proceedings: anthropological society 237 



In the present time, there are east of the Canal Zone only two distinct 

 "nations/ ' viz., the Cunas, or Cuna-Cuna, to which the San Bias Indians 

 belong, and the Chocoes to the South, beyond the Tuyra River. The 

 line that separates these two stocks is at the same time the ethnological 

 boundary between South and Central America. 



The Cunas are a numerous and strong race, almost uniformly of short 

 stature and broad shoulders. They are very jealous of their independ- 

 ence and shun all interference on the part of strangers, including the 

 Panamanian government, the authority of which over them is only nom- 

 inal. The Cunas of the northern coast, east of Nombre de Dios, or San 

 Bias Indians, are far above the other Panamanian aborigines in their 

 social and economic development; they constitute one of the best ele- 

 ments of the population included in the territory of the young republic, 

 being thrifty and enterprising and having made of their extensive coco- 

 nut palm plantations a real source of wealth. The remaining Cunas, 

 known as Bayanos, Chucunacas and Payas, live in the interior and are 

 less advanced, the two former groups being acknowledged as real " Indios 

 bravos." All speak one language, with slight local variations. 



The Panamanian Chocoes are but the northernmost branch of a num- 

 erous stock which extends more or less continuously along the Pacific 

 coast of South America, from Punta Garachine in Darien, to the Ecua- 

 dorian boundary. In the Sambu Valley, where Professor Pittier found 

 them, they are a happy lot, usually tall and well built, scantily clothed 

 and living near to nature. 



West of the Canal Zone, in the mountains of Veraguas and eastern 

 Chiriqui, live the ploygamous Guaymies, once under the care of the 

 Spanish missionaries, but who have long since gone back to their own 

 independent life and customs. They do not however avoid or repel 

 the contact with the other natives, and owing to the rapid expansion 

 of the neighboring populations, so-called civilized, the Guaymies are 

 doomed soon to lose their characteristic and individuality as a race. 

 Certain ethnological traits, as well as their physical appearance point 

 to a relationship with Costa Rican tribes. 



In consequence of what Professor Pittier calls a "caprice of arbitra- 

 tion," the Republic of Panama has acquired the northern branch of the 

 Terrabas or Tirub of Costa Rica. These dwell in small and rapidly 

 dwindling numbers at the headwaters of the Tararia or Tilorio, the main 

 branch of the Changuinola River. They have been investigated by Pit- 

 tier in the course of his survey of Costa Rica. 



These four are the tribes represented today in Panama. The Doras- 

 ques, supposed by some to descend from the great Chiriqui pottery 

 makers, seem to have disappeared, unless the Brunka of Costa Rica are 

 really what is left of them. 



With reference to the possible affinities of the Panamanian tribes with 

 the neighboring stocks, the speaker took absolute exception to the theory 

 of the Chibchan relationship, which he was one of the first to advocate 

 about twenty years ago and which has since received general accepta- 

 tion under the authority of Brinton, Deniker, and others. The assumed 



