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THOMAS] INDIAN LANGUAGES OF MEXICO AND CENTEAL AMERICA 91
It is probable that a remnant fleeing from Spanish attacks found refuge
in the sierras, where from a local name they became known as Chirripo.
Cabecar,—Although in the statement quoted above Sapper implies
that the Tariacan territory lay immediately north of and adjoining
that of the Bribri Indians, in his map he places the Cabecar between
the two tribes; that is to say, he locates them north of the Bribri
territory. His map appears to be correct, as Gabb (487) says, "The
Cabecars occupy the country from the frontiers of civilization to the
western [left] side of the Coen branch of the Tiliri or Sicsola river."
Pittier says merely that they occupy the valleys of the upper Coen,
the middle branch of the Teliri (Teriri, or Sicsola).
Bribri.—According to Gabb (487) the Bribri occupied the region
watered by the eastern branches of the Teliri, and also that about the
mouths of this river; in other words, the region between the Coen on
the west and the Changuinaula on the east.
Tirribi.—According to Gabb (487) and other authorities the Indians
speaking this dialect occupied the region watered by the Rio Tilorio
or upper Changuinaula.
Tucurric (Cuqueri).—Judging by the statements of Thiel (1:174),
the early documents quoted by Fernandez (1:371, 610), and Gabb
(486), the Indians speaking this dialect were located in the central
part of what is now known as the Cartago district, on the headwaters
of the Revantazon river.
.
Estrella.—Thiel gives a vocabulary of this idiom in his "Apuntes,"
but unfortunately omits to state where it was obtained. It is under-
stood that the Indians speaking it lived in the valley of Estrella river,
a stream entering the sea a short distance south of Limon, in the terri-
tory assigned to the Tariaca (or Chirripo). These appear to be the
people spoken of by Gabb (492), who says:
On the North or Estrella river, and on the Chiripo, there are a few more Cabecars
who have little communication with the headquarters of the tribe, but who are in the
habit of going out to Limon or Matina for what little trade they require.
As indicated by Thiel's vocabulary, the language is substantially
identical with the Chirripo ; in fact, no good reason appears for retain-
ing the name as that of a different dialect.
Boruca (or Brunca) —Passing over the dividing range to the Pacific
slope, we reach the territory where the other dialects of the Talamancan
linguistic group were spoken. The chief one of these was Boruca,
or Brunca. According to Sapper's map, those who still speak the
language live in close relation with the Terraba, in the middle and
lower parts of the valley of the Rio Grande de Terraba. Judging by
local names and other data, it is probable that the territory of the
Boruca in their palmy days extended eastward to and included the
peninsula of Burica.
Terraba.—Terraba is at most merely a subdialect of the Tirribi and
probably should not be considered as distinct therefrom. Gabb (487)