170 The Andes and the Amazon. 



for we observed that some individuals behaved in a most 

 lively manner shortly after they were caught. The In- 

 dians drink the water with impunity. 



The JSTapos are not brave ; their chief weapons for hunt- 

 ing are spears of chonta wood, and blowpipes {bodaqueras) 

 made of a small palm having a pith, which, when removed, 

 leaves a polished bore, or of two separate lengths of wood, 

 each scooped out with patient labor and considerable skill 

 by means of the incisor teeth of a rodent. The whole is 

 smeared vdth black wax, a mouth-piece fitted to the larger 

 end, and a sight made of bone imbedded in the wax. 

 Through this tube, about ten feet long, they blow slender 

 arrows cut from the leaf -stalks of a palm. These are 

 winged with a tuft of silk-cotton (common cotton would be 

 too heavy), and poisoned with urari, of which we shall 

 speak hereafter. This noiseless gun is universally used on 

 the Upper Amazon.* 



The Zaparos in physiognomy somewhat resemble the 

 Chinese, having a middle statm'e, round face, small eyes 

 set angularly, and a broad, flat nose. Their language is of 

 simple construction, but nasal and guttural. They have no 

 words for numbers above three, but show their fingers ; 

 above ten they know nothing. They take to themselves 

 single names, not double. They reckon time by moons 

 and the ripening of certain fruits. Their name for God is 

 Piatzo, but we could not learn that it conveyed any distinct 

 idea. They believe the evil spirit, " Mungia," is a black 

 spectre dwelling in the woods. They think the souls of 

 the good and brave enter beautiful birds and feed on de- 

 licious fruits, while cowardly souls become dirty reptiles. 

 Polygamy is common. They bmy in the sitting posture, 



* It is there called zarahatana or gravatana; by the V Qrn\ians pucuna. It 

 corresponds to the sumpitan of Borneo. It is difficult to recognize the use of 

 the blow-gun, but the natives will kill at the distance of 150 feet. One which 

 we brought home sent the slender arrow through the panel of a door. 



