34 THE ABORIGINES OF PORTO RICO 



The fact that each clan and each .subdivi.sioii of a chin had its chief, 

 whom, for want of a better designation, the Spaniards sometimes called 

 the caci(iue, partiallj' explains the variation in the number of caciques 

 that different writers ascribe to the island. 



Some of the more energetic of these clan chiefs had greater influ- 

 ence than others; but as the Spanish writers did not understand the 

 social organization of the island, they supposed that it was divided into 

 provinces, each ruled over b}' a special ruler who was subordinate to 

 a king, or supreme cacique. Leagues of more or less strength were 

 undoubtedl}' formed b}- the minor caciques for special purposes, such 

 as resistance to a connuon foe, but such a union was loose and its 

 oi-ganization feeble. In their resistance to the Spaniards and Carib 

 each cacique with his immediate followers acted practically on his 

 own resijonsibilit}', indei)endently fighting his own battles, except in 

 one or two rare instances, where there was a weak union. 



It is evident that a system of vassalage among chiefs was developed 

 in all sections of the island, a kind of blood kinship })V adoption. One 

 of the most interesting methods of showing fealty and union between 

 cacicjues was the custom of changing names, the participants becoming 

 blood kin, called natalox. We have several recorded instances in 

 earl^' writings where Spaniards and caciques practi.sed this custom of 

 name changing, the European taking the name of the Indian, and vice 

 versa. For instance, Ponce de Leon, in order to cement his friendship 

 with the natives, took the name of Aguebana from their chief, who in 

 turn received that of Ponce, by which name he is known in earl}' 

 writings. The name of the cacicjue's mother was changed to the Span- 

 ish Doiia Inez, and his l)rother took the name of a captain in Ponce de 

 Leon's companj'. This change of name, accompanied with ceremo- 

 nies, was a symbol of continued friendship and was supposed to make 

 the participants allies for all time. With the natives it was seriously 

 respected, but among the Spaniards it was too often disregarded. 



The caciciues were distinguished from their people bj' their dress 

 and adornments. According to Las Casas the Haitian men and 

 wonu'n of the better class wore earrings as large as bracelets, metal 

 ornaments in their no.ses, and moon-shaped pendants on their breasts. 

 \\'hen they could afford it all these adornments were made of gold. 

 They were accustomed to wear their hair long, tied in a knot on the 

 forehead or Inmched on the back of the head. They sometimes put 

 crowns or garlands on their heads and bracelets or plates of tine gold 

 on their ankles and wrists, and had ornaments in the form of strings 

 of tish bones and precious stones. The caciques wore, as a symbol of 

 their rank, suspended from the neck and hanging down on the breast, 

 a gold pendant called a (juuri.ii. 



In war the men donned all their jewelry and painted their bodies 

 red with a vegetable dye called hifa. At this time also the}' wore 



