Untitled - Smithsonian Institution
Untitled - Smithsonian Institution
Untitled - Smithsonian Institution
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iHOMAs] INDIAN LANGUAGES OF MEXICO AND CENTEAL AMEBICA 49<br />
Marcelo Alejandre (162) says that, according to tradition, the<br />
Huasteca coming from the north estabhshed themselves first at the<br />
place now known as Altamira, in Tamaulipas, and afterward moved<br />
to the left bank" of the Bar of Tampico. Sahagun (670) states that<br />
they lived in the province of Panuco, properly called Pantlan, or<br />
Panotlan. Pimentel (i, 5) says that at the coming of the Spaniards<br />
the place they occupied was at the north of the kingdom of Texcoco<br />
(Tezcuco), comprehending the north part of the state of Vera Cruz<br />
and a small part (''fraccion") of the bordering portion of San Luis.<br />
According to Orozco y Berra (1:206), their area extended along the<br />
Gulf coast from Vera Cruz to San Luis Potosi, extending probably<br />
some distance into Tamaulipas.<br />
TOTONAC<br />
As to their language and history, as well as to geographical posi-<br />
tion, the Totonac are one of the most interesting tribes of Mexico.<br />
The proper classification of their language has long been, and is still,<br />
m doubt, so much so that it is usually given as an mdependent stock.<br />
It was on their territory that Spanish history and Spanish rule had<br />
their initiation in Mexico and Central America, when Cortes appeared<br />
on the scene in 1519.<br />
The area they occupied was in the northern portions of what are<br />
now the states of Vera Cruz and Puebla and the eastern extremity<br />
of Hidalgo, the Gulf coast forming the eastern boundary, and the<br />
northern boundary following closely the twenty-first parallel of north<br />
latitude.<br />
According to the Arte of D. Jose Zambrano, which has been followed<br />
by subsequent writers, the Totonac language was divided into<br />
four idioms: Tetikilhati, spoken by the Tetikilhati in the high sierras;<br />
Chakahuaxti, spoken by Chakahuaxti in the pueblos of Xalpan and<br />
Pantepec; Tatimolo, spoken by the Tatimolo of the pueblo Naolingo;<br />
and Ipapana, spoken by the Ipapana in the missions of the Augustines.<br />
As these idioms have not been determined by subsequent<br />
investigation, they are omitted. The present tendency of linguistic<br />
opinion is to place the Totonac language in the Mayan family, thus<br />
bringing it into relation with the Huasteca. The long friendly relations<br />
between the two tribes correspond with this opinion. Orozco<br />
y Berra (1: 214) expressed his belief in the relationship of the two<br />
dialects.<br />
Tepehua<br />
The Tepehua, which has been given as distinct by Orozco y Berra,<br />
and located on his map along the northwestern border of the<br />
Totonac territory, is in all probability related to the latter and<br />
should be placed in the same group. He says that, joined to the Toto-