The kitchen utensils 

 are always thoroughly 

 washed before using, 

 and, contrary to our 

 former experience, their 

 simple dishes, prepared 

 mostly in our presence, 

 looked almost always in- 

 viting. During our stay 

 among these good people 

 nothing was noticed that 

 would hurt the most deli- 

 cate sense of decency. 



The Chocoes seem to 

 be exclusively monoga- 

 mist and both parents 

 surround their babies 

 with tender care, being 

 mindful, however, to 

 prepare them early for 

 the hard and struggling 

 life ahead of them. 

 Small bows and arrows, 

 dexterously handled by 

 tiny hands, are the fa- 

 vorite toys of the boys, 

 while the girls spend 

 more time in the water 

 playing with miniature 

 dugouts, washing, and 

 swimming. The only 

 dolls seen among them 

 were imported ones, and 

 they seemed to be as 

 much in favor among 

 grown women as among 

 children. These latter 

 go naked until they are 

 about 5 years old, when 

 the girls receive a large 

 handkerchief to be used 

 as a "paruma," or skirt, 

 and the boys a strip of 

 some old maternal dress 

 for a "antia," or clout. 

 The houses of the Cho- 

 coes are built on a better 

 plan, as far as hygiene 

 and comfort are con- 

 cerned, than those of 

 either the Cuna-Cuna or 

 the Guaymies. Placed 

 high up on the river 

 bank and seldom visible 

 to the passing canoes, 

 their structure is almost 



66i 



