The derivation of Tulan, or Tula, is extremely uncertain.

The Abbe Brasseur sees in it the _ultima Thule_ of the ancient geographers, which suits his idea of early American history.

Hernando De Soto found a village of this name on the Mississippi, or near it.

But on looking into Gallatin's vocabularies, _tulla_ turns out to be the Choctaw word for _stone_, and as De Soto was then in the Choctaw country, the coincidence is explained at once.

Buschmann, who spells it _Tollan_, takes it from _tolin_, a rush, and translates, _juncetum_, _Ort der Binsen.