Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography/Canek (cacique)

CANEK, cacique of Itzalan, Mexico; d. about 1532. The capital of his kingdom was on an island at the centre of Lake Itza (Peten), and when Cortés visited the shores of that lake on his way to Hibueras, Canek and his court met him in a most friendly manner, and, after entertaining him for a few days, became a Christian and a subject of the king of Spain. Afterward he made many efforts to suppress idolatry among his people, but did not succeed. On his departure from Peten the Spanish conqueror had left a sick horse under the care of the Indians, who did their best to cure him; but the horse died and the Itznex raised statues to him and worshipped them as the representation of the god of lightning.