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 loca! 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 fol- 
lowed as to the area embraced in the 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 6), in commenting on 
the Relacién of Andrés 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. 
1Orotina: Sn. Urutina, Gurutina, 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. 
