New-York tribune., 1907-09-22
WONDERS IN FEATHERS
HANDIUORK OF INDIANS.
Uuseun, of Natural History Ac-
Quires COSTLY Collection.

Dr. Herrnon c. Buuapus director of the American
Museum Of Natural History. announced yesterday
the acquisition by the museum OF one Of the finest
collections OF featherwork in the world II com
prises about hundred specimens. largely
feathers or the great red and blue macaw and
various other birds Of the parrot family.
The feather work done by the Indians OF the
GARY Uaupes River. branch OF the RIO Negro. in
the State OF Amazonas, South America. and the
collection bought by the museum from Her
mann Schmidt and Louis Weiss Mr.. Schmidt for
years has been collector Of insects animals and
birds for large European museums and is well
known ethnologist.. Mr Weiss IS an explorer and
ethnologist.
This collection OF Schmidt and Weiss. gathered
IN years for the museum. also comprises about
q thousand unique weapons utensils, ornaments
and other examples Of the handiwork OF these saw
ages of whose history little is known. II is said
that the whole collection cost the museum about
So coo. The featherwork is skilfully done. and the
harmonious combinations Of colors and the deli
cacy of the designs remarkable Only one other
collection has been obtained from this region and
that in the Berlin Museum, gathered by Dr
Koch-GrinbeSg.
The handling OF the brilliant pllmage Of these
birds in the featherwork harmoniously not
to offend the artistic eye appears to be a natural
gift with these savages. Feathers fashioned In
fantastic ways for head bands waist bands
There are delicate wands OF single feathers. with
other single feathers attached. Handsome circular
shields OF basketwork trimmed with parrot
at cerernonials. Feathers also used by these
savages for trimming the heads OF spears and for
decorating dancing stafs-
Among other noteworthy features OF this collec
ton are the weapons for killing game The bows
ere short and the arrows long, and tipped with
q mysterious poison known as "curare" For the
killing Of birds these savages use a wooden blow
gun. The arrow is midrih OF a palm leaf ana
the bore of the gun is about the size of a lead
pencil The missile is projected by quick puff.
and is effective IL is said. distance of two
hundred feet.
Thara are several cases of basketwork nlled with
poisoned arrows. These saVages. however. are not
a warke people
4 curious looking canoe to carry
made by burning a piece OF wood and scraping out
the charred part. 1t is open at both ends. and
when il is half full of water the men go over
board, ii over, empty out the water ano chilo
back into the
These savages make fish traps fashioned of cane.
on the principle OF lobster and rat traps INTO
which fish may enter. but from which they cannot
escape They also have signal whistle carved
out of the skull a small deer. They blow
through II ike horn when approaching village
TO which they desire to announce a friendly vlsit
Their flutes are made OF deer and jaguar bones
NutsheTs attached 10 belts worn around
waists ankles mark the rhythm wheh
dancing. Teeth of the jaguar and peccary, or WIG
hog adorn belts and necklaces. The popular Anna
zonian bellows for blowing a fire is a large fan
with handles.
looks like an overgrown tuning fork. II consists
OF stick with two prongs with a cigar holoer
tied in the middle. Into this holder cigar ABOUT
a foot long is placed and the smoker, lying IN
hammock between whiffs sticks the sharp pointed
end of the stick into the ground The tobacco Is
said TO be excellent and the cigar is suclent Tor
q whole days smoking.
As these savases live almost the equator.
about the only clothing they wear is strip or the
inner bark tree, beaten out like gold lear ror
festival days they strips OF bark, on which
are pAinted designs, and these may be called the
swallowtails of the tribe
There are numerous drums in the collection. Inc
drunohead is MADE from the skin of the Jaguar.
and tbs body is section of log followed out to a
thin cylinder. The drumheads are held on by
hooks Hats are made OF banana leaves. and the
framework is covered with climbing plants Some
IF the hats are feet in diameter. and are known
as rain hats
There are so many waterfalls from the hlo Negro
I'D TO where these savages live that 1t has been
dificu,t to reach them. and they have remained
more primitive than most OF the tribes known 70