Whilst perusing old documents from early colonial Hispaniola, we came across something we somehow forgot about. According to a 1495 list of items given (and seized) by the Spaniards and brought to Spain, Xaragua's cacique, Behechio gifted gold and objects covered with gold to Cristobal de Torres. What is most interesting about this is that Behechio did not give Xaragua's better-known products, cotton or cotton goods, to the Admiral. Presumably this was due to his understanding that the Spaniards preferred gold above all. So, instead of naguas, hammocks, cotton, macanas, ropa de pluma or other objects highly valued by Xaragua's elite, gold and objects featured gold encrustrations were given. It is a pity the source does not indicate what the figure covered by gold was. Was it a cemi object? And was he simply engaging in this because the Spaniards had defeated his brother-in-law, Caonabo?
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