The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-08-01
PURE indian BLOOD
Must be Looked for in the
Mountains of LoquilIo.
WALTER FEWKES' LECTURE
Interesting Talk on Prehistoric
People of Antilles.
WALTER FEWKES' LECTURE

The address Of J. Walter Fewkes or
prehistoric Porto Rico" before the
Pittsburgh meeting of the American
Association for the Advancement of
Science, is reported in fun in Science.
Mr.. Fewkes drew rs facts in regard to
the Antillean race in the new possession
Of the United States from many works
on the subject, and from original re-
search in the island, and declares that
the available evidence supports the con-
/ clusion that the purest Indian blood
among the present mountaineers of the
| island must be looked for in the inacces-
sible region called Loquilio. In the iso-
lated vlleys of that region are still found
the old Carib canoe, surviving in the
followed out log of wood by which
produce is drawn down the slippery
mountainsides. There also are the old
forms of hammocks different from those
now generally used. Maize is a staple
article of food, and the primitive mills
with which it is ground date back to a
remote past.
TILES from the Bahamas TO the coast Of
South America belonged to one and the
same composite stock differing in minor
characteristics which are not racial The
people Of the Bahamas. Cuba, Hayti, ana
Porto Rico were a mid hammered agri-
cultural race which had lost in vigor
what they had gained by their sedentary
life The CARDS. confined to the Lesser
Antilles. We're more warlike, and their
ferocitywas known everywhere in the
West Indies The latter. although con-
fined to the Lesser Antilles made fire.
quent predatory expeditions upon the
more peaceful inhabitants of Cuba.
Hayti. and Porto Rico-especialy the
latter-carrying away the women as
slaves thus bringing into the Carib COM
munities a new speech, and bringing
about an amalgamation Of the two tocks.
There are, unfortunately, no authentic
craniums OF typical prehistoric Porto
Ricans to compare with those Of the
Caribs. but it is believed that system
attic search of the caves of the island
would produce such skulls.
The prehistoric Porto Ricans did not
differ materially from those of the coun-
ings were constructed, but a fragile
cabin, the frame of which was tied to-
gether with maguey fiber and covered
with bark Of the royal palm or yucca,
and matched with straw, furnished u
home for the prehistoric Porto Rican.
These houses, like their modern repre-
sentatives, were raised on posts TO avoid
dampness and insects. suggesting pile
dwellings, a feature of house construc-
ton with which the Caribs We're famii
lar IN many Of the streets of Porto Rico
are still found houses built in the same
primitive way, inhabited by poorer peo-
pie, negroes or poems. Some OF these
modern buildings are of the rudest con
struction and practically the same as
thaose of four centuries ago
The furniture of the house of the an
cient Porto Rican was limited but ample
The bed was a hammock made of the
leaves of the palm. maguey or fiber Of
native cotton. IN the mountainous re.
gions primitive hammocks, like those of
the ancients, are still made. and the
palm fiber is wholly employed in their
construjtion Caiabashes or cocoanuts
served for household implements as
drinking cups. and in the poorer parts
of the island are still used for the same
purpose. Clay vessels Of rude construc-
syn wSse used by the Porto Rican
Caribs, who lived along the shore.
These clay vessels were unglazed, THEN
rims commonly adorned with raised
heads representing animals Of grotesque
forms. Many of these heads have a
likeness to monkeys. and. as there are
no monkeys in Porto Rico. they are gen
orally ascribed TO the CARDS rather than
the Porto Ricans-
The most characteristic Of all objects
made by the Caribs were the canoes.
with which they navigated from island
TO island or Travelled along the numerous
rivers and lagoops These craft often
reached a great size. ana were in some
instances made of logs Of wood hollow
ed out with stone tools aided by fire
The number of stone implements in col
lections from Porto Rico is very large.
including objects Of all sizes and many
shapes The arms of warfare were most
~ AIDES and hatchets with wooden han
dies. war clubs made Of the ironwood or
the island; spears ana possibly throwing
sticks No arrow points have been
found Most OF the implements are of
polished stone. although two have been
found which show marks of clipping
The culture of the prehistoric inhabit-
ants of the island as shown by their
ply was OF the same character
as the North American Indian. In the
caves on the island there are stin many
excellent specimens Of the picture writ
ing. the dgures studied appearing 70 be
clan totem and other symbols.
The social organization appears 70
have been the same as that Of the IN. /
dians OK other parts Of North America. /
The unit Of organisation was The clan.
of which the CHIEF was called a cacique /
Ii also apears that some of these ca /
ciques had control over others. and that /.
unions OF several smaller cac-ques fol /.
mutual defence occurred al rare inter /
walls The names Of mny of these caCiqueS !
are stnl preserved on the island. and 81 /
would appear IS II localities. mountains. /
rivers and modern towns were called I
after powerful rulers who had raised /
themselves to the position of governors
az some regions. Aguenaba is commonly +
repated 20 have been ruler az the island I
bur Il is doubtful il ne vas able 10 main
tain his position al an times
The worship ~ ancestors was a fea-
iure ~ The Carlo religion. From the
existence Of many skulls IN their houses
L had heen supposed that these neovle
were thro2ophaEous. but il IS p7oba-
ale th@t many nj these skulls. carefully
wrapped in basket ware or woven cot
ton coverings. were the crsnia Of their
l"n alleesro rs-sareSe resd With pious care