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THOMAS] INDIAN LANGUAGES OF MEXICO AND CENTRAL AMERICA 81
about midway between Bluefields and San Juan rivers, extending
but a comparatively short distance toward the interior, except along
the banks of some of the 'larger rivers. The statements of writers of
some years ago in regard to the extent of country occupied by these
Indians must be received with some reserve, being more or less
warped by their relations with the contending governments. Even
Squier must be included in this class. It is unnecessary to quote
here the statements referred to. It may be stated, however, that
Pittier (9), judging by the local names, is of the opinion that in the
past people of this race occupied the coast of Costa Rica from San
Juan river to Chiriqui lagoon. In the present paper Sapper is followed
as to the area embraced in tlie Mosquito territory.
The language is considered distinct. Lucien Adam, who has
studied its grammatical construction, decides that it can not be
brought into relation with either the Caribbean or the Chibchan
stock. Notwithstanding this high authority, the writer is inclined
to accept the traditional, or perhaps it may be said the semihis-
torical, assertion that the primary element of the mixture was Carib.
That the language contains Carib elements, whether borrowed or not,
soon becomes evident on comparison.
General Remarks on the Tribes of Costa Rica
Continuing the investigation southward, Costa Rica next engages
attention. On account of its bearing on the determination of the
boundaries of the areas throughout which other dialects were spoken,
it is necessary to refer again to Orotina,^ already noticed (see p. 78),
in order to fix more definitely the eastern and southeastern boundary
of the area throughout which it was spoken. As already stated
(p. 78), Peralta appears to give the Barranca river, which enters the
Gulf of Nicoya on the eastern side, near the city of Punta Arenas, as
the southeastern boundary. Fernandez (1 : 548) asserts it was
proven that Orotina was a generic speech applicable to all the Gulf
region of Nicoya. He says also (1:35, note h), in commenting on
the Relacion of Andres de Cereceda, who accompanied Gil Gonzales
de Avila (about 1522) on his expedition northward along the western
coast, that the Orotina occupied the coast (on the eastern side of the
gulf) between the rivers Aranjuez and Chomes (Guasimal). These
are two small rivers, but a few miles apart, which enter the gulf on
the eastern side a short distance north of Rio Barranca. Fernandez
thus locates their southern boundary substantially at the same point
as that indicated by Peralta.
The northern and western limits, however, are not so definitely
given.
1 Orotina: Sn. Urutina, Gumtina, Nicoya. The name Nicoya was seldom used as referring to the
people or language, but was used interchangeably with Orotina as referring to the gulf, and sometimes
to the surrounding regions occupied by the Orotina.