The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-04-21

passing to better and higher states of being
than there would be if they wele situated
amidst deserts of drifting sand. Mankind
in a rude state needs all the aid favora bic
surroundings can give, even to do so much
as support themselves, and no people have
made their first advances IN the face OF
unfavorabie circumstances.
Before all else, this explains the solemn
and nournful fact that American tribes
inhabiti those 500 600 square miles oi
woodland in AmaZonia are passing away;
dying more rapidly than they can be born
breaking up in such rude communities as
have been formed, being absorbed, OK
hausted, displaced, scattered, and brought
10 naught by surroundings against which
they are unable TO make any Roadway.
Life here is hampercd hopelessly. Its con-
dItionS not only cut these societies off from
external aid, but make their intercourse
with strangers an additional means to-
wards destruction.
Lazy as Mura who sleeps on three
cords" is disparaging comparison prev
alent throughout this region. 1t refers to
the fact that Muras have reached such a
state of Reorganization and utter worth
lessness as no longer TO provide them
selves beds.
In Amazonia everybody uses hammocks
These swing from the roofs OF sheds, or are
hung TO boughs, sometimes where iacuarS
abound, hanging so high as TO be beyond
sprIngIng distance, and often additionally
protected by fires built around the trees
where they are suspended, in order to pre-
vent these animals from climbing them
and leaping down upon their occupants.
Most Of the forest tribes excel in ham
mock making and at one time Muras
who now use any kind of makeshift sub
StltuteS, manufactured such articles
equally well with other Indians. They
have. however, lost that art as well as
their skill in molding and baking pottery,
or constructing feather ornaments; in fact
lost every characteristic Of primitive cul-
ture, except certain deftneSS in pursuing
and killing game.
Ia the same manner multitude OF tribes
and considerations that came before them
have perished and lief. no trace Towards
the close Of the 18th century these Muras
were attacked by overwhelming forces oil
Mundrucus, worstcd in battle, broken up
into wandering hordes, given neither rest
nor opportunity 90 TeorganiZe and being
hunted like wild beasts, their relapse into
entire sayagcry followed as matter of
course.
This reproach of laziness, therefore. is
full OF all the insolent assurance Of ignor-
ance. lnertness, apathy, indifference,
shortsightedness, are traits that go to-
gether wherever undeveloped man exists:
but in so tar as Mura Indians may be more
prone 10 exhibit them than other aboriginal
peoples, it is their misfortunes which have
can get more visible movement out of his
muscles than he puts into his mouth
under the form OF that invisible motion
which Is contained in food and 10 suppose
that these harmless, hopeless. destitute
wanderers would or could live otherwise
than at the smallest cost CT mental and
physical exertion is preposterous.
What they do is TO roam about on streams
in small fleets of canoes landing wherever
AZ seems safe TO stay awhile and there
appears 10 be a prospect Of food. II oppor-
tunIueS Tor petty larceny, plumber, or muir
der present themselves, they arc welcomed
as blessings sent by their gods: and hay
ing inflicted all the injury possible, these
TlVer pirates tit away TO some secure re-
treat
Their enemies, and to a great extent
their desroyers, the Mundrucus suffered
the same mislortunes that they inflicted
although iii a minor degree. At present
those Indians do not live on the Madeira
whence they have been driven To seel
refuge along the more remote MauheS and
Tapaios. With the beginning OF this cen
tury powerful bands Of Els.ras commenced
their destructive raids. The whole lowcl
Madeira Valley was dcsalated by Arara
war parties, at whose hands Mundrucus
suffered more than foreign. settlers i'm tina
region, because they were less capable O
making any successful defense Beside.
this, they had been at war with the Brazil
tan Government for generations. and wher
so serious an additional misfortune came
upon them. their only choice lay between
flight and extermination
T Peace was made, and has since beer
sept, with Brazil; then they emigrated