| MUOI-MUR-IRE-SAVANERO. | VALIENTE-GUAYMI-NORTENO. | |
|---|---|---|
| Sun, | cui, | nono, noana. |
| Moon, | dai, | so, go. |
| Water, | ci, ca, | ño, ñu. |
| Man, | cuia, | ni-togua. |
| Woman, | moima, | ni-uire. |
| Eye, | guagava, | ogua. |
| Nose, | se, chegua, | ni-doñ, domo. |
| Foot, | sera, | n-goto. |
Dr. Max Uhle, in a late essay, has collected numerous verbal identities between the various Guaymi and Talamanca dialects on the one hand, and the Aroac and Chibcha on the other, including most of the simple numerals and many words besides those which would be likely to be introduced by commerce. Not stopping with this, he has successfully developed a variety of laws of vowel and consonant changes in the dialects, which bring the resemblance of the two groups into strong relief and do away with much of their seeming diversity. Moreover, he points out that the terminations of the present and imperative are identical, and the placement of words in the sentence alike in both. These and his other arguments are sufficient, I think, to establish his thesis; and I am at greater pains to set it forth, as I regard it as one of unusual importance in its bearing on the relations which existed in pre-historic times between tribes along the boundary of the two continents.
As to the course of migration, I do not think that the discussion of the dialectic changes leaves any room for doubt. They all indicate attrition and loss of the original form as we trace them from South into North America; evidently the wandering hordes moved into the latter from the southern continent. So far, there is no evidence that any North American tribe migrated into South America.
To illustrate these points I quote from Uhle’s tables the following:
Comparison of the Chibcha with the Costa Rican Dialects.
(T. = Talamanca. G. = Guaymi.)
| CHIBCHA. | COSTA RICA. | |
|---|---|---|
| Head, | zysqui, | dzekung, T., thokua, G. |
| Ear, | cuhuca, | kuku, T. |
| Tongue, | pcua, | ku, T. |
| Breasts, | chue, | tsu, T. |
| Navel, | mue, | mbwo, T. |
| Foot, | quihyca, | ketscha, T. |
| Bird, | sue, | du, T., nukua, G. |
| Fish, | gua, | gua, G. |
| Snake, | tacbi, | thekebe, G. |
| Ant, | ize, | tsa, T. |
| Maize, | aba, | ep, T. |
| Stone, | hyca, | hak, T. |
| Water, | sie, | di, T., chi, G. |
| Sun, | sua, | chui, G. |
| House, | güe, | hu, T., xu, G. |
| Comb, | cuza, | kasch, T. |
| One, | ata, | et, T., ti, G. |
| Two, | boza, | bu, T., bu, G. |
| Three, | mica, | mia, T., mai, G. |
The numerous relics which since 1859 have been disinterred from the ancient sepulchres of Chiriqui may be attributed to the members of this stock; perhaps, as M. Pinart has suggested, to the ancestors of the Guaymis, or, as Dr. Berendt thought, to the Cunas or Coibas.[248] These graves are scattered in small groups or cemeteries, rarely more than ten acres in extent, over the Pacific slope of the province of Chiriqui. The similarity of the culture of their makers to that of the Chibchas has not failed to impress archæological experts. Thus, W. H. Holmes remarks in his admirable article on the “Art of Chiriqui.” “In their burial customs, in the lack of enduring houses or temples, and in their use of gold, they were like the ancient peoples of middle and southern New Granada.”[249]