The oasis., 1910-10-22
ARIZONA
Origin of the Word. Many Opinions
 And Diverse Authorities.

 papers a number of interesting dis. sertations upon the origin of the word which the territory has borne many years and will be conferred upon the new state, and there seems as much diversity of opinion as there are authorities; and none of them are real authority. It seems to be greatly matter of guess work.
 One of those contributing the discussion, Colonel J. H. McClin. tock of Phoenix, assumes that the name conferred upon the territory by the organic act, was combi na. ton of the English words "arid" and experimenting "a dry zone." But that theory is hardly tenable. There is internal and historical evidence that the word had local application early in the history of Spanish occupation of the region comprising Arizona and Sonora.
 Sylvester Mowry is quoted as having advanced a theory that the word is a corruption of an Aztec word "Arizumma', meaning silver bearing.
 Another writer has dug up a very pretty legend which is repro duced as follows:
 Long ago, runs the legend, this earth WAS inhabited only by red men. over which thirteen great deities ruled. In the course of time all of this race died and left the earth uninhabited.
 After many years celestial virgin, a child of one of these deities, came down to earth, and being we'll pleased with it's beauty and richness, remained for Q long time the sole inhabitant.
 Once, while in a deep sleep, a drop of dew from heaven fell upon her, and she conceived and bore two children, a son and daughter, from whom have sprung all the people of earth.
 The name of this celestial virgin was "Arizunna, the Beautiful" or "Sun Be- loved Maiden"
 This legend was told the Spanish about l5l9. The tale was related by the Mo have Indians, claiming to be direct des- cendants of the sun maiden for beautiful Arzunna. After that this country was known as "Ariznnna, the Land of Sun shine"
 Later the name was all but forgotten and the country was known only as New Mexico In 1863 this great section was divided, and in searching about for name the choice fell by natural selec- ton upon Arizona.
 Who shall say what sub-consci ous in- tuence caused the pioneers to hark back to the pretty tale of Arizunna, who found this sun kissed land so much to her liking that she settled here for many centuries, and started the original family tree?
 A communication signed "A. l.. r." appearing in the Douglas h. ternational presents a very inter. eStlng dissertation which throws some light upon the mooted sub leCt, but being nevertheless some- what vague and indefinite. It is reproduced in part as follows:
 The earliest map of the country em- ooraced within the present states of Sonora, Mexico, and Arizona was made about the year l702 by Father Kino or Ohino, Jesuit missionary who com menoed his exploration of this section In lt58, devoting four years time to the work. The word Arizona does not ap- PeaI anywhere on the map. Novum Aexicum defines the territory to the north of the "Hila," and "Yumas," uaGooomaricopa, " "Apache," " "Pimeria" sonora" and other names of Indian ul0es denote locations occupied by them more or less to this day. The many names on the Kino map are either saints