The Minnesotian. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1851-1852, 1851-10-01

Z e sS5 515G
ggg2Y IS
Oviedo informs us that there were five
totally distinct languages spoken in Mica
ragua, and Gomera enumerates them as
follows, viz: The Niquiran or Mexican,
the Chorotegan. Orotinan, Chondal, and
Caribisi or Carib. The general geograph-
ical distribution Of these languages will
be inferred from what has already been
said Of the distribution of the various
aboriginal stocks in Nicaragua. The
Chondal, according to Hervas, extended
as far as Oaxaca. This could not have
been the fact, unless it was identical with,
or closely related to the Maya, Quiche,
Poconchi and Huasteca, which is not like
y if the concurrent testimony of the
chroniclers is correct, that the Chondals
were an exceedingly rude people, speak
ing rude language.
Previous to my visit to Nicaragua, no
vocabularies of either Of thooc lang udges
were in existence. From the Indians Of
Subtiaba, near Leon, in the Northwestern
part Of the country, procured vocabu-
larry Of about two hundred words; and
another vocabulary of about the same num-
Der of words, from the Indians Of Masaya,
hundred miles to the southwark of Leon,
and in the territory Immediately adjoining
that which we know was occupied by the
Niquirans, or the Mexican Colony. These
two languages have no verbal resem-
blances, whatever similarity may have
existed in their grammatical features !;
and as Oviedo, in one or two places says
expressly, that the Indians around the
Lake of Masaya spoke the Chorotegan
language, we are driven to the conclusion
that that which was spoken near Leon
was the Orotinan. This was undoubted-
ly spoken by the Indians south Of the
Niquirans, around the Gulf of Orotina,
where the volcano of Oroti or Orosi still
perpetuates their name.
But until we have vocabularies from
the known seats of the Orotinans, shall
not venture to call the language which
was spoken on the plain of Leon by that
name, Meantime, | ptefer to call it, from
the aboriginal name of that district, Ma
grandan. The language Of which l pro-
cured vocabulary at Masaya, following
the authority of Oviedo, l have called
Chorotegan, or Dirian. Oviedo gives but
one word of this language, viz: .Nambi,
dog, which is the precise word still re-
tanned.
| From the Indians yet residing on the
island Of Ometepec, l procured with great
difficulty, few words, and some of their
numerals. This island was occupied by
the Niquirans, and the words which / re-
covered coincide precisely with the Mex
lean. Indeed the very name of this is
land, distinguished for two high volcanic
peaks, is pure Mexican, One, two, and
tepec, mountain.
! have said that the Indians on the At
lantic coast Of Nicaragua, the Moscos and
others, were probably of Carib stock
This opinion is founded upon their gener-
al appearance, habits, and modes of life.
Their language does not appear to have
any direct relationship with that Of the
Southern Caribs; but is probably the
same, or dialect of the same with that
spoken around what is now called Chiri-
qui Lagoon, near the isthmus of Panama,
and which was originally called Chiribiri,
or Charaibici, from which comes Gomera's
Caribici or Carib.
The suboined table comprises words
from the Niquiran and Mexican vocabu-
laries. The latter is introduced to facili-
tate comparison with the Niuuiran: