The Opelousas courier., 1891-11-14

stoicism to the bites Of the enraged
creatures. If he endures the test, he is
entitled to d bride, otherwise he must
wait a year and then undergo it again.
There are still tribes descended from tho
ancient lncas which bandage the heads
Of their children SO that they assume q
copical' form FunnilY enough. the
brain does not seem to suffer any injury
from this treatment.
In Paraguay live the ferocious Indians
of the Gran Chaco, or "Great Woods"
who only a few days ago mastered every
soul in a civilized village of 800 people.
Before long they will be annihilated and
a superb territory will be opened to set.
Element. 1t is covered with the finest
forests in the world, full of tigers,
pumas, panthers, monkeys, parrots,
macaws and other interesting birds and
beasts. The trees are largely of the most
precious woods - particularly those
which will not float in water, such as the
black palm, ironwood and cocobolo.
Through this region flows the 1guassu
River, falling in a cataract which sur
passes Niagara in magniicence. In the
neighborhood of this waterfall 10 human
dwellings are to be found, because the
natives believe that the demon of the
stream occupies the spot.
In western Patagonian, among the
Cordiileras Mountains, dwell the giants
of whom so many big stories have been
told. As a matter of fact these-Araucan-
ians, as they are called, are rarely under
six feet in height and sometimes reach
eight feet, seven-foot men being not IN
frequent. Though mildly disposed they
admit no strangers to their territory, and
by stubborn resistance have compelled
Chill to let them alone. Fabulous treas
ures of gold and silver are believed to be
stored away in their mountains, but pros
pectors who have ventured thither have
always been driven away. They com,
monty adorn themselves with rich
and heavy ornaments of these
precious metals. The greater
part of Patagonia belongs now to
the Argentine Republic, Chill holding
by treaty the strip along the Pacific
coast which continues its shoestring-like
territory for nearly half the length Of
South America. Most of the country is
a desert waste, cold of climate and con
t~rasting strongly with the richly produc-
tive pampas OF plains of the southern
Argentine. These pampas are remark
able for the strange illusions which beset
the eye of the traveller who journeys over
them. On any bright day a distant this
tie field is as like as not to be trans
formed seemingly into a forest, while a
few clumps of grass will take on the ap-
pearance of a troop of horsemen. Mir,
ages are constantly in view, frequently
offering a delusive prospect of water, by
which men are often deceived, but their
horses never.
The natives of Venezuela and Guiana,
are beyond comparison the most beauti-
fully dressed people, civilized or other
wise, in the world. They wear complete
robes of gorgeous parrot feathers, head
dresses of other brilliant plumes and
necklaces made of thousands of lovely
beetles wings strung together, which
adorn very effectively their tawny
shroats. Not only do they obtain the
material for such garments by hunting,
but they keep and raise parrots and many
kinds of wild birds for the same pur-
pose, plucking them regularly one a
year. Washington Star.