1892.] 4* [Brinton. 



valley of the river Beni (otherwise called the Rio Poro, the Rio 

 Pilcopata and the Rio Madre de Dios), and in the valley of the 

 latter on both banks, between South lat. 12° and 15°. At present 

 the Tacana dialect proper is spoken in the towns of Tumupasa and 

 Isiamas; the Araona by the Araonas, who dwell on the banks of 

 the Beni and on those of its western tributaries, known as the 

 Manuripi, Tahuamanu and Uaicomanu ; the Cavineiio is confined 

 to the mission of Cavinas; the Maropa to the Maropes, in and near 

 the Pueblo de los Reyes, on the right bank of the Beni, about 

 12° 30' S. lat., while the Sapis or Sapiboconas appear to have been 

 the most eastern branch of the stock, as they were attached to the 

 mission of the Moxos in the province of that name on the Rio 

 Mamore. 



In 1 83 1 the total number of persons speaking the dialects of 

 this stock was about 6000 (D'Orbigny). The majority of these are 

 nominally Christians and have fixed habitations; but the Toro- 

 raonas, who dwell between the rivers Madidi and Beni, in i2°-i3° 

 South lat., are still uncivilized and heathens; so, also, are the 

 Araonas, who are stated to be cannibals and idol worshipers. Their 

 idols are geometrically shaped pieces of polished wood and stone. 

 Their chief deity is "Baba Buada," whom they identify with the 

 wind, vutana, and whose home is in the air. He is said to live 

 towards the south and to be the creator of heaven and earth. The 

 general term for divinity is edutzi, and there is a zia ediitzi, god of 

 maize ; an agave edutzi, god of health, etc. Each edutzi has his 

 own yanacona, or priest, to superintend the proper rites.* 



Loan Words. 

 The Tacana-speaking tribes have for generations adjoined on the 

 west the once powerful and cultivated Aymaras, and on the north 

 the populous herds of the Panos. The consequences on their 

 tongue have been quite marked. A number of words have been 

 borrowed from both sources ; but they are not so frequent nor of 

 such a character as to authorize the supposition of an original unity 

 with either of the stocks named. I give a list of some of these : 



Identities in Aymara and Tacana. 



Arm, 

 Body, 



*E. Heath in Kansas City Review, April, 1883; Col. Labr£> in Proc. Roy. Gcog. Soc, 1889 ; 

 Nic. Armentia, Explor. del Madre de Dioa. 



