Volume 3 — CHAPTER X. 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]

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:

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

Nom. tata Nom. tata ecba

Gen. tataeueri, or hihchiuiremba Gen. tata echa eueri

Dat. tata ni Dat. tata echa ni

Acus. tata ni Acus. tsta echa ni

Voc. tata e Voc. tata eche e

Abl. tata ni himbo Abl. tata echa ni himbo

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 ( Father ) huchaeueri ( our ) thukirehaca ( thou who art ) auándaro ( heaven in ) santo ( holy ) arikeue ( be said ) thucheueti ( thy ) hacangurikua ( name ) uuehtsini ( make us ) andarenoni ( arrive ) thucheueti ( thy ) irechekua ( kingdom ) ukeue ( be done ) thucheueti ( thy ) uekua ( will ) iskire ( as in ) auándaro ( heaven in ) umengahaca ( it is made ) istu ( as ) umengaue ( it be made ) ixu ( as ) echerendo. ( earth in. ) Huchaeueri ( Our ) curinda ( bread ) anganaripakua ( daily ) instcuhtsini ( give us ) iya ( to-day ) canhtsini ( and to us ) uepouachetsnsta ( forgive ) huchaeueri ( our ) hatzingakuareta ( fault ) iski ( as also ) hucha ( we ) uehpouacuhuantstahaca ( forgive ) huchaeueri ( our ) hatsingakuaecheni ( debtors ) ca ( and ) hastsini ( not us ) teruhtatzemani ( lead us ) terungutahperakua ( temptation ) himbo. ( but ) Euahpentstatsini ( deliver us ) caru ( also ) casingurita ( evil ) himbo.[X'-7] ( of. )

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 ( Father our ) kizhechori ( thou art above ) ypiytiy ( in heaven ) tharehetemeyuhbutohui ( sanctified be ) inituyuh ( thy name ) tapue ( come ) nitubeye ( thy kingdom ) tharetehehui ( do ) inunihami ( above the earth ) inkituhenahui ( thy will ) ipuzka ( as ) hetehehui ( it is done ) ypiytiy. ( in heaven. ) Achii ( To-day ) ripahkehbi ( give us ) inbotumehui ( our bread ) indahmutze ( every day ) dihemindikebi ( forgive us ) inbotubuchochi ( our fault ) pukuehentukahmindi ( as we forgive ) indorihuebikeh ( our debtors ) nuximenkarihechi ( let us not fall ) kehbi ( us ) muhe ( and ) dishedanita ( deliver ) kehbi ( us ) pinita ( 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]

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 occurrence. 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.

MIZTEC GRAMMAR AND LORD'S PRAYERS.

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.

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 ( Our father ) yodzikani ( thou art ) andevui ( heaven ) nakakunahihuahandoo, ( let us praise, ) sananini ( thy name ) nakisi ( come ) santoniisini ( thy kingdom ) nakuvui ( be done ) ñuuñayevui ( (in the) world ) inini ( thy will ) dzavuatnaha ( as also ) yokuvui ( be done ) andevui. ( (in) heaven. ) Dzitandoo ( Our bread ) yutnaa yutnaa ( each day ) tasinisindo ( give us much ) huitno ( to-day ) dzaandoui ( forgive us ) kuachisindoo ( our sins ) dzavuatnaha ( as well as ) yodzandoondoo ( we forgive ) suhani ( debtor ) sindoo ( ours ) huasa ( not ) kivuiñahani ( lead us ) nukuitandodzondoo ( we will fall ) kuachi ( in sin ) tavuiñahani ( deliver you ) sañahuahua. ( from evil. ) Dzavua ( 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.

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]

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, œ, 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 ( Father our ) kiiebaa ( heaven ) nachiibalo ( thou who art above ) nazitoo ( great ) ziikani ( has been done ) laalo ( thy name ) kellakookii ( kingdom ) xtennilo ( thine ) kita ( will come ) ziika ruarii ( here ) nitizigueelalo ( thy will ) ziika ( as ) raka ( is done ) kiaa, ( above, ) kiiebaa ( heaven ) laaniziika ( as ) gaka ( be done ) ruarii ( here ) layoo. ( earth. ) Xikonina ( The bread of all us ) kixee kixee ( to-morrow ) peneche ( give ) ziika ( also ) anna ( to-day ) chela ( and ) a ( not ) kozaanañaaziikalo ( lead us ) tonoo ( us ) niiani ( that ) ya ( we ) kezihuina: ( sin: ) peziilla ( deliver ) zika ( also ) tonoo ( us ) niiaxtenni ( of ) kiraa ( all ) kellahuechiie. ( evil. ) Gaga ( Will be done ) ziiga ( 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

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 ( Father our ) tzaphoitp ( in heaven ) mtzônaiphee ( who lives ) konuikx ( blessed ) itot ( be ) mitzm ( thy ) xêuh ( name ) momoikôôtz ( give us ) mitzm ( thy ) konkion ( kingdom ) itunot ( be done ) mitzm ( thy ) tzokn ( will ) ya ( as ) naxhuiñ ( in earth ) ixta ( as ) ituiñu ( is done ) tzaphoitp. ( in heaven. ) Oôtzn ( Our ) kaik ( bread ) opomopomit ( daily ) momoikôôtz ( give us ) yoniit ( to-day ) etz ( and ) moyaknitokoikôôtzn ( forgive us ) pokpa ( sin ) ixta ( as ) ôôtz ( we ) niaknitokoi ( forgive ) ôôtzn ( our ) yachotmaatpa ( offender ) etz ( and ) katii ( not ) ôôtz ( as ) ixmomatztuit ( lead ) heekuxm ( that ) katii ( not ) ôôtz ( as ) nkedai ( let us carry ) huinonn ( temptation ) kûxn. ( in. ) Etz ( And ) mokohuankôôtz ( deliver ) nañihum ( all ) kaoiaphee ( 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.

One anoeth Ten agax-poax

Two izquieó Eleven agax-panocthx

Three areux Twelve agax-pieuhx

Four apequiú Thirteen agax-par

Five acoquiaú Fourteen agax-papeux

Six anaiú Fifteen agax-pacoigx

Seven ayéiú Twenty nicumaio

Eight axpecaú Thirty nieumiaomcaxpó

Nine axqueyeú One hundred anoecacocmiau[X'-24]