Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-01
BY G.. M. DYOTT.

According to universal custom the
AnauquaS village was not near the
river Indians have a natural aversion
to planking themselves down on high
ways where enemies can find them.
The suitability of the ground for grow
ing mandioca determines the locality
of these inland villages, likewise the
proximity of such forest products as
piqui, which the Indians consume in
large quantities during the season that
/ the fruit natures.
It was a matter of two and a half
hours to walk through the jungle before
we reached the Anauquas village. The
trail was good; We traverSed open coun-
try, Skirted marshes and ended in an
open spot on the further side of wide
belt of timber.
Bill and Jerry reluctantly remained
to guard camp while Jack and Sam
went with me. We were armed with
cameras to take all the photos we could
get if the opportunity presented itself
About 20 Indians accompanied us. AS
We neared their village several of them
ran ahead to announce our arrival.
When least expecting it we came
upon group of seven huts built around
an open space clear of vegetation. The
roofs of the dwellings were heavily
matched with palm leaves and extended
clear down to the ground with little
or no walls. Each had two doors, one
opening on to the clearing, the other
giving access to the jungle behind AS
we drew near swarms of shouting brown
figures came crowding out of the huts,
evidently very excited at the advent of
strangers.
Go to Chiefs House.
We were piloted to the house of the
chief. His name was Aloique, a short,
stocky fellow of muscular build with
small eyes that had an unpleasant,
shifty expression. His coarse, black
hair was cut after the manner of the
other men. with the usual circular
patch on the top of the head. There
was nothing about his appearance to
indicate he differed in any respect to
other members of the tribe.
Aloique invited us all to be seated, not
in the cool shade of his house, but on
log which occupied the middle of the
public square around which the houses
were arranged. A large palm leaf mat
was unrolled on the ground upon which
many OF the Indians Squatted. Others
swarmed about us standing or crouch
ing on the dry sandy soil while bril-
liant sun blazed down upon us. Con-
verSation through a Baikari Indian who
knew something of the Ansuuua Ian
guage was rather limited and we found
it possible to do almost as well by means
of signs.
One topic of common interest which
our friends seemed anxious to discuss
was their family relations. Every man
wanted to acquaint us with his own
children. The women were equally
anxious to claim their own.
While sat conversing in a limited
sense, but making up for the deficiency
by handing out few trinkets, Jack and
Sam tried to get photographs of the
extraordinary scenes about us. It was
not easy because camera and tripod
were such a curiosity to these people
They clustered about the instrument
and hindered the work.
Patterns Painted on Bodies.
Physically, the Anauquas were a fine
looking lot. They were dark brown In
color although several were of q very
pale shade, suggesting strain Of white
blood. Their features were pleasant.
Apart from curious patterns painted on
their 1.-the bodies they were not grotes-
quely ornamented after the manner of
most savage tribes. There was not a
single fat person among them and I
only saw two old women. I don't s,,p-