Brinton. ^"^ [Nov. 4, 



useful with regard to money and measures, by avoiding a quantity of frac- 

 tions. Tlie King, after spealcing at great lengtli on tliis subject, expressed a 

 desire tliat we sbould mal^e a trial with some other number than 10. Having 

 represented to him that this could not be done unless we inventednew figures, 

 to which also names altogether different from the ancient ones must be given, 

 as otherwise great confusion would arise, he desired us to prepare an example 

 in point. We chose the number 8, of which the cube root is 2, and wliich 

 being divided by 2, is reduced to the primitive number 1. We also invented 

 new figures, to which we gave new names, and proceeded according to the 

 ordinary method ; after which we applied them to the cubic calculations, as 

 well as to money, and to measures. The essay having been presented to the 

 King, he was pleased with it" [Appendix to Life, etc., pp. 123, 124) . 



On the so-called Alaguilac Language of Guatemala. 



By D. G. Brinton, 3I.D. 



{Bead before the American Philosophical Socieli/, Nov. 4, 1887.) 



In his valuable treatise on the ethnography of the Republic 

 Ouatemahi , Dr. Ofcto Stoll classes the Alaguilac language, once 

 spoken by a tribe resident on the Motagua river in that country, 

 among the languages of unknown affinities, Sprachen unbekann- 

 ter Stellung ; and he also adds, that at the time of his visit to 

 the vicinity — now about Sve years ago — the tongue was entirely 

 €xtinct, being supplanted by the Spanish.* 



It were greatly to be regretted that any language or dialect 

 should perish completely, leaving no record behind it b}^ which 

 we can assign its place in the linguistic scheme. I am happy to 

 say, this is not the case with the Alaguilac. I have in my hands 

 materials from several sources from which to identify this now 

 extinct tongue, and also to cast some interesting glimpses on the 

 ancient civilization of the tribe w^hich once spoke it. These 

 sources are : — 



I. Four leaves in folio, originals, from the archives of the 

 Parish of San Cristobal Acasaguastlan, dating from 1610 to 

 1637, in bad condition, but mostly legible. 



II. A collection of words and phrases obtained in 1878 by 

 Francisco Bromowicz from an Indian woman at the village of 



*• Stoll, Zur EtJinographie dcr Repuhlik Guatemala, s. 172. Also, Guatemala, Reisen unci 

 Schilderuncjcn, s. 30J. 



