112 AMAZONIA AND LA PLATA. 



Rio Javary a:st> Purus Tribes, 



Independent wild tribes are far more numerous on tlie southern slope of the 

 Amazons valley, where they are reckoned by the hundred, all with their dis- 

 tinctive characters and special dialects, which, however, may be traced to one 

 great linguistic family. Those of the Rio Javary, on the Peruvian frontier, are 

 for the most part akin to the Panos, who appear to have reached a high state of 

 culture before they were again reduced to barbarism and nearly exterminated by 

 wars and epidemics. The various tribes of the Rio Jurua appear to be of Arawak 

 stock, as are also the multitudinous little groups of the Purus valley. Amongst 

 these the Ipurinas are noted for their physical beauty and dignified presence. 

 They embellish themselves with black paintings on a scarlet ground, and also 

 engage in fierce combats "for pleasure," so that most of them are covered with 

 scars, of which they are very proud. A favourite game is to single out some tree 

 as an enemy, and pierce it with arrows, uttering the sharp cry, " I-pu-ri-na, 

 I-pu-ri-na ! " whence their name. So many of their warriors perish in battle that 

 the women greatly outnumber the men, and polygamy has become common. 



Members of the Arawak family are also the Catauixi and the Paumari of the 

 Lower Purus, although the latter bury their dead, like the Quichuas, in large 

 earthern jars, which are deposited in mortuary cabins. The Paumari, that is, 

 Pama-uri, " Berry-eaters," seem to be descended from the old Purus nation, who 

 gave their name to the river. Between the Purus and Madeira confluences the 

 right bank of the Amazons is roamed by a few survivors of the formerly powerful 

 Mura nation, who were nearly exterminated by the Mandurucus towards the close 

 of the eighteenth century. Although speaking a totally different language, 

 Bates afiiiiates them to their Mundurucu enemies, who are of Tupi stock. They 

 are so indolent that " lazy as a Mura sleeping on three strings " has become a 

 proverbial expression, implying that they have not energy enough to net them- 

 selves proper hammocks. 



Rio Madeira Tribes — The Mundurucus, 

 About the cascades and rapids of the Madeira are encamped the Caripunas, 

 or " Watermen,'' akin to other Caripunas of the Pano family, who occupy the 

 Ucayali valley. East of them follow the Parentintins, whose territory stretches 

 along the right bank of the Madeira, and thence through the forest eastwards in 

 the direction of the Rio Tapajoz. These are full-blood Tupis, who appear to have 

 migrated from the south, and who are at constant war with their eastern 

 neighbours, the Mandurucus. 



Very different from these warlike tribes are the harmless and indolent Parexi, 

 Cabixi, Cachitini, and Vaimare, all Arawak peoples inhabiting the campos or 

 plateaux between the Guapore, Tapajoz, and Paraguay basins. These have come more 

 in contact with the whites, who have taught them the use of firearms, as well as of 

 iron implements for cultivating the soil. They are expert manufacturers of baskets, 

 sieves, hammocks, and textiles, with which they procure European wares from the 

 Brazilian traders. Thus they are becoming rapidly civilised, and many even get 



