Conference scass1::texas

209.0. "How Texas was named" by PAMSIC::STEPHENS () Sun Feb 02 1997 21:20

    The word "Texas" is used here only for the convience of the pupil,
    since at this date [1542] there was no territory bearing that name. 
    Historians differ as to the origin of the name.   The most plausible
    theory seems to be this: the Spanish word "teja" (tay hah) means roof.
    [Alonso] De Leon, hearing of a tribe of Indians called the Tejas on
    account of the extra quality of their thatched roots, called all the
    country over which these red men roamed Tejas.   In course of time the
    J was corupted into X and the name was applied to a larger teritory. 
    Some authorities state that the Spanish records in San Antonio show
    that Del Leon and his men, on meeting the Indians were affectionately
    embraced and greeted as "Tehias! Tehias!" (Friends! Friends!)  As other
    tribes also proved friendly, De Leon called them all "Tehias," and
    their lands Texas.
    
    	-from a school texbook, "A History of Texas"
    				 by Anna Hardwicke Pennybacker, 1895