Glossary
Book 1
agouti—(Taino) a rabbitlike animal native to the West Indies.
ahau —(Maya) title of the chief of the “Itza” Maya of Tayasil.
ah canul —(Maya) mercenaries imported from other tribes.
ah kin —(Maya) title of the high priest.
amayxoya —(Caddo) the warrior class of the Caddoan tribes.
arban—(Mongol) military unit of ten.
Atali—(Cherokee) eastern Cherokee dialect.
balam—(Maya) jaguar.
batey—(Taino) the “ball” game as played by the Taino.
cacique—(Taino) major chieftain of the Taino, head of whole areas. There were five such on Aiti (Hispaniola), and nine on Boriquen (Puerto Rico).
caddi —(Caddo) the town and village chiefs of the Caddoan tribes.
canahas —(Caddo) the elders of the Caddoan tribes.
cazabi—(Taino) bread made from the manioc root.
cazonci—(Tarascan) the principle ruler of the Tarascans.
chaya—(Caddo) the “pages” of the Caddoan tribes.
chinampa—(Nahual) “islands” in Lake Texcoco made of contained dredged lakebed used for cultivation of crops and flowers.
chocolatl—(Nahual) chocolate.
conna—(Caddo) the Caddoan shaman.
coyotl—(Nahual) coyote.
Elati —(Cherokee) western Cherokee dialect.
Ferengi—(Mongol) derived from the word Frank, it was the generic term for all European people.
halach uinic—(Maya) “true man” the ruler of a Maya town.
hamaca—(Taino) a hammock made of cotton mesh.
Hanjen—(Mongol) northern (Chin or Han) Chinese.
hurakan—(Taino) hurricane.
jagun—(Mongol) military unit of one hundred.
kashim—(Mongol) the name of the elite guard assigned to protect the Khan.
ke’let—(Chukchi) the “evil” spirits responsible for all disease and misfortune. The shaman would struggle with them in the spirit world during trance to force them to leave.
kumis—(Mongol) fermented mare’s milk.
Loochi—Zapoteca name for their language.
li—(Chinese) distance measurement about 1/3 mile.
maguey—(Nahual) multipurpose plant native to Mexico.
manidoo—(Algonquin) impersonal supernatural power that can be controlled or manipulated under certain circumstances.
manoomin—(Chippewa) wild rice.
matapi—(Taino) a long tubular basketlike container used to squeeze the juice out of the grated manioc tubers.
mico—(Muskhogean) a village or town chief.
miigis shell—(Chippewa) a sacred cowry shell that led the Chippewa from the “eastern sea” to Madeline Island in Lake Superior.
minghan—(Mongol)—military unit of one thousand.
mondamin—(Chippewa) corn or maize.
mukamur—(Tungus) intoxicating mushroom of eastern Siberia.
Nahual—(Nahual) language of the Aztecs among others in the Valley of Mexico. Was supposedly the language of the Toltecs.
nawak’osis—(Siksika) tobacco.
ocelotl—(Nahual) jaguar.
oli—(Nahual) rubber.
ongons—(Mongol) familial gods or demigods who would look after the family members, the flocks, etc. They were usually felt cutouts.
Ordu—(Mongol) a camp, semifixed. In the book, it is the organizational name for each tumen.
Semujen—(Mongol) non-Chinese Asians.
Sungjen—(Mongol) southern (Sung) Chinese.
tanmas—(Caddo) Kadohadacho announcer (like a town crier).
tobaco (Taino) cigarlike version oftobacco.
travois—(French) a sledlike device used by natives for hauling loads consisting of two poles attached to a harness tied to a dog or horse on one end and dragged on the ground on the other end.
tumbaga (Taino) the name of a copper-gold alloy highly prized by the Taino for its reddish color.
tumen—(Mongol) a military unit of 10,000 soldiers, organized into groups of 10, 100, and 1000. Historically, they were like a small mobile city, in that they were completely self-sufficient. In the book, each tumen is headquartered in a separate Ordu.
Xinesi—(Caddo) Kadohadacho principle chief and high priest.
yacatas—(Tarascan) odd-shaped temple-tombs of the “kings” of the Tarascans.
yam—(Mongol) stations set up along main travel routes about 25 to 30 miles apart where a traveler or messenger could get food, shelter, and a change of horses as needed. There was often a contingent of soldiers to guard each post.
yoca—(Taino) the yucca or manioc plant.
yurt—(Mongol) a large circular tent made of felt over a wicker frame. The upper part was conical with a small round neck projecting as a chimney. It could be set up or taken down in a half an hour.
ziinzibaakwad—(Chippewa) maple sugar.