Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-03
PRIMITIVE HABITS
I. OF SAVAGE J|VAR0
TRIBES DESCRIBED
Missionary Tells of Customs
of Fierce Head Hunters at
Source of Amazon.
PRIEST WON FRIENDSHIP;
TOOK MOVING PICTURES
Six.Year sojourn in Jungles, Where
White Men Seldom Go, Re
veals Native Life.
BY THOMAS R. HENRY.

BY THOMAS r. HENRY.
A six-year sojourn in the mysterious
depths of Jivaro land among its savage
head hunters. was described to the an
nual meeting of the Catholic Anthropo-
logical Conference at Catholic Univer-
sity yesterday by Rev. Carlo Crespi.
Father CreSpi, an Italian priest, has
just returned from the jungles that
cover the sources Of the Amazon in
Ecuador, seldom penetrated by white
men. These jungles are populated by q
fierce, primitive, suspicious people,
chiefly noted for their artistry In pre-
pairing dried human heads, and whose
confidence Is difficult TO win.
Father Crespi succeeded to the ex-
tent that he was able to bring back
moving pictures of some OF the cere-
monies connected with the head hunt
ing. He plans to return in Few
months. His mission, he explained, mas
been rather as a student than q mis-
sionary. During the six years ne mas
traversed 5000 miles.
of approximately 100000 square kilo-
meters of forests, mountains and rivers
in which these primitive people i've
without much outside interference. MIS-
sioriaries on the outskirts have made
beginning in introducing the arts OF
civilization, but the great majority o!
the peouIe still cling to the forest
depths, with frequent head hunts.
Frenzy Precedes Hunt.
The head hunt, it was explained,
starts with some real or fancied grew
ance. not infreuuently over woman.
The aggrieved warrior paints his BODY
black. works himself into frenzy, ana
then summons his friends. Then, as
shown by Father Crespi's photographs,
he proceeds TO convince these friends
of the greatness of the insult. The
parley lasts about three hours. BY
that time they are ready to go. Tney
steal to the nut of the unsuspecting
enemy. rush upon 1t, and the leader
takes the head. Then they nee 70
their own village.
The head is emptied of the brain
and reduced to the size Of clencheo
fist by burning sand in it. Then .
new house Is built for the victory feast,
the village goes on q hunt to get meat
In abundance, and in few weeks the
great celebration Is held. The slayer
has tasted in the meantime.
First, the master of ceremonies cheWs
some tobacco and blows the paste up
the hero's nose, an act supposed to in
dicate that the sin of taking human
life has been forgiven him. Then the
dried head is hung around the slayer's
neck and the feast begins, to end In an
orgy lasting all night.
. Culinary Art Described.
The culinary art Of the Jivaro wom-
en-. as pictured by Father CreSpt, Is
more primitive than appetizing. The
popular dish s sort Of paste Of yucca
roots. The icotS first are steamed,
then the women chew them. The mas
ticated material then is allowed to fer
ment for one night in jar. Then 1t
is mixed with water and Is ready to
serve.
Agriculture is in the hands of the
women. who pillow patches with point
ed stick and raise yucca, bananas and
other native foods. Weaving and basket
making are masculine prerogatives. The
men make waterproof baskets with grass
and banana leaves and spin cotton
thread with simple spindles.
Some of the Jivaros use modern fire.
arms, but they still prefer for hunting
the native blowguns. In these poisoned
arrows are adjusted so delicately that
tney can DC oiSSLaiSeu "Aeh NAsA'
puff.
Father Crespi made special study
of the religious rites of the JivaroS
They have q good and evil symbolism In
nature, personified by the god Yus and
the devil Iguanani. The medicine men
are important figures in the commune
tiles. They have an effective system
Of herb therapy for common ailments
For graver ills, presumed to be due To
evil spirits, the naked patient is laid on
the floor and the medicine man applies
his lips to the chest, back and head,
sucking violently. He Is supposed to be
sucking out the devils.
Negotiate Marriages.
Defective children are killed by the
mother shortly after birth. The UNDER
lip Of q girl is perforated with a porcu-
pine quill at an early age and she wears
this for the rest Of her life. The chief
ceremony for children is the full moon
dance, somewhat like the Maypole
dance.
Marriage is conducted by negotiations
between the prospective bridegroom and
the father Of the girl, after which there
is q great feast, attended by the whole
village, where the nuptial troth Is sealed
by passing powerful drink to every
body.
This last frontier Is being crossed
by the missionaries, according to FIR.
/ Crespi. Converts have been made, hos
pitfalls established, cattle introduced and
sugar cane planted. A few roads have
been built around the missions.
FIR. Crespis moving pictures were OBJ
tanned only after q great deal Of per-
suading, for the JivaroS were con-
WINGED at first that as soon as the
camera plate was broken the soul Of the
,,arson r1hotoarauhed also WAS broken