Untitled - Smithsonian Institution
Untitled - Smithsonian Institution
Untitled - Smithsonian Institution
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THOMAS] INDIAN LANGUAGES OF MEXICO AND CENTRAL AMERICA 79<br />
the area occupied by the entire family, indicating the tribal or sub-<br />
tribal names at such points therein as, from the best evidence acces-<br />
sible, appear to have been occupied by them respectively. The fact<br />
must be borne in mind, however, that the very existence of some of<br />
these tribes or subtribes is disputed.<br />
:<br />
After comparing what is said by Squier and other authorities on<br />
the subject, Brinton, the principal authority here followed in the<br />
classification of the Ulvan. tribes, gives (3: 162-163) the following<br />
with their respective habitats<br />
Carchas, or Cukras, on the Rio Mico, above the Matlack Falls.<br />
Cocos, on the Rio Coco (Segovia).<br />
Melchoras, on the Rio de los Ramas (Bluefielda).<br />
Micos, on the Rio Mico.<br />
Pantasmas, in the upper basin of the Rio Coco.<br />
Parrastahs, on the Rio Mico.<br />
Siquias, on the upper Rio Mico.<br />
Subironas, on the Rio Coco.<br />
Taocas, or Twakas, at San Bias, on the Rio Twaka.<br />
Ulvas (Woolwas or Smoos), on the headwaters of the Bluefields river.<br />
It must be added, however, that Brinton does not furnish his<br />
authority for some of these names and localities, and that Sapper<br />
(1 : 29) seems to doubt the correctness of his list and peoples the areas<br />
very largely with the Sumo. He says:<br />
The Sumos are mentioned by Brinton under the name Ulvas; aside from the Indians<br />
given as Bulbuls, Carchas, Cocos, Micos, Parrastahs, Pantasmas, Melchoras, Siquias,<br />
Smoos, Subironas, Twakas, and Woolwas, all however seem to belong to the Sumos.<br />
Squier and other authorities mention the Twaka, Cukra, and Ulva;<br />
and Reclus (283) names in addition the Pantasma, Melchora, Siquia,<br />
and Laman. The last-named author locates on his map most of the<br />
names he gives, but not consistently with his text. Bell (1 : 242-<br />
268) mentions the following tribes: The Smoos, "the most numerous<br />
tribe," on the headwaters of all the rivers from Bluefields to Patook<br />
[Patuca]; the Twaka, "a tribe of Smoos," along the Twaka river, a<br />
branch of the Prinz Awala; the Toongla, along the other branch of the<br />
same river—a mixed race of Smoos and Mosquito Indians ; the Cookra,<br />
around Bluefields.<br />
Young (80) says the principal residence of the Twaka at that time<br />
was about the head of the Patuca river. Squier (4) locates them, on<br />
his map, on the middle section of Segovia river, which forms in part<br />
the boundary line between Honduras and Nicaragua. Keclus (261)<br />
makes the tribe a member of the Lenca group and locates them on the<br />
upper affluents of the Patuca river.<br />
As before noted, Brinton locates the Cookra (Cukra, Carcha) on the<br />
Rio Mico above Matlack Falls. According to Squier's map, the Mico<br />
is the same as the Bluefields river, which has received also the name<br />
Escondido, and was by the Indians called Lama and Siguia, the latter<br />
name referring probably only to a tributary. Squier places the