Cacique

Cacique (Spanish cacique ) is a term for indigenous leaders or nobles in Central and South America.

The word originates from the common language of the Taíno in the Caribbean. First written mention is found in Christopher Columbus' log of his first voyage to the New World. The corresponding entry from December 17, 1492 is as follows:

"I saw one of them, the other cacique called, and I thought was the governor of the province, a palm-sized gold leaf held in his hands and acted as if he wanted to exchange it for something else. "

The following Spanish " explorers ", conquistadors and chroniclers adopted the term in a broader geographical context. Areas where there was a cacique, were cacicazgo called.

Manuscript you Cacique, also Codex Becker, ie, a pre-colonial Mexican pictorial manuscript of the Aztecs, in the unusual figure of six musicians is included, the drums, rattles, wind instruments, and possibly a musical bow play.