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THE LIVING RACES OF MANKIND 



By perjnigsion of the South American Missionary Society. 



LENGUAS OF THE PARAGUAYAN CHA.CO. 



Sandals, cut from the leaf-stalk of a palm, are occasionally worn; and although speedily 

 destroyed by use, can be quickly replaced. As regards ornamental dress, this is worn by some 

 tribes habitually, and by others only on special occasions. Painting is frequently employed, 

 and often so extensively and in such a tasteful manner as to convey the impression that the 

 person so adorned is fully clothed. Tattooing is, however, rare, and chiefly confined to the 

 production of small tribal marks at the corners of the mouth or on the arms. It is true that 

 the bodies of most Indians are scored with straight scars, but these have been produced for 

 surgical purposes. Necklaces of peccari (pig) tusks and a pair of armlets are worn by most 

 of the men, who also often twist strings of coloured seeds or beads round their ankles and 

 wrists. Of the nose-pieces, those of a crescent or cheese-knife shape are peculiar to the Carib 

 stock, and the circular to the Wapianas. Specimens of Macusi and other feather head-dresses 

 may be seen in the British Museum. Regarding these Mr. im Thurn writes as follows: 

 "Beautiful crowns of feathers, of two shapes, the colours varying with the tribe to which each 

 Indian belongs, are worn on the head. Several strings of cotton hang from the back of these 

 down to the heels, where they are finished off with skins of toucans, fire-birds, cocks-of-the- 

 rock, and other such bright-coloured birds, or with tassels made of iridescent beetles' wings, 

 which tinkle like tiny bells at each movement of the bearer. . . . Ruffs made of the long 

 tail-feathers of macaws are fastened on to the shoulders so as to stand out almost at right 

 angles to the body. Very short mantles of woven cotton, from which hang long cotton cord.s, 

 ornamented at frequent intervals with tufts of white down, are occasionally worn; but the art 

 of making these is said to have been lost. Collars made of white heron [egret] feathers, or 

 the black feathers of the curassow bird, are sometimes worn, especially by those engaged in 

 races." Such decorations are, however, mainly confined to the male sex, the women seldom 

 wearing either feathers or teeth, except tusks of agoutis, although they load themselves with 

 ropes of seeds and beads. Children, on the other hand, are decorated much like their elders, 

 although special kinds of seeds are used for their necklaces, while in the case of teeth-necklaces 

 these are made from the tusks of the jaguar. 



Unlike the natives of Argentina, the Indians of the Guianas and Venezuela travel either 

 on foot or in canoes. In hunting, which forms the chief occupation of the men, dogs are 

 emploved; these being stated to be cross-breeds between two fox-like wild species. Fish are 

 caught by poisoning the water, by shooting with arrows, by nets, traps, or hook and line. Very 

 beautiful are the fish-arrows, which are shot from a bow, the head frequently becoming 



