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Capitán de amigos

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In colonial and early republican Chile capitán de amigos (lit. captain of friends) were Spanish and Mestizo officials who surveilled friendly indigenous tribes (Spanish: indios amigos). Capitanes de amigos were oversighted by higher-ranking officials known as comisario de naciones.[1] It was not uncommon for a capitán de amigos to live among the indigenous peoples he was in charge of, sometimes marrying indigenous women and even adopting prohibited customs such as Mapuche polygamy.[1] Knowing both Spanish and indigenous cultures some capitanes de amigos took advantage of this to profit in frontier trade.[1] In times of indigenous revolts information provided by capitanes de amigos was crucial for Spanish and Chilean authorities.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Tipos fronterizos". Memoria Chilena (in Spanish). Biblioteca Nacional de Chile. Retrieved January 12, 2021.