Jim I think the correct spelling is Hicotea , though I've many people say Jicotea too. But I can't swear that on the bible.
On the risk of steering this thread from the OP I must say that although I believe the ammount of Taino blood in our veins is negligible(sp?) there is a few things that we inherited from them. The most used words are:
Taino (Obviously): it originally meant "the good people"
Barbacoa: Barbeque, (BBQ)
Haiti: I believe means mother of all land. Don't take my words.
Quisqueya: Same meaning as Haiti, same disclaimer.
Cibao: Means "land within mountains"
Cacique: Chief
Cacicazgo: Chieftain
Conuco: piece of land for farming
Huracán: Hurricane
Cazabe: Cassaba bread
Bohio: hut
Hamaca: hammock
There are many more words I can't recall now, but all these are of common use in DR and/or the world. Many towns still have Taino names, many people name their children after famous Taino people and many other words are still in use.
|