mong them.

They were governed by Caciques, whose eldest sons inherited the
succession. In the absence of a son the chief was succeeded by the
eldest son of his sister, that there might be no doubt as to true
descent.

The tutelary deity was Cerni, who was made to speak by the Buhitis or
medicine men, who were at the same time the priests. The Buhites hid
themselves behind the statue of Cerni and declared war or peace,
arranged the seasons, granted sunshine or rain, or whatever was
required, according to the will of the Cacique. When announcements were
not fulfilled the Buhites declared that the Cerni had changed his mind
for wise reasons of his own, "without on this account," says Fray Inigo,
"the power or credit of the pretended deity, or his mendacious ministers
being doubted, such being the simplicity and ignorance of the Indians."

The chiefdoms were divided into small provinces, which for the most part
only comprised the inhabitants of a valley; but all were subject to the
head Cacique, who at the time of the conquest was Aqueynoba. He was
actually governor-in-chief, the others being his lieutenants, who
carried out his orders in their respective districts.

Men and unmarried women wore no clothing, but painted their bodies
abundantly, and with much skill, drawing upon them many varieties of
figures with the ores, gums and resins which they extracted from trees
and plants. In this uniform they presented themselves in their military
expeditious, public balls, and other assemblies. To be well painted was
to be well dressed, and they learned from experience besides that the
resinous matter and vegetable oils with which they painted their bodies
served to preserve them from excessive heat and superabundant
perspiration. The paint also served to protect them from the changes of
atmosphere, the dampness of climate, and the plague of the numerous
varieties of mosquitoes and other insects, which, without this
precaution, constantly annoyed them. They wore headdresses made of
feathers with exquisite colors. They put small plates of gold on their
cheeks, and hung shells, precious stones and relics from their ears and
noses, and the image of their god Cerni was never forgotten. The chiefs
used as a distinctive emblem a large golden plate worn on their breasts.
Married women wore an apron which descended to about half their leg; but
no clothing was worn on the rest of the body. The wives of the Caciques
wore their aprons