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THOMAS] INDIAN LANGUAGES OF MEXICO AND CENTRAL AMERICA 41
the Zacateco, and on the south and southeast with the Otomi. The
missions estabhshed among these Indians by the Franciscans, according
to the author hist quoted (who gives as his authority a manuscript
in the Archivo General), were San Luis, Saltillo, Venado, Charcas,
Valle de Atotonilco, Pinos, Asuncion TlaxcaHlla, and San Miguel
Mezquitic.
Their language, says Orozco y Berra Cl:285), was distinct. He
says also, in another place (1:298), "su lengua 'era propia,' y es
una de las que han desaparecido." Laet (281) says that it was dif-
ferent from that of the Zacateco. Arlegui (86), speaking of the
natives at and about the Convento of Asuncion de Tlascalilla, one
of those mentioned above, calls them '' Guachichiles Chichimecos."
Orozco y Berra (1: 280) appears to bring together the Cazcan
and the Guachichile as pertaining to the "Teules Chichimecas."
When referring to the Indians of the region under consideration,
Mota Padilla usually terms them Chichimecas. These people are
classed as Nahuatlan, on the authority of Doctor Hrdlicka, who
states that the most intelligent man among the Huichol told him
that Guachichil was the ancient name of his tribe. *Doctor Hrdlicka
adds that the Huichol to this day go over to San Luis Potosi to
camp during certain seasons of the year. This fact would account
for Orozco y Berra's puzzle in not finding Huichol referred to in the
early narratives.
The Term Chichimeca
It is probable that this term should be given a somewhat more
definite signification than philologists appear disposed to accord to
it. That it has been used in the past in widely different senses is
true, but when the more extravagant applications are cast aside
and the others are carefully studied, the use of the term is found
to be more limited. The fact that it has been interpreted as a
term of contempt signifying "dogs," or "dog people," even if
correct (although it is really doubtful), does not necessarily mean
that it was applied by those with whom it originated to any
and every barbarous people. When this elimination shall have
taken place, the name will be found to include people of more than
one stock, yet it seems to have had a geographical limitation, and if
the Otomi, or that portion of this stock usually included, be excluded,
there appears to be to some extent a linguistic signification.
It is unnecessary to quote authorities to show that the name
Chichimeca was applied geographically to tribes living north of
Mexico City, as this is generally admitted. The range may be fur-
ther limited, as follows: It does not appear that the name was ever
applied to the Tepehuane in Durango, or to any tribe living north
or west of them; it was never applied to the Cora on the southwest,
8347°—Bull. 44—11 4