New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1877-06-09
CHAPTER 1.

t1G&lSOs II 10 ia SlShS S1NeNNAH' N ~
If which We publish to-day;
CHAPTER I.
ETYMOLoGY AND HISTORY.
l. Upon the etymology of the word Sono-
IA, there is no agreement among historians
nor in ancient accounts. Some say that
&c comes from "Senora, substituting en-
for een"to form the present Sonora. Others
express the opinion that the conquerors
heard one of the caciques denominate thus
an extensive valley Of more than sixty
Eeagues. The third suppose that the primi-
tive inhabitants called the territory San
ORC, wishing to unite in one term the rich
ness Of the soil with the sonorousness OF
the metal, gold, so abundant in those
uarts. The fourth, among them especially
an anonymous Jesuit writer of the eight
eenth century (173O) surmised that the
word was taken from the expression Sonot
or Sonotd, signifying ''house or hut formed
OF leaves of the Indian corn, adjoining
pool of muddy water, the pronunciation
of which being disagreeaPle to the Span
tards, they called the province Sonora.
For our part we incline to believe that
Che word Sonotq is that which gave rise to
che present term, Sonora; considering the
peculiar genius of the opata and pima
idiFms, and the custom Of the conquerors
G. Corrupt the names which they could
r t pronounce.
i1. The origin of the first inhabitants
ID Sonora is lost in the obscurity of ages,
and the richest and most prolific imagina-
ton loses itself in the confusion of con-
sctrres, more or less founded, regarding
Che condition of the numerous and diverse
xibSs which formerly inhabited this soil,
- favored by the hand of the Creator.
'1t.if it is an undoubted fact that Aztlan
vas situated north of the Gulf of Cali
rsAr 900 leagues from the valley of
'abs aac-that is to say, that the lands of
Son "a and Sinaloa met at less than 200
lsagGes from the point mentioned, and
that the Sonoranese and the Sinaloanese
owe their origin, in great measure, to
one pf the Nahuatlacss families, or some
sub division of them, they must have
sprg6g from Aztlan. This is the more
probable because twenty leagues below
confluence Of the rivers Gila and San
W J, on land belonging to the State
Athe left bank, are seen vestiges o.
A4tensive ediice and surroundings Oh
8 or broad trenches, apparently for
AsA je, which the Indians have always
"the great house Of Moctezuma, " a
oted since the epoch of the con-
+ this part of the country as the
ST the migratory Aztecs, aud from
which they were supposed to have passed
TO Hueicolhuacan, now Culiacan, crossing
the mountains of Tarahumara and sepa-
rating three years afterward in Chieomoz-
toe, place situated nine leagues to the
south of Zacatecas, at which spot still ez-
lists the ruins of grand edifce.
The division of the Nahuatlaeas, which
ID supposed to have tarried in Sonora and
Sinaloa, increased in numbers and held
possession Of the territory, which did not
however, at that time, comprise the whole
Of the extensive region now called Sono-
IA having been greatly enlarged during
the Spanish domination.
III. Its boundaries at the time of the
conquest, as appears from the ancient
nanuscripts of the Jesuits, were; North,
the riveS ella: east, the Sierra Madre;
southeast, the province Of 0stimura, and
vest, the Pimico sea. OF Gulf of Califor-
mia; namely, three-fourths of the territory
now composing the district of Guaymas
and all of Alamos as far as the Rio del
Faerte.
There are opinions revealing profound
wisdom, judicious analysis, boundless
thought which we respect and even ven
srate, so to say, which attempt to demon
Etrate that the Aztecs were neither the
progenitors Of the Sonorese and Sinaloan
families, nor great mass. crossing rap.
idly through these regions; such opinions
being based upon the testimony of the
gxest buildings which are met little be
low the confluence Of the San Pedro and
Gala rivers; for, say those who uphold
these views land thus far the argument il
adnrissable), wandering people do moi
erect solid buildings nor establish the
foundations Of . growing civilization.
We would oheerfully accept this re-
saeiabls opinion did we rot favor thir
osnfrazg one, namely: "Ths Aztec nation
1afE their native lands BY aecident and
without settled direction, and each poini
wlioh they reached where they met ID.
dlemants Of livelihood and power thes
JAGGED TO DO the end Of their journey
Ntafpre lhey built these solid structure
Sa contemplation Of whose yestiges nov
saa 50 much parplsxity."
Ihis argument had impelIsd us % be
Fe that he zannants Of these Nahnallsl
families which did not abandon the place
1 lhe pragenstoEa pf ne people inhabiG
9 6oAosu and SlnAloa. And IL con
atioh Of lnia belief We have the tradi
n preserved by he old people Of IL
e q 'Pata 6nesIniag shs passage al lh
es. 81 when sg sAseEt chat s.man.
becoming Easa o. 30 Ienzshans.
sy. remained ny i.a pond Ut Sd
t4aer A. nlr-.4S4 .I.r s5saI..s