COOK] BORORO INDIANS OF MATTO GROSSO, BRAZIL 49 



On January 9, 1901, we reached the Rio Ponte de Pedra, about 45 

 miles north of its junction with the Rio Sao Loureneo, where the 

 latter bends nearly westward. Senhor Antonio had recently thrown 

 up here a simple palm-branch, stake-walled ranch, near an important 

 village of the Bororo tribe on friendly terms. The place is called 

 Ta-Dare-Mano Paro, ' ' potato bank, ' ' or " place where tubers grow. ' ' 



As soon as our arrival became known our ranch, scarcely more 

 than an open shed, began to fill rapidly with our painted friends of 

 all ages and sizes and of both sexes, who came to observe us and to 

 see the marvelous things we had brought from our enchanted world. 

 The}- pour in upon us regularly at the break of day and stay faith- 

 fully till the shadows of night begin to deepen ; and though com- 

 ing and going constantly, we always have our full complement. If 

 we open one of our pack-mule trunks, our visitors are on the alert 

 to handle whatever may strike their fancy. If we eat, every mouth- 

 ful of food is closely scrutinized, and whatever we may do is ob- 

 served with the closest attention. They recline on our boxes, 

 sprawl on our tables, lean against the posts, squat on the ground, 

 and hunch down around our pot as it boils, always leaving a patch 

 of paint wherever they sit or lean. Some smoke, others lazily pick 

 and eat the kernels from a roasted ear of corn, others nibble the 

 white cheese-like heart of a diminutive palm that furnishes a con- 

 siderable part of their food ; the boys devour bits of fish roasted 

 black, or shoot at a stick or a stump with their crude bows and ar- 

 rows. Just outside the door men gossip, vacantly. gazing, but never 

 once toward the one they address, or they ask us a few questions in 

 the limited language that we know in common. The women and 

 children usually form an outer fringe to this group. Whenever 

 there is prospect of obtaining beef our congregation is at once 

 largely increased. They never steal anything that is distinctively 

 ours, though they will take anything we have bought of them if 

 they have an opportunity. 



The long, straight, coarse black hair of both males and females 

 hangs in a tangled mass about their shoulders, except above the 

 forehead, where it is kept chopped off to form bangs. Nearly all 

 the single young plaster these bangs with a sort of red putty made 

 from the small yellowish-red fruit of the burity palm and fish oil, 

 and the same paste is used to paint the entire body. Boys and girls 

 who are esteemed by their parents also have the foretop arranged 

 in this way, and a few T of the latter who are regarded with special 

 favor have it plaited with a layer of beautiful red feathers. Again, 

 young men, as well as boys and girls, who are liked by their parents 

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