352 
SON 
Mayo; and the province of Sonora includes all the northern 
extremity of the intendancy. 
The intendancy of Sonora is bounded on the west by the 
sea, on the south by the intendancy of Guadalaxara, and on 
the east by a very uncultivated part of New Biscay. Its 
northern limits are very uncertain. The villages de la Pime- 
ria Alta are separated from the banks of the Rio Gila, by a 
region inhabited by independent Indians, of which neither 
the soldiers stationed on the military fort in that quarter, nor 
the monks of the neighbouring missions, have been hitherto 
able to make any conquest. 
The three most considerable rivers of Sonora are Culiacan 
Mayo, and Yaqui or Sonora. The most northern part of 
the intendancy bears the name of Pimeria, from a numerous 
tribe of Pimas Indians who inhabit it; and in all the ravines, 
and even the plains of the hilly country; the precious metals 
are found. Pieces of pure gold, of the weight from 5 to 8 
lbs. have sometimes been discovered. They are however, 
by no means diligently sought after on account of the 
frequent incursions of the independent Indians, and especi¬ 
ally on account of the high price of provisions, which must 
be brought from a great distance, in this uncultivated coun¬ 
try. Farther north, on the Rio de la Ascension, live a very 
warlike race of Indians. 
No permanent communication has hitherto been estab¬ 
lished between Sonora, New Mexico, and New California, 
although the court of Madrid has frequently given orders for 
the formation of military posts and missions between the Rio 
Gila and the Rio Colorado. Two courageous and enter¬ 
prising monks, however, were able to go across the conti¬ 
nent by land, through the countries inhabited by indepen¬ 
dent Indians, from the missions of Le Pimeria Alta to 
Monterey, and even to the Port of San Francisco. After a 
journey of eleven days, they arrived at a vast and beautiful 
plain, one league’s distance from the southern bank of the 
Rio Gila. They then discovered the ruins of an ancient 
Mexican city, in the midst of which is the singular edifice 
called La Casa Grande. These ruins occupy a space of ground 
of more than a square league. Casa Grande is exactly laid 
down according to the four cardinal points, having from north 
to south 445 feet in length, and from east to west, 276 feet in 
breadth. It is constructed of clay. The walls are three feet 
eleven inches in thickness ; and it is plain that the edifice had 
three stories and a terrace. The stair was on the outside, and 
probably of wood. There were five apartments, of which 
each is about 27 by 10 feet, and in height 1 feet. A wall, 
surmounted by large towers, surrounds the principal edifice, 
and appears to have defended it. The vestiges of an artificial 
canal, which brought the water of the Rio Gila to the town, 
were also visible; and the whole surrounding plain is also 
covered with broken earthen pitchers and pots, prettily painted 
in white, red, and blue. 
The Indians who live in the plains adjoining the Casa 
Grande of the Rio Gila, have never had the smallest commu¬ 
nication with the inhabitants of Sonora, although they are 
by no means their inferiors in civilization. In point of social 
habits, they form a singular contrast with the savages who 
wander along the banks of the Missouri, and other parts of 
Canada. The two missionary fathers already mentioned, 
when they penetrated to the south of Rio Gila, found the 
Indians there assembled to the number of 2000 or 3000, in 
villages, where they peaceably cultivate the soil. 
In the province of Sonora there are reckoned one city, 
Arispe; two towns, Sonora and Hostemuri; 46 villages, 15 
parishes, 43 missions’ 20 farms, and 25 cottages. In 1793, 
the number of tributary Indians in the province of Sonora, 
amounted only to 251, while in the province of Cinaloa, 
they amounted to 1851. Thislast province was more anciently 
peopled than the former. In the intendancy of Sonora there 
are 121,000 inhabitants. The extent of its surface is 19,143 
square leagues ; and there are six inhabitants to each. 
SONORA, a town of Mexico, in the intendancy of 
Sonora ; 35 miles south of Arispe. Its population amounts 
to 6400. It trades with New Mexico and New Biscay, for 
the productions of those provinces; and with Old Mexico, 
S O 0 
both by land and sea, through the gulph of California. It is 
celebrated for cheese, horses, and sheep. 
SONORI'FIC, adj. [sonorus and facio, Lat.] Producing 
sound.—If he should ask me why a clock strikes, and points 
to the hour; and I should say, it is by an indicating form 
and honorific quality, this would be unsatisfactory. Watts. 
SONO'ROUS, adj. [sonoreux , Fr., sonorus, Lat.] Loud 
sounding; giving loud or shrill sound. Bodies are distin¬ 
guished as sonorous or unsonorous. 
All the while 
Sonorous metal blowing martial sounds; 
At which the universal host up-sent 
A shout that tore hell’s concave. Milton. 
High sounding; magnificent of sound.—The Italian opera 
amidst all the meanness and familiarity of the thoughts, has 
something beautiful and sonorous in the expression. Addison. 
SONO'ROUSLY, adv. With high sound ; with magni¬ 
ficence of sound. 
SONO'ROUSNESS, s. The quality of giving sound.—> 
Enquiring of a maker of viols and lutes of what age he 
thought lutes ought to be, to attain their full and best sea¬ 
soning for sonorousness, he replied, that in some twenty 
years would be requisite, and in others forty. Boole .— 
Magnificence of sound. 
SONSBECK, a town of the Prussian province of Cleves 
and Berg, situated near the river Wesel. Population 1500. 
SONSFELD, a small town in the duchy of Cleves. Po¬ 
pulation 1200. 
SO'NSHIP, s. Filiation; the character of a son.—The 
Apostle to the Hebrews makes afflictions not only incident 
but necessary to Christianity, the badge and cognizance of 
sons/iip. Dec. of Chr. Piety. 
SONSONATE, or Trinidad, the capital of a district of 
the same name, in Guatimala, sitnated near a bay on the coast 
of the Pacific Ocean. It contains 450 families of Spaniards, 
exclusive of mulattoes, Indians, and people of colour, who 
may amount to 1900. Lat. 13. 46. N. long. 89. 45. W. 
SONTHEIM, a town of Germany, in Wirtemberg. Po¬ 
pulation 800. 
SONTHOFEN, a town of Bavaria, on the Iller; 4 miles 
east-south-east of Immenstadt. Population 2500. 
SONTRA, a town of Germany, in Hesse Cassel, on the 
Gunter; 24 miles south-east of Cassel. Population 1400. 
SOOBOO, a Foulah village of Bambarra, in Central 
Africa ; 10 miles west of Sego. 
SOOBRUDOOKI, a town of Bondou, in Central Africa; 
20 miles south-west of Fatteconda. 
SOOHA, a village of Bambarra, in Central Africa, situated 
at a little distance from the Niger; 70 miles north-east of 
Pammakoo. 
SOOLA, a village of Kasson, in Central Africa, situated in 
a country so populous, that the king can raise 4000 men by 
beat of drum. 
SOOLOO ISLES, a chain of islands, about 60 in number, 
deriving their name from Sooloo, the principal island in the 
group. They extend in a north-east and south-west direction, 
from the north-eastern extremity of Borneo, to the western 
extremity of Magindano, and are comprehended between the 
4th and 7th degrees of north lat. There are several good 
harbours among these islands, particularly at Bewabewa, 
Tavitave, Tappool, Secassee, between Boobooan and Tap- 
peantana, south of Basselan. The harbour before Bewan, the 
Sooloo capital, is not good, except during the south-west 
monsoon. The island of Sooloo is situated in lat. 6. N. and 
long. 119. E. from Greenwich. It is 30 miles long, 12 broad, 
and may contain 60,000 inhabitants. This island, lying about 
midway between the islands of Borneo and Magindano, is 
well cultivated, affording a fine prospect from the sea, on 
every side, far superior to that of Malay countries in general. 
Sooloo being an island not very large, and the hills on it not 
being very high, nor consequently the clouds stopt by them, it 
has no certain rainy season, as have the large Malay islands. It 
enjoys a perpetual summer. Up the country it is always cool 
especially under the shade of the teak trees, which are nu¬ 
merous. 
