310 THE INDIANS OF PERU. 



I had, as surgeon of the expedition, many opportunities of becoming ac- 

 quainted with the tribes who live in the lowlands of the basin of the 

 Ucayali, the Maranon, Pachitea, and other streams, and I could obtain 

 but the faintest knowledge of their peoples. Tradition among them 

 seemed to be reduced to its lowest condition, and among those tribes 

 which I visited there wa^ only one which seemed to treasure any notion 

 of the Inca history ; and they, in their pride of faucied descent from that 

 race, showed in their physical type some resemblance to the ancient 

 rulers of Peru. 



Beginning at the mouth of the Ucayali River, the following tribes ap- 

 pear as we go up that stream : Kokamas occupying both sides and the 

 adjacent country of the Maranon River. They are a Christianized peo- 

 ple, and are those more frequently found about the villages occupied 

 by the white settlers. Their color is darker than that of most others 

 of the inhabitants of that country, and their stature is below the average. 

 Their limbs have not the rounded forms which characterize some others, 

 and their features are harsher in expression. They are very tractable 

 and work faithfully. Fidelity among their women is a characteristic 

 virtue. 



The Mayourunas inhabit the country back from the river hereabouts, 

 and are less approachable by Christian or civilizing influences. 



Remains of the Setibos shipibos are here and there to be found, 

 although, as is generally the case on this and other river borders 

 of the MontaSa, the tribal type is so destroyed by the custom of the 

 priests for many years to collect together at the various missions the 

 younger of the different tribes for religious and other purposes, that 

 intermingling of blood has destroyed among most of the tribes distinct- 

 tive marks. 



The Conibos, are the largest, most numerous, and most important of 

 all the river tribes, and, having been about the prominent missions, 

 such as Sarayacu, Callina, and other places for many generations, they 

 are the most conspicuous on the Ucayali. In their tyi)e they resemble 

 much the Inca caste in their strongly aquiline nose, which is promineutj 

 their broad forehead, large eye, yellow cornea, and not prominent cheek- 

 bone. The limbs are round 5 abdomen protuberant; hands and feet small; 

 shoulders broad, though rounded. The custom of flattening the heads, 

 said by some to be a custom among them, must be very rare, as I never 

 saw an instance of it, though much among that tribe. They pride them- 

 selves much on their blood, and do not permit of marriage among neigh- 

 boring tribes, although they frequently make raids on their neighbors- 

 living up on the Pachitea and Suugaruyacu, the Coxibos, for the pur- 

 pose of stealing children, women, and slaves. 



Aoout the missions of Calleria and Caxiboya are found the remains of 

 the older tribe of the Remos, who have disappeared very much through 

 wars and disease. They, like the Amahuacas, who live higher up th& 

 Ucayali, above the Pachitea, are mostly to be found as slaves. 



i 



