INHABITANTS OF AMAZONIA. 



109 



on the plantations, all the affluents of the mainstream are still occupied by nume- 

 rous full-blood aborigines, who have hitherto kept mainly aloof from the white 

 and black intruders. Despite the studies of D'Orbigny, Martius, Crevaux, Coudreau, 

 Ehrenreich, and other ethnologists, much doubt still prevails regarding the mutual 

 affinities of these peoples, who, however, to judge from the analogy of their 

 dialects, would appear to belong to a small number of original groups. 



The ArawaJi-s and the Caribs of Venezuela and Guiana are here also numerously 

 represented ; but the Tupi constitute the chief ethnical element throughout the 

 southern section of the Amazonian basin. On the northern slope, and especially 

 in the lea and Japura valleys, the dominant people are the Miranhm, a general 

 name applied by Ehrenreich to various scattered tribes living apart from each 

 other. Another distinct group is that of the Carayas of the Xingu and Araguaya 



basins, who differ both in speech, 



1 • 1 11+1, Fip:. 37. — Cafusa Half-beeed. 



physique, and usages from all the ° 



others. Of the entire Amazonian 

 indigenous population, estimated 

 at about 90,000, all these inde- 

 pendent wild tribes number prob- 

 ably about one-half. 



On the Upper Solimoes the 

 riverside populations are already 

 very mixed, although still pre- 

 serving their tribal organisation 

 and traditions. Here are met a 

 few Omaguas, recognised by their 

 round, soft features, some Yahuas 

 of haughty carriage, and the 

 Ticunas, distinguished by their 

 painted robes. The warlike 

 Miranhas carry a rude spear of 

 hard wood, and use a kind of 

 drum hollowed from a single 



block, which is heard " two leagues away," and with which they are said to 

 communicate news from village to village, like some of the West African tribes. 

 Like the old Quichuas, they ensnare the game by means of coarse nets suspended 

 from tree to tree. 



Near the Miranhas dwell some tribes of different stock, amongst others the 

 Carijonas and the Witotos, or "enemies," whom Crevaux met on the Up^Der 

 Japura, beyond the Brazilian frontier, and who are pure Caribs, while the Passé of 

 the Lower I ça belong to the same stock as the Arawaks. These are distinguished 

 by their fine physique, intelligence, gentle disposition, and skill, hence are much 

 valued as domestic servants in Manaos. Like their Uainuma neighbours, thev 

 blackened a great part of the face with the juice of the genipa, whence the expres- 

 sion Juri Pixuna, "Blackmouths," often applied to them. 



Vi> 



