The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1912-04-11

tempting Providence to venture among the ruth.
less sayages who inhabit the forests and Ilanos
watered by the Orinoco and its aiiiuents. So
great however his desire to visit this little
known part of the world that he determined. in
spite OF the difficulties and dangers predicted. TO
make at least the attempt to accomplish his long
cherished purpose.
He has always been glad tat he paid heed
to the horrible forebodings that were volunteered
by wellmeaning but illadvised people. Had ne
done so. he would have deprived himself OF one OF
the most delightful experiences OF his life For.
outside OF certain discomorts inseparaEly
nected with roughng II in the wild. the entire trip
was one OF agreeable surprises and unalloyed
pleasure. And, In lieu OF boodthirsty savages
seeking to transtx him with poisoned arrows. he
found the Indians all along his route to be
only harmless. but hospitable and obliging. In
deed some OF the most pleasant recollections he
has OF his wanderings in the wilds or Venezuela
and Colombia is the kindly treatment he invaria-
bly, received at the hands OF the children OF the
forest
These observations. says writer In the Pan
American Bulletin have been suggested by a
work which has recently been published in Ber.
lin on the Indians inhabitng the region between
the Rio Negro and the Yapura. 1t is by DR.. Theo-
dor Koch-Grunberg, a distinguished German trav-
eer and ethnologist. and is entitled "zwei Jahre
unter den Indanern" tTwo Years Among the In
dians), II has appealed to us In special man.
ner, not only on account OF the mine OF informa-
ticn II contains regarding the manners and Gus
toms OF the various tribes OF Indians which the
author visited during his two years peregrinstons
In this comparatively unknown part OF the world:
not only on account Of its numerous and valuable
illustrations reproduced from photographs when
constitutes so valuable an aid to the right under
standing OF the narrative, but also and chiefly be.
cause the doctors experiences among the red men
of the regions visited were almost identical with
our own in other parts OF the continent
II was in August, 1903, that Dr. kochGrunberg
reached the little town OF Sac Felipe on the Up.
per Rio Negro Using this place base. he
proceeded without delay TO explore it's western ar
huents, the lcana. the Uapes the Curicuriary. and
their chief tributaries, and to study the manners.
customs and languages OF the divers Indian tribes
that live on or near their banks. After spending
nearly two years among these people. some OF
whom never saw a white man before. he returned
to Manaos, near the mouth OF the Rio Negro by
way OF the Yapura and the Amazon,
lie well equipped for his work, which for
him was ever labor OF love lie had previously
accompanied DR., Hermann Meyer during his
ploration OF the Xingu in southern Brazil and had
then learned TO admire the many notable quail
ties of the unspoiled denizens OF the jungle.
Outside OF a young Brazilian, OF German descent
his sole companions during his long wanderings
among many trbes-some OF whom, he had been
warned were antropofagos (cannbals)-were In
dans whom he employed AS porters and boatmen
And these were In most instances what are known
no contact with civilization. But completely
did he from the first win the confidence and al
fection OF these simple, kindly people, that they
at once treated him OF their own and made
him feel at home wherever he went
And considerate and Just was he in all his
dealings with them that his reputation preceded
him from tribe to tribe. Everywhere he was
known and welcomed the friend OF the In.
dians" and any service they could perform for
him was freely given. He lived in their malokas
communal homesl, shared in their repasts and
festivities, took part in their dances and their
hunting expeditions, witness OF their strange
marriage and burial ceremonies. and romped with
their children. helped to entertain friends and
guests He had every opportunity OF famirarizing
himself with the peculiar manners customs tradt
tons and superstitons OF his hosts. for they wero
ever willing to impart to him all the information
in their power and assist him in his ethnographic
researches in every way possible
Besides treating them with justice and kind.
ness he made II rule never 20 accept any serv-
ice, however slight, without making some com.
psnsation for t. The remuneration offered might
be triiing. but the effect was magical. They were
all-men, women and children--at his beck and
call every hour OF the day night
OF the Indians OF Cururii (cuara) the nuthor
declares that they did everything TO make his So
tourn among them comfortable and pleasant For
few glass beads and ishhooks they kept us lib
IV