 At the time of medieval European engagement, the Canary Islands were inhabited by a variety of indigenous communities.The pre-colonial population of the Canaries is generically referred to as Guanches, although, strictly speaking, Guanches were originally the inhabitants of Tenerife.According to the chronicles, the inhabitants of Fuerteventura and Lanzarote were referred to as "Maxos", Gran Canaria was inhabited by the "Canarii", El Hierro by the "Bimbaches", La Palma by the "Auaritas" and La Gomera by the "Gomeros".