Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-10-06
Agriculture and fishing furnish the prin


clpal means of sustenance. The chase i
comparatively unimportant. Dogs are
unknown, and domeSticated animals are
limited to a few birds, principally of the
parrot tribe. Corn, cotton. tobacco. sweet
potatoes and other tubers, are cultivated.
Rice, cane, mandioca and the banana are
unknown. The plantations are of consid-
cradle extent, and compare fayorably with
those OF the whites of Matte Crosse. The
forest Is cleared by the use of polished
stone axes about the size of the fist, fixed
in a wooden handle The teeth of certain
fishes serve for knives, and river shells as
scrapers for working in wood. For hoes or
piows, pointed sticks and the claws of the
giant armadillo are used. The stones pre-
ierred for axes come from stream-beds in
the possession of single tribe. The COM
mercial relations, however, are limited to
an exchange OF presents without idea of
values. In the first trade made with the
explorers, for an AK, large canoe, which
had to be carried for two leagues on the
shoulders of six men, was gladly given in
exchange. On another occasion a basket
OF fruit gathered in the presence of the
party was offered for the same coveted in
strument.
Another object of Indian barter is
pottery, made only by the wo-
men of certain tribes, all of which be-
long to the Nu-Aruak stock. Tattooing is
also limited to ceramic tribes. The most
perfect objects of their industry are the
masks used in dancing. The Tupi tribes
make them of painted fabrics; the others.
of wood, with large noses and small open-
ings for the eyes, ornamented with SYM
metrical design of the face.
In general, only the men take nart in
the dances, ornamcnted with feathers, and
with the body enyeloped in cIoaks of
palm-iiber. The step is marked by the
shaking OF rattle, and the dance is ac-
companied by songs containing ancient
words, some of which are evidently unin-
telligible to the Indians themselves The
only other musical instrument is the flute
OF one or three tubes, and of all sizes, from
very small ones up to those in which the
larger tube is as high as man. In the
dances great use is made of bows and ar
rows, and, in the Tupi tribes, of pecu-
liar form of arrow, shot, not from bow.
but from a throwing-stick held in the
hand. The dances are held within or in
front Of the feast house, called the "hute-
house" 1t is believed that any woman
who should venture to enter this house
would die. In other respects. however.
the position of the woman Is not so in
ferior as is generally supposed. Although
her position may be that of a servant.
she knows, like her civilized sisters, how
to obtain fair share in the government.
They are devoted mothers, though the
children are held to have more Intimate
relations with the father, from whom they
are supposed to derive body and soul, than
with the mother. Parentage, however, is
traced through the mother. On the oc-
casion OF birth, the father remains for
several days in his hammock on a diet
OF water and porridge. Marriage is mo-
nosamous, and is effected by the bride
groom taking his chosen bride to his lodge
and hanging his hammock over hers.
The dead are buried in front of the least
house, with the head to the east, holes or
canals being made to facilitate the en-
trance Of ants and other insects. The be-
lief in continuation of life after death is
general. In dreams the soul is believed to
leave the body and wander in the places
dreamed of; and it is recommended not to
awaken sleeper suddenly, for fear the
time may not be given for the return of
the soul. They have many legends OF
their ancestors, which pass from genera
ton to generation, and appear to contain
many antiquated words The idea of a
personal God is unknown. The pages pre-
tend to control the storms, and all cases of
illness or death are attributed to them.
They are also the physicians, the treat
ment consisting principally in blowing
tobacco-smoke on the patient The blow
ing Of smoke in the ears of guests is also
a sign of friendship, and the latter are in
vited to moisten the ears of their hearers
with spittle in order to be more clearly
understood. The pages appear to enjoy as
much respect as the chiefs. The authority
of the latter, unless it be in war, is not
great. Dissatisfaction with the govern
ment is expressed by migration in a
body from the village, leaving the govern
ment to itself
The number of Indians on the Batovy
and Kuliseu is estimated at more than
5000. Before returning, the explorers
distributed among them their stores, in
Guiding over 400 knives, so that the flu
ture traveller in this region will no longer
find the stone age
ORvILLE A. DERBY.
Rio de Janeiro, July Goth.