ABOEIGINAL AMERICAN POETRY. 15 



stage of poetic development.' When it is considered that, notwithstanding some general 

 features of resemblance, the inhabitants of the double continent comprised from 1,300 to 

 1,500 distinct tribes or families, each with its own language, it will be readily understood 

 that nothing like a complete aboriginal anthology has as yet been compiled. Dr. Briuton 

 has, however, undertaken the task of preparing such a work, and has been diligently 

 engaged on it for some years past. It is to be hoped that ere long (before the present year 

 has ended, perhaps,) he will be able to present the fruit of his labours to the world. 



For convenience' sake, I may, for the purpose of this paper, adopt Keane's classification 

 of all the American races into eighteen great groups. Of these groups there is not one 

 which does not offer some marked example of the choral chant, while a few of them had 

 already, before the arrival of the Europeans, attained a stage of poetic evolution con- 

 siderably beyond that primitive type. Four such groups covered South America. The 

 most southern division includes the Patagouians and Fuegians — the former noted for their 

 great stature and their horsemanship, the latter for their generally dwarfish size, and (in 

 part) for their skill in canoeing and fishing. These Indians are fully described in the 

 " Narrative of the Voyage of the Beagle" some of the conclusions in which, however, 

 especially as to the wretched character of some Fuegian tribes, have been disputed by sub- 

 sequent wn-iters. That some of them were not incapable of improvement was shown by 

 the change effected in a party of them that had visited England and donned the garb of 

 civilisation. The experience of the Jesuits with the Indians of Paraguay is one of the 

 most interesting episodes in the story of European intercourse with the aborigines. It is 

 noteworthy, especially for the attention paid to the artistic training of such Indians as dis- 

 played any taste for drawing or sculpture Raynal has given the Paraguay mission a 

 prominent place in his history, and Chateaubriand accords it high praise in " Le Génie 

 du Christianisme." The Araucanians are a fine race, but have not proved so amenable to 

 missionary effort as those just mentioned. They have, however, some confused beliefs of 

 their own, as well as some interesting traditions, and are devoted to poetry and eloquence.^ 

 The Brazilian races constitute mainly a geographical group. It includes the Tupi-Gruarani 

 lingi\istic family, which, in extent, is said to rival that of the Tinné or Algonquins. The 

 non-Guaraui element, which comprises a large variety of scattered tribes, is known to the 

 Tupis under the common and significant name of " strangers " or " enemies." The Tupi- 

 Guarani is said to be admirably fitted for poetical expression, and it may be recalled that 

 it was the refrain of a Tupi song which won the admiration of the illustrious Montaigne, 

 as he mentions himself, in his famous Essays (liv. I. ch. 40). The Lingoa Geral, which is the 

 modern and corrupt form of that language, is spoken, according to a recent writer, from 

 Guiana to Patagonia. Tlie same author gives the following testimony regarding the pan- 

 tomimic dances : — " All the sufferings of human life, all the great deeds of their ances- 

 tors, forced marches, struggles, persecutions, captivity and the anguish of defeat are re- 

 produced in these mimic dances, which are, in fact, dramas of the most thrilling character." 



' " Within crude poetic imagery are enrolled their religious beliefs, are laid the foundations of their systems of 

 worship, are portrayed their thoughts concerning causations and the destinies of mankind." H. H.Bancroft's 

 Native Races of the Pacific States, iii. 15. 



-' " The Araucanians believe tliat warriors who die on the field of battle ascend into the heavens, where they 

 become as gods. As for other souls, those of the good are taken to regions where they enjoy all imaginable de- 

 lights and endless repose, while the wicked are hurled into the abodes of darkness and pain." Dabry de 

 Thiersant's De l'origine des Indiens du Nouveau Monde et de leur civilisation, p. 160. 



