oajâm pitucuêj pilapôujpacô san paj guajátam atê; talôm apnán pan t' oajâm tucuet apcué tucué apajái sanché guasáyajám: sajpám pinapsá pitachîjô, mai cuân tzam aguajtá, namo, namo t' oajâm tucuém mâisájâc mem; t' ájacat mem jatâlam ajam é?
And there in hell there is nothing to eat, nor any sleep, nor rest; there is no getting out of hell; the great fire of hell will never be finished. If thou hadst died with those sins, thou wouldst be already there in hell; then, why art thou not afraid?[VIII'-15]
The Tubar is another idiom which was spoken near the head-waters of the Rio Sinaloa. Ribas affirms thattwo totally distinct languages are spoken by this people. From a Lord's Prayer preserved in this tongue Mr Buschmann after careful comparison has concluded that the Tubar is another member of the Aztec-Sonora group, showing, as it does, unmistakeable Aztec traces. I insert the Lord's Prayer with translation.
Ite(Our)cañar(father)tegmuecarichin(heaven in)catemat(art)imit(thy)tegmuarat(name)militurabà teochigualac;(be praised;)imit(thy)huegmica(kingdom)carin iti(us to)bacachinassisaguin,(come,)imit(thy)avamunarir(will)echu(here)nañigualac(be done)imo(as)cuigan(well as)amo(there)nachic(is done)tegmuecarichin;(heaven;)ite(our)cokuatarit(bread)essemer taniguarit(daily)iabba(to-day)ite(us)micam;(give;)ite(our)tatacoli(sins)ikiri(forgive)atzomua(as)ikirirain(we forgive)ite(us)bacachin(against)cale(evil)kuegmua(previously)nañiguacantem(have done)caisa(not)ite(us)nosam(lead)baca(in)tatacoli(sin)bacachin(of)ackirò(evil)muetzerac(deliver)ite.[VIII'-16](us.)
The following is a Lord's Prayer of the Tubar dialect spoken in the district of Mina in Chihuahua.
Hite cañac temo calichin catema himite muhará huiturabá santoñetará himitemoh acarí hay sesahui hitebacachin hitaramaré hechinemolac amo cuira pan amotemo calichin hítecocohatari éseme tan huaric. Llava hitemicahin tatacoli higuíli hite nachi higuiriray hitebacach in calquihuan nehun conten hitehohui caltehue cheraca tatacol bacachin hiqu ipó calquihuá ñahuité baquit ebacachin calaserac. Amen Jesus.[VIII'-17]
TEPEHUANA GRAMMAR.
In the state of Durango and extending into parts of Jalisco, Chihuahua, Coahuila and Sonora, is spoken the Tepehuana language.[VIII'-18]Like the Tarahumara it is guttural and pronounced in a rather sputtering manner. The Tepehuanes speak very fast, and often leave off or swallow the end syllables, which occasioned much trouble to the missionaries, who on that account could not easily understand them. Another difficulty is the accentuation, as the slightest variation of accent will change the meaning of a word.[VIII'-19]The following alphabet is used to represent the sound of the Tephuana,a,b,ch,d,e,g,h,i,j,k,l,m,n,o,p,q,r,s,sc,t,u,v,y. In the formation of words many vowels are frequently combined, as,ooo, bone;iiuie, to drink. Long words are of frequent occurrence as—soigulidadatudadamo, difficult;meit sciuguidodadaguitodadamoe, continually. The letterdappears to be very frequently used, as in the word—toddascidaraga, ordoadidamodaraga, fright. To form the plural of words, the first syllable is duplicated. Personal pronouns are;—aneane, orane, I;api, thou;eggue, he;atum, we;apum, you;eggama, they;in, mine;u, thine;di, orde, his;ut, ours;um, yours.
CONJUGATION OF THE VERB TO SAY.
In some places the ending of the imperfect indicative iskadeinstead oftade.
THE LORD'S PRAYER.
Utogga(Our father)atemo(who in)tubaggue(heaven)dama(above)santusikamoe(sanctified be)uggue(he)ututugaraga(thy name)duviana(come)uguiere(thy kingdom)api(thou)odduna(do)gutuguitodaraga(thy will)tami(as well)dubur(earth)dama(above)tubaggue.(heaven.)Udguaddaga(Our food)ud(to us)makane(give)scibi(to-day)ud(to us)joigudane(forgive)ud(our)sceadoadaraga(sins)addukate(as)joigude(we forgive)jut(our)jaddune(debtors)maitague(not)daguito(tempt)ud.[VIII'-20](us.)
The roughest and most inaccessible part of the Sierra Madre, in the state of Durango, is the seat of the Acaxee language, which from this centre spreads, under different names and dialects, into the neighboring states. Among these dialects are mentioned the Topia, Sabaibo, Xixime, Hume, Mediotaquel and Tebaca.[VIII'-21]Some writers claim that the Acaxee with all itsdifferences is related to the Mexican, while others, among them Balbi, make it a distinct tongue. As neither vocabularies nor other specimens of it exist, the real fact cannot be ascertained. The missionaries say that the Aztec language was spoken and understood in these parts. In Zacatecas is mentioned as the prevailing tongue the Zacatec, besides which some authors speak of the Cazcane as a distinct idiom, while others aver that the Cazcanes and Zacatecs were one people. Besides these there are adjoining them the Mazapile, Huitcole, and Guachichile, of none of which do I find any specimens or vocabularies.[VIII'-22]I also find mentioned in Zacatecas the Colotlan, and in Jalisco the Tlaxomulteca, Tecuexe, and Tepecano.[VIII'-23]
THE CORA LANGUAGE AND ITS DIALECTS.
In that portion of the state of Jalisco which is known by the name of Nayarit, the Cora language is spoken. It is divided into three dialects; the Muutzicat, spoken in the heart of the mountains; the Teacuaeitzica, on the mountain slopes; and the Cora, or Ateacari, near the mouth of the Rio Nayarit, or Jesus María.[VIII'-24]The Aztecelement, which is stronger and more apparent in the Cora than in any other of the three Aztec-Sonora languages, has been recognized by many of the earliest writers.[VIII'-25]The Cora language is intricate and rather difficult to learn, as indeed are the other three.[VIII'-26]Following are a few grammatical notes taken from Ortega's vocabulary.