New-York tribune., 1898-01-28
PYGNIES ~ SOUTH AUERIC4.
THE DISCOVERIES OF A TRAVELLER ON THE
UPPER AMAZON.

UPPER AMAZON.
Boston. Jan - (SpeciaD.-A Boston man lately
returned from South America has brought mar
vecus tale OF the remarkable discovery or race
Of pygmies inhabiting the valley OF tho Amazon
He has not only seen them. but stayed IN their
villages entered their houses and sat about their
campnres been with them on the hunt ana VII
messed some of their religious ceremonies Eoeh
J. Sullivan was called TO South America two years
ago on commercial business which required MS
travelling I'm little known regions. For months
accompanied only by natives. he rowed up the
mighty Amazon and Its tributaries In canoe
In this way he penetrated to the headwaters OF
the Rio Negro which mInglos with the tributaries
of the Ornoco in Guiana. Hero It was that he
came upon a nomadic race of pygmies.
r. G. Halliburton. of Boston. Fellow or the
ROYAL Geographical Society has taken great
interest in Mr.. Sullivan's discovery. Mr.. Hall
burton is OF the best authorities In the world
on pygmy races lie thinks II OF the greatest
value TO anthropoiogists TO have the tradition Oh
pygmy races in South America recorded by Hum
boldt in the first years OF this century go striking
y verified Humboldt said these pygmies were
supposed to inhabi, the country al tho headwaters
Of the Orinoco but he did not visit that region
and suggested that the rumors of this strange
race OF men unfounded. Mr. Halliburton
SAYS that Martins radical dwarf at Para
and that little further has been learned on the
subject though Markham gives the names OF two
dwarf tribes with the list Of Indian tribes In the
valley OF the Amazon, published by the Ahthropo-
logical Institute of London I'm Janulry. 1873. In
Mr. Haliburton's opinion Mr. Sullivan's observa-
tions clear up the subject and leave no doubt as
to the existence OF numerous pygmy tribes In
Guiana and Venezuela. Mr.. Sullivan said yester-
day:
Il met while on the Rio Negro. one OF the trib-
utaries Of the upper Amazon. race Of remark
ably small people. who were more likely OF an
Indian than of a negro origin, judging from their
-I-tv HfNh
a brilliant livid reddish yellow. They are very ugly
In shape Their stomach. which is dstended in
the back as well in front is big and out of all
proportion their tiny. spindllng arms and legs.
| think this is caused by their anaconda-like prac-
tee of Gorging. After hunt they will eat Ike
animals and then lay about listlessy in the hot
tropical for days. TIL hunger again impels
them to get more game ,
"Curiously enough they appear to he metal work, PIX
ers and zip their darts with bits Of hardened iron
or steel made from native ores. These darts are
projected from boweun. like boys toy, but
light dart several hundred feet by the mere power
a race OF rowing hunters and warriors they are a
vain and boastful people. In convcrsing with them
as the extent Of their tribes they make gesture
to impress one with their vast numbers ana POINT
to the west and southwest as their home. I,his
hcadwaicrs of the Orinoco or else that part Of
Venezuela near the Brazilian border or Rio
Negro watershed. think that they may number
ten thousand to fifteen thousand souls.
These people are not over four feet eight inches
IN HtlEHt ana me "OHl'i are less llidH tIlS lotn-
ing is only by adults and consists merely of q
cloth over the Ioins. Their hair is done up and
stuck together by mud In most crOtesQuc and
rcpulsve fashion. They have tribal marks that
cover the upper body and head made by ss In
the skin. Their huts sometimes constructed Of
mud. in which case they are low and resemble Il
half-egg. with an opening at one end called mas
songos' The name applies TO their huts when
made from poles and grass.
"They are. believe. all pagans although am
Informed that some OF them have some idea of a
ugly specimens of clay pottery They have fetch
gods idols. which represent animals ard very
fetish
doctors also who dress In the worst fashion posi-
bic and perform cures or anything their patient
wishes by applying to "A particular god according to
the patients ability to pay. AS TO the names Of
these pygmy people, they We're remember
them. Makaak. Malaka and Malakrat ! saw them
In different parts OF Surnam. They all appeared to
their homes"