Alma 22:28-29 states the following:
Now, the more idle part of the Lamanites lived in the wilderness, and dwelt in tents; and they were SPREAD THROUGH THE WILDERNESS:
1. on the west, in the land of Nephi; yea, and also
2. on the west of the land of Zarahemla, in the borders by the seashore, and
3. on the west in the land of Nephi, in the place of their fathers' first inheritance, and thus bordering
along by the seashore.
4. And also there were many Lamanites on the east [of the land of Zarahemla] by the seashore,
whither the Nephites had driven them.
And THUS the Nephites WERE NEARLY SURROUNDED by the Lamanites.
In Alma 22:28-29, apparently three segments of the lowland west wilderness are distinguished. The reader should note that statement #1 and #3 are both "in" the land of Nephi; however, statement #2 is "on the west OF the land of Zarahemla." The fact that three segments of western coastline are listed here raises the question as to how much coastline on the west we are dealing with. One clue is that when Nephi fled from the land of first inheritance to the land of Nephi, he traveled "many days." (2 Nephi 5:7) [Alan C. Miner, Personal Notes] [See Geographical Theory Maps]
“The More Idle Part of the Lamanites”
According to Alma 22:28, there was a "more idle part" of the Lamanites. We might assume then that there was a part of the Lamanites that were considered "less idle." If so, that part of the land in which the "less idle" Lamanites lived was apparently located near where the land of Nephi had been built up by the Nephites and where the Lamanite king now resided.
If the "idle" part of that term pertained to their political and military activity, or in other words, if by "idle" they were "non-productive" both politically and to some extent militarily (see Mormon 3:14-16), then it is possible that these Lamanites had always been part of what is termed by Mormon "the land of Nephi," and to a large extent had been controlled by the Nephites. And perhaps some still were, although to a lesser extent, in certain locations within that "land of Nephi."
However, we find another definition for the word "idle" in Alma 1:32: "For those who did not belong to the church did indulge themselves in sorceries, and in idolatry or idleness, . . ." (emphasis added). Here the word "idle" is associated with idolatry. The reader should note that in all three references (Alma 22:27-34, Mormon 3:14-16, and Alma 1:32) it is Mormon who is speaking, so both of his definitions for the word "idle" might apply. Both definitions would be perfectly acceptable for the Lamanites which were occupying the lands on the west in the land of Nephi (on the Pacific coast of Guatemala) by the time of the events in Alma 22. It is not hard to imagine how idolatry (whether by true Lamanites or apostate Nephites) could have evolved from (and even been concurrent with) true Nephite worship (see Enos 1:20). [Alan C. Miner, Personal Notes]