[NTR0D1 I HON 33 



the Spaniards and during the ( Conquest the distribut ion 

 of this nation was made still greater. The Mexicans, 

 and especially the natives of Tlaxcala, accompanied the 

 Spaniards on military expeditions against other tribes 

 and as a consequence many place 1 names in southern 

 Mexico and Guatemala were translated into their 

 language. There were, however, Large groups of Indians 

 of this stock already located in this territory: the 

 Pipiles were given their name, which means "hoys," 

 because their speech was somewhat different from 

 classical Mexican. They were situated in southern 

 Guatemala and in Salvador. Still farther south were 

 the Xiqnirao of Nicaragua and a little-known group 

 called tin 1 Sigua in ( Josta Rica. 



The wide geographical distribution of Uto-Aztecan 

 languages has an undeniable historical significance. The 

 numerous tribes represent a very wide range in culture 

 albeit nearly all are dwellers of arid or semi-arid regions. 

 Some, like the Paiute,are miserable "diggers" willing to 

 eat anything that will support life: others like the 

 ( 'omanche are warlike raiders; more progressive tribes 

 like the Hopi have adopted agriculture and developed 

 interesting art- and customs; while the highest mem- 

 ■ >f the group are among the most civilized nation- <>t 

 the New World. It seems clear that language can be 

 used a.- a ba>i< of classification over a much greater 

 stretch of time than can other social habit.- summed up 

 as "culture." Particular phases of art, religion, and 

 government develop and disappear, but the grouping of 

 Bounds used to express ideas remains as proof that 

 peoples now far apart geographically as well as in their 

 habits and achievements were once close together. The 

 peculiar distribution of the Uto-Aztecan languages 

 may indicate a general southward movement of the 

 ■k. 



