After the discovery of America two nations chiefly gained possession of South America—Spain and Portugal. Portugal secured what is now Brazil; Spain gained almost all the rest. The Spaniard settled chiefly where the native tribes had already been living a quiet and settled life. In those districts, just as in Mexico, there was much mixture between the two peoples, and to-day there is a large _mestizo_ population, whose mode of life has been influenced by that of Spain. In Peru, Brazil, Chili, and the Argentine Republic we find lands which are making progress, and in whose beautiful cities are fine buildings, handsome parks, and artistic statuary. It is a great mistake to think of any of the South American countries as uncivilized. Still, even in countries like Peru and Chili, centres of old and interesting settled life, there are plenty of pure-blood Indians to-day. These still keep up much of their old life and customs. And when, instead of looking at the old culture centres, we examine the tribes which were truly _wild_ at the time of the conquest, we find little change. On the eastern slope of the Andes, in the valleys of those streams which unite to form the Amazon, in the dense forests which border that mighty river itself, are many truly savage tribes to-day—or, when not savage, in low barbarism. Some of these tribes use the blow-gun in hunting. This is a tube, eight or ten feet long, made from a cane or bored out of wood. It is carefully straightened and smoothed on the inside. The shaft of the little arrow used with this is slender and ends in a sharp point; a tuft of cottony material, which just fits the bore of the blow-gun, is wrapped about the upper end of the arrow and fastened. When the arrow is placed in the blow-gun, this is raised to the lips, and a sharp puff of air from the mouth sends the little weapon on its way. These arrows go a long distance and with great force; as they make no noise they are especially good for bird-hunting. The arrows not only kill by their sharpness, but by poison, which is put on their tips. Several of these Indian tribes know how to make deadly poisons, chiefly from plants. Many of these wild tribes delight in bright feathers. They make necklaces, head-dresses, arm-rings, bracelets, leg-bands, aprons, and capes from them. Not that a single tribe makes all of these many ornaments; some will use the feathers in one way, others in another. Among the tribes of Brazil, the Botocudo are famous for the ornaments they wear in their lips and ears. These ornaments are mere disks or plugs of wood, which are inserted in holes pierced in the ears and lower lip. Some Botocudo lip plugs are three inches in diameter. Such a lip ornament holds the lip out almost like a shelf. [Illustration: BOTOCUDO INDIAN WITH LIP PLUG (TYLOR).]