168 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [bulu 73 
but attention should be called to a similar name recorded by the 
De Soto chroniclers in the neighborhood of the lower Savannah. 
This is the Talimeco or Jalameco of Ilanjel, 1 and the Talomeco of 
Garcilasso. 2 I venture the suggestion that all of these names are 
intended for the same word, Talimico or Talimiko, which again 
was probably from Creek Talwa immiko, ''town its chief," -wa 
being uniformly dropped in composition. The name would probably 
be applied to an important town. While we do not know definitely that 
it was applied to the Chiaha among the Yamasee, the fact that a tribe 
by that name is mentioned as living in the immediate neighborhood 
may be significant. In fact I am inclined to believe that the Talimeco, 
Jalameco, or Talomeco of the chroniclers of De Soto were the south- 
ern band of Chiaha. If this were the case the first appearance of 
both Chiaha bands in history would be in the De Soto chronicles. 
The Spaniards first learned of Talimeco from "the lady of 
Cofitachequi," who speaks of it as "my village," 3 but the ex- 
pression as quoted by Ranjel hardly agrees with his later state- 
ment to the effect that "this Talimeco was a village holding 
extensive sway." 3 The relation which Cofitachequi and Tali- 
meco bore to each other is rather perplexing, but, discounting the 
tendency of the Spaniards to discover kings, emperors, and ruling 
and subjugated provinces, we may guess that the tribes were allied 
and on terms of perfect equality. Later we find the Chiaha and 
Kawita maintaining just such an alliance. Ranjel says: 
In the mosque, or house of worship, of Talimeco there were breastplates like corse- 
lets and headpieces made of rawhide, the hair stripped off; and also very good shields. 
This Talimeco was a village holding extensive sway ; and this house of worship was on 
a high mound and much revered. The caney, or house of the chief, was very large, 
high, and broad, all decorated above and below with very fine, handsome mats, ar- 
ranged so skilfully that all these mats appeared to be a single one; and, marvellous 
as it seems, there wa s not a cabin that was not covered with mats. This people has 
many very fine fields and a pretty stream and a hill covered with walnuts, oak trees, 
pines, live oaks, and groves of liquid amber, and many cedars. 4 
Garcilasso is the only other chronicler who has much to say of 
Talimeco, or who even mentions its name. He says: 
Both sides of the road, from the camp to this town, were covered with trees, of which 
a part bore fruit, and it seemed as though they promenaded through an orchard, so 
that our men arrived with pleasure and without difficulty at Talomeco, which they 
found abandoned on account of the pest. Talomeco is a beautiful town, and quite 
noted, as it was the residence of the caciques. It is upon a small eminence near the 
river, and consists of five hundred well-built houses. That of the chief is elevated 
above the town, and is seen from a distance. It is also larger, stronger, and more 
agreeable than the others. Opposite this house is the temple, where are the coffins 
of the lords of the province. It is filled with riches, and built in a magnificent manner. 2 
i Bourne, Narr. of De Soto, n, pp. 98, 101. 3 Bourne, op. cit., p. 101. 
» Garcilasso, in Shipp, De Sotoand Florida, p. 362. * Ibid., pp. 101-102. 
