The Progress of Ethnology: An Account of Recent Archaeological, Philological and Geographical Researches in Various Parts of the Globe, Tending to Elucidate the Physical History of ManBartlett, John Russell
History
The Progress of Ethnology: An Account of Recent Archaeological, Philological and Geographical Researches in Various Parts of the Globe, Tending to Elucidate the Physical History of Man
Bartlett, John Russell
Anthropology -- History; Ethnology -- History
They made another journey to the north of Cuyaba, to explore the diamond
mines, and examine the sources of the Paraguay and Arenos. In the next
journey,[20] the particulars of which have just been communicated from
Lima, the expedition descended the rivers Cuyaba and San Lorenzo to
Paraguay. During this voyage they entered the country of the Guatos
Indians, one of the most interesting tribes of the American aborigines.
"The features of these Indians," says the Count, "are extremely
interesting;--never in my life having seen finer, or any more widely
differing from the ordinary type of the red man. Their large, well
opened eyes, with long lashes, nose aquiline and admirably modelled, and
a long, black beard, would make them one of the finest races in the
world, had not their habit of stooping in the canoe bowed the legs of
the greater number. Their arms, consisting of very large bows, with
arrows seven feet long, demand great bodily strength--and their address
in the use of them passes imagination. These savages are timid,
nevertheless, and of extreme mildness. By taking them for our guides,
and attaching them by small presents, we were enabled to explore parts
wholly unknown, of that vast net-work of rivers which they are
constantly traversing." In Paraguay the party met a tribe of the
celebrated Guaycurus nation. These people are eminently
equestrian--transporting their baggage, women and effects of every kind
on horseback, across the most arid deserts. They are mortal foes to the
Spaniards, and a terror to the whole frontier. They wear their hair
long, and paint themselves, black or red, after a very grotesque and
irregular fashion; the two sides of their bodies are generally painted
in a different manner. "Their chief arms are the lance, knife, and a
club, which they throw with great precision at a full gallop. Their hats
are made of hides. Each warrior has his mark, which he burns with a red
hot iron on all that belongs to him--his horses, dogs and even wives.
One of the most atrocious traits in the manners of this people, is that
of putting to death all children born of mothers under thirty years of
age."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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