THE TERENA AND THE CADUVEO OF SOUTHERN MATO GROSSO, BRAZIL OBERG 



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Such articles as axes, machetes, sickles, hoes, and 

 weaving frames and material for weaving baskets 

 and hammocks are usually found in the corner of 

 the back room. Mats made from "piri" are 

 found in some of the houses (such as were used in 

 the Chaco days). 



CLOTHING AND ORNAMENTS 



At this point it is necessary to mention only the 

 common everyday wearing apparel and the per- 

 sonal appearance of the Terena, as ceremonial 

 dress will be described in the section on dances. 

 In the village of Bananal all Indians wear Euro- 

 pean dress. The cotton cloth woven by the Terena 

 forms only a small part of the material used for 

 making their present-day clothing, as the Indians 

 now buy the cheap cotton material offered for sale 

 in the stores of Taunay, Miranda, and Aquidauana. 

 After 30 years of mission training, it appears that 

 all women can sew and eight sewing machines 

 were observed in the village. 



The general custom is for everyone to go bare- 

 foot. Only during "festas" are shoes worn by the 

 more wealthy men and women, and even then peo- 

 ple over GO years old wear sandals made from 

 hides or from old rubber tires. Shoes, like hats, 

 are definitely in the category of luxuries. 



For everyday wear, men use a shirt and a pair 

 of trousers made from light-colored cotton ma- 

 terial, usually with a faint stripe or check. No 

 undershirt is used, but shorts are worn. Sport 

 shirts worn over the shirt and outside the trousers 

 are popular with young men. Some of the Terena 

 men go about dressed in old Brazilian army uni- 

 forms which they received while serving in the 

 army or which they have bought from others. 

 During dances some of the young men wear suits 

 made from cheap, tan-colored, cotton material. 

 The young men also take great pride in being able 

 to wear the baggy breeches and broadbrimmed felt 

 hat of the "gaucho," or Brazilian cowboy. 



Men have their hair cut in the modern style, and 

 it is a common sight on Sunday mornings to see 

 them cutting each other's hair in front of the 

 houses. Although they wash their hair often, it is 

 seldom combed. Men are usually clean-shaven, 

 although a few wear mustaches; straggly beards 

 are seen only on the very old men. 



Women wear slips and dresses made from cheap 

 cotton print of various colors. They do not wear 



coats, although hand-knitted sweaters are seen. 

 Old women wear their hair long, parted in the 

 middle and tied at the back of the neck with a rib- 

 bon or a piece of string. Young women who have 

 been to the neighboring towns braid their hair 

 and some even have permanent waves. The young 

 ones also use face powder and lipstick. Locally 

 made gold and silver rings and bracelets are worn, 

 the bracelets often having the name or initials of 

 the wearer engraved on them. Necklaces of store 

 beads are in common use and one may still see a 

 few old-fashioned necklaces made from small dried 

 berries. 



Children under 5 years of age go about un- 

 clothed except in cold weather when they wear a 

 sleeveless shirt but no pants. Very young chil- 

 dren are carried straddling the mother's hip. 



Although the houses and cooking arrangements 

 of the Terena do not appear to be exactly sanitary, 

 the people themselves are clean and neat. In hot 

 weather both men and women bathe every day. 

 Clothes, even when worn and patched, are kept 

 clean by constant washing. During any day of 

 the week women can be seen at the stock water 

 dams washing clothes. 



AGRICULTURE 



The agricultural practices of the Terena, today, 

 conform closely to the methods employed by the 

 "caboclo," or poor Brazilian farmer. The tools 

 used, the crops grown, the methods of storing and 

 preparing field produce for consumption are the 

 same. In fact, the Terena have learned their agri- 

 cultural methods by working on Brazilian farms. 

 If any differences exist they arise from the greater 

 efficiency of the "caboclo,"' resulting in larger areas 

 cultivated, higher yields, and a larger reserve of 

 food products. In the preparation of the land, 

 the digging stick has given place to the iron hoe, 

 and the stone ax to the machete and steel ax. 



When a Terena wishes to prepare a field he looks 

 for the type of soil and moisture conditions that 

 are suitable for the crop which he wishes to grow. 

 As the village of Bananal is on a plateau the soil 

 tends to be rather sandy and dry, suitable for fruit 

 trees and for manioc, which is a hardy plant. Sur- 

 rounding the houses, therefore, are found orchards 

 of mangoes, oranges, lemons, and bananas, and 

 some manioc. The orchards are planted largely at 

 the insistence of the Post manager. The mango 



