Evening star., 1923-02-25

the clearing where their settlement
stood, were short and stocky. with
deep, broad chests and powerfully
muscled necks, shoulders and backs.
yet with disproportionately small
legs and very small hands and feet,
Indeed, many Of the women and girls
possessed hands and feet which would
have been the envy of the daintiest
or their white sisters.
Aside from their merger lower
limbs the women were well proper
toned. but the heads of the men ap-
peared very large for their bodies, one
chap having such an enormous head
that 1t reminded me Of a jack olan-
tern. In color they We're coppery
brown, although some of the younger
girls were of a golden yeilowish hue.
Their faces We're broad and round
with rather small. flat noses which
had no trace of the aquiline form. In
fact. they were all strongly Mongol-
IAN in type. with high cheek bones
tarrow and often oblique eyes. full
lips, straight. coarse, blue-black hair
and black eyes
If clad in oriental garments. many
OF the Patamonas would have passed
AS none of the Patamonas spoke or
understood English or even the
lingua franca of the bush known as
"talky-talky," I called upon Abraham
to be my interpreter. They were dis
posed, it appeared. to be hospitable.
To my JOY I learned that no white
nan had ever before visited the VIII
lage and that many of the Indians
tI,ar
Though I must have appeared a
very strange being In their eyes. the
men. women and children who gath
ered' about were quiet and respectful.
They were evidently consumed with
curiosity as TO the contents of our
iags and the purpose of my visit.
decided to take advantage Of the light
and secure photographs without fur
tier delay. Much to my surprise the
people lined up before my camera
Without the least hesitation. This in
itself was ample proof of the isola-
ton Of the village. for the Guiana
aborigine. as 4 rule, has strong
and deep seated objection to being
photographed. The Willingness with
which my new found friends posed
tor their pictures convinced me that
they did not even know the purpose
Of q camera.
I could not but be impressed again
with their similarity to the Mongol-
fans. although their expression. espe-
cially that of the women, was far
more vivacious. They were constant
ly laughing, smiling and exhibiting
their rows OF firm, white teeth. Yet
not by any stretch of the imagina-
ton could they be considered good
lcoking The tattoo marks and
tainted decorations disfigured rather
,han improved their faces. !
THE bags containing my trade
i goods were opened and the con-
tents spread on the floor Of the be-
uab. Instantly the Patamonas pressed
about. squatting on their launches,
examining each article with the
greatest interest and gabbling with
delight.
The chief or governor now ar
rived on the scene-a lean, sharp
featured. shrewdfaced fellow with
no Distinguishing regalia and as sim
; ply clad. in loin cloth, as his sub
iects. Presents were then handed
around, combs, soap. perfumes. beads.
needles. pins and similar articles to
the women and girls, and TOBACCO
fish hooks, knives, to the men.
Amicable relations thus having been
established, brisk trade commenced
and in exchange for hunting knives.
poHder, shot, percussion caps, lap
cloths, beads and other goods I Sc
cured baskets, bows and arrows oioW
guns, poisoned darts, ornaments or
beads, teeth and feathers ano beaut-
fully wrought queyus.
Meanwhile, I was busy noting the
characteristics of the Patamonas. tot
ting down words of their vocabulary
and making hurried sketches OF their
tattoo marks and paintei decorations.
Particularly did I observe their ~eap-
ons: for 1t is with these that the
Guiana Jungle Indians have attained a
proficienscy that is amazing.
Few people realize the accuracy
with which the Guiana Indian can
use the blow gun. I have seen one
of them fire six darts in. quick sue
cession into visiting card at forty
wards. and on many occasions have
seen them bring down small birds
from the top branches of the loftiest
trees.
In the hands of the Guianan. tins
instrument with its poisoned darts Is
a. terrible weapon, indeed, Tor lts
.needins arrow is as swift and silent
as the death 1t carries. It's tiny
wound, scarcely more than a pin
nrick. is sufficient to kill even the
iaguar or the tapir.
These Indians possess fully as sur
nrising skill, i learned, IN archerS'
and this is exhibited spectaculariy
when shooting fish. That they can
aistinsuish the fish in the dark water
amid the turmoil Of the rapids is
marvellous and until one has seen 1t
tba feat appears incredible. With
ra.dv how the Indian creeps about
tho rocks of the falls until, amid the
foaming, rushing torrent, MS keen
ewes discover the darker gleam or a
,ukainani or pacoo when. instantly
tho powerful bow is drawn to the
oar. the long shaft darts its lengtn
into the water. and throwing aside
his how. the Indian hanis on the ar
TOW line and presently drags hrteen
or twenty pound fish on to the rochs'
seldom. indeed, do they miss
and seldom do they search Tor
fab without success If none are III
sight the Indians either bait them oy
throwing the broken seed-pods OF the
water wallaba or "mazetta" treG into
the stream, or else resort to the mar
xelous method of calling them.
standing motionless by the edge OF