Yoraco Indian
Sergio Umbria
Yoraco was an indigenous chief from Venezuela
In chaima etymology his name means fox or devil
It is presumed that he was born in the Tácata Valley, state
Miranda, on an unknown date
The legendary existence of Yoraco is based on the narrative
What did José de Oviedo y Baños do about his death in his
History of the conquest and population of the province of Venezuela
According to Baños, in 1574, four Teques Indians accompanied as
Interpreters to two Spanish soldiers named Juan Pascual and Diego
Sánchez to the Tácata Valley, which they intended to seize. To its
Arrival they were massacred while the interpreters fled towards a
Caracas to bring the news to Lieutenant Francisco Carrizo
At the beginning of 1575, Carrizo headed towards Tácata with some
90 men to take control of the area. Upon his arrival he got the
Indigenous people waiting for them, and in the rear, Garci-Gonzalez de Silva
He observed about 500 archers preparing for an ambush
De Silva set out to chase them, but on the way he only managed to
Yoraco pointing a bow at him. Increasing the trot, De Silva charged him
From his horse: And gave him such a fierce bounce with his lance, that suspending him
From the ground, he carried it briefly through the air
Giving him up for dead, De Silva released the Indian and, turning around, observed that the
He himself stood up and faced two Spaniards called
Juan de la Parra and Diego Méndez, who soon killed him
Here, Baños' narrative created the legend of the supernatural nature of
Yoraco when describing how after death his wounds did not bleed, and
That only when they removed a necklace of "red stones" did he begin to
Bleed out. According to Baños, this necklace was appropriated by De Silva, who
He kept it as a treasure until some years later, the governor of
Venezuela, Diego de Osorio, upon learning of his alleged power
He removed it to send it as a curiosity to King Philip II of Spain