Guachichil

Of all the Chichimeca natives, the Guachichiles occupied the most extensive territory. Most of their home laid in the present state of Zacatecas, but they also occupied parts of northern Jalisco. They were considered both warlike and brave.

Origin of Name

The Guachichiles were known to paint their bodies, hair, and faces in red dye. For this reason they were called "guachichile" by the Mexica, meaning "heads painted of red".

Language

The Guachichil language is now extinct and very little is known about it. It may have been an Uto-Aztecan language closely related to the Huichol language.

References

* Miller, Wick. (1983). Uto-Aztecan languages. In W. C. Sturtevant (Ed.), "Handbook of North American Indians" (Vol. 10, pp. 113-124). Washington, D. C.: Smithsonian Institution.