The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1893-09-14
APACHES OF THE AMAZON.
A Cruel and Warlike Tribe of South
American SaVages.

A Cruel and Warlike Tribe of South
American Savages.
The JivaroS are an interesting tribe
of sayages who live along the banks of
the upper Amazon, in the midst of a
wilderness, which is rarely visited by
white men. Most of the information
we have respecting these barbarous
people is furnished by natura1ists, who
have ventured far beyond the limits of
civilization for the purpose of collect
ing specimens of the rare animal and
vegetable life of that tropical region.
The Jivaros are generally found along
the rivers, which offer the only means
of communication between different
parts of the country, for nature is so
vigorous and luXuriant in that hot
climate that trails or roads would be
covered with vegetation in a few
months.
With all their savagery; it is aston
ishing how skillfully they make ca
noes, with no other tool than an old AK
or hatchet which they obtained at some
trading post beyond the Andes in re.
turn for the cocoa bean, their only
article of merchandise.
They cultivate the plantain, banana,
mango root, and live on them with the
game they get. Their staple in game
is species of wild hog that lives in the
darkest and thickest places of the for
est.
Hunting this animal is sport for the
Jivaros. Men, women and children
take part in the hunt. When a hog is
sighted they give chase, and nothing
can retard the hunters progress.
They crowd through jungles, sqiiFm
through brushwood, all the tin1e keep
ing pace with their dogs, and going as
| fast as white man could in the open
On all occasions the women remain at
work in the houses and plantations.
! The most conspicuous part of Jiva-
ro's costume in his earrings and neck
| laces The former consists of four long
pendants of beetles wings of glistening
green, gold and purple, strung so as to
form pretty tassel, the brilliant scar
let and orange feathers of the re-
splendent toucan being used for fringe.
The necklaces are made of monkeys
teeth, and, as it requires five thousand
teeth to make this ornament for the
warriors neck, the slaughter Of the
simians reaches large proportions.
The monkeys are killed with poison
Gus arrows. The savages move noise
lessly along like snakes in the grass,
and at sight of a monkey, blow the
little shaft through long tube at him.
! L = 4 1 I.
air be calm it is dangerous to be within
a hundred yards of Jivaro armed with
these miniature weapons, for he car
blow a poisoned arrow and kill at that
| distance.
Poison is also used in catching fish
The Jivaro takes large quantities o.
poison from the varvasco plant and
throws it into the river. Then, for
fully twenty miles further down the
stream, fish are gathered in canoes from
the surface of the water. They are
only stupifiol by the narcotic.
The Jivaro cares nothing for sport Sc
long as he can get the food. Yet he il
never met without his lance poisoned
and ready for his mark. He carries il
forth with every step he takes. Ever
when standing he keeps his right arm
moving, always ready to strike. Th'
Jivaro warrior is like sentinel in war
time. He is taught when child tina
he must be ever on the alert to defend
himself
They have no religion and worship
nothing, though they believe in dream
and have doctors or medicine-mel
whom they regard with much venera
tion. If patient dies however, tn,
doctor is suspected of being witch; tn
second time he is declared one, and tn
third time his own life is in danger, 81
much so that his own brother will
assist in killing him.
When anybody is sick the family get
great quantity of chicha, an intoS
icating liquor, which the doctor imbibe
freely. When under it's influence h
commences a series OF hideous incanta
tions which are supposed to be instru
mental in relieving the afflicted pei
son. These orgies are continued unit
the patient imagines there is some i'm
provement and says SO.
The Jivaros are redoubta ablewarriors
and their cruelty in warfare can onl
be compared with that of an Apach
Indian. They are dreaded by othe
tribes along the Amazon, and even tn
Indians of the upper Andes regio
entertain wholesome respect for thei
prowess.- Days