C. Hermann Berendt's handwritten transcription of a list of 147 vocabulary entries (p. 1-2, 10) in Spanish, with the equivalent in an unspecified Indian language (or dialect) of the Talamanca region in southeastern Costa Rica, probably Bribri, but possibly including Cabecar; accompanied by a 4-leaf questionnaire (p. 3-6), with 90 numbered questions and responses, concerning Indians of the Talamanca region identified as Viceitas (Biceitas, Biseytas), a designation that is often associated with the Bribri Indians but sometimes with both Bribri and Cabecar Indians. The questions are in the hand of Berendt, and the responses, although having a different appearance, are probably also in his hand. The vocabulary entries appear to be numbered 1-137 but, due to a repetition of the numbers 110-119, actually amount to 147; the last 11 vocabulary entries, numbered 126 to 137, are written at the end of the questionnaire (p. 10). According to the title page, the vocabulary was recorded by Lebkowitz in Moin, in the Limón province of Costa Rica. A note by Berendt (also on title page) explains that the (original?) manuscript was obtained by Charles N. Riotte and brought by him to Washington, D.C., in 1867, where, later on, in 1874, it was transcribed and sent to Berendt; Philipp J.J. Valentini is mentioned, perhaps as intermediary. (Riotte served as the U.S. ambassador, or minister resident, in Costa Rica from 1861 to 1867.) The vocabulary list has the heading: Republic of Costa Rica / Name of tribes / Queun, Bribri, Cabecar, & San José Cabagra. In another note (title page) Berendt identifies the person responsible for the notes (noticias) referred to in the title (meaning, evidently, the material in the questionnaire) simply as a Costa Rican. The first question asks, what do the Talmancans (Talamancas) call their tribe? The response is: Biseyta (possibly written initially as: Viseyta). The second question asks: what do the other Indian tribes in the vicinity call them? The response lists: Cuen; Orosi; Bribri; Uren; Tiliri; Cabeceros de Tiliri, San José Cabeguer; la Estrella; Jabui; Cabeceras de Blanco; Chirripo; Terebes (Teribe, Terraba). (The language of the last-named group, Terraba, is considered to be distinct from Bribri and Cabecar.) The questions are grouped under headings, roughly: names of the tribes; geography of the territory they inhabit; numbers of them; physical appearance; dress and basic way of life; dwellings; trade and interactions with other tribes; social life; war; medicine; literature; calendar and astronomy; history; and antiquities. For approximately 10 questions the responder indicates that he does not know the answer.
