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12 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [bull. 44
from the Gulf of California to the sierras. Their territory connected
on the north with that of the Lower Pima and on the east with that
of the Tarahumare. It seems that on the southeast, as early as the
sixteenth century, they were in contact chiefly with people speaking
a Nahuatl idiom.
But three dialects—Yaqui, Mayo, and Tehueco—are usually men-
tioned. Pimentel (i, 453) says of the group, "It is divided into three
dialects, Yaqui, Mayo, and Tehueco." Buelna (x) hmits them to the
same three, and Balbi gives Zuaque, Mayo, and Yaqui. In his classified
list Orozco y Berra (1:58) names Yaqui, Mayo, Tehueco, and
Vacoregue, and Brinton (3: 125) names the Tehueco, Zuaque, Mayo,
and Yaqui as subtribes. Hervas (322) concludes from his stud}^ of
Ribas's work that the following dialects were recognized : Yaqui (which
he makes equivalent to Sinaloa), Zuaque, Mayo, Ocoroni, Tehueco,
Conicari, Chicorata, Cavenata, Ahome, and Guazave. (As to Ocoroni,
Conicari, Chicorata, and Ahome, see notes below.) Cavenata is
merely the name of a pueblo given nowhere else as a dialect.
As there appears to be no difference of opinion in regard to Yaqui,
Mayo, and Tehueco being dialects of the group, it will be necessary
to refer only to the early historical evidence regarding locahties.
As it has been suggested by Doctor Kroeber that the term Cahita
is merely the native word meaning ''nothing," and is therefore
inappropriate as an ethnic designation, the name "Yaqui group"
(from that of the best known tribe) has been adopted as more
appropriate.
The Indians using the Yaqui dialect are almost universally located
by our authorities on the Yaqui river; there are, however, some
exceptions which will be referred to. The first notice of them is
probably that in the Segunda Relacion Anonima of the journey of
Nuno de Guzman, between 1530 and 1540.^ It is stated in this
(ii, 300-302) that after passing over the Rio de Tamachola, wliich
appears to be the Fuerte (as Alegre, i, 231, impUes), and travehng
30 leagues, they came to a river called Mayo on which hved a tribe
("gente") of the same "arte" and same language as those of the
Sinaloa. Having passed on (northward), they came to another
stream called Yaquimi, well peopled, "y los pueblos del arte de los de
Cinaloa y de Mayon." The writer adds on the next page, "Desde el
Rio de Petatlan hasta el de Yaquimi es todo una gente." That the
Petatlan is the same river as that at present named Sinaloa is
affirmed by Alegre (i, 231).
As there is some confusion in regard to the use of the names Sinaloa
(or Cinaloa) and Zuaque as appUed to tribes, and also some confusion in
regard to the location of some of the tribes, it seems advisable first to
give the evidence relating thereto. Hervas (323) , quoting the following,
1 In Colec. Doc. Hist. Mex. ; see Icazbalceta iu the Bibliography.