Coahuila

[James Maffie]

I agree with Joanna. First, this strikes me as a sound methodological
principle: when trying to explain some phenomenon, turn first to the
environment (or perceived environment) before resorting to (what from the
etic standpoint we deem) hallucinations, illusions, etc.

I am unfamiliar with the snakes in the region in question, but do I know
firsthand that sidewinders not only appear to fly across desert dunes but
in fact leave track marks that show that the snakes do actually leave the
ground.





On Fri, 22 Oct 2004, Joanna M. Sanchez wrote:

> I wonder why such flight phenomena would be limited to
> To: <NAHUAT-L at LISTS.UMN.EDU>
> Sent: Friday, October 22, 2004 10:08 AM
> Subject: Re: Coahuila
>
>
> > Flying Serpent?  Anthony Appleyard's take on "Flying Serpent"Feathered
> > Serpent."  Would it be that a "Flying Serpent" may have been envisioned as
> > possessing "Feathers" that made it fly?  As to Herodotus, what prompted
> him
> > to ascribe "flying snakes" to the Arabian desert but nowhere else?  Surely
> > some other explanation is at work here.
> >
> > >> The way I gathered, Teca(s) means "People" Correct?
> > >> Thus "COAHUILTECANS" means "People of the Flying Serpent?"
> > >
> > > Coahuila is largely desert, like nearby Sonora. In the dese