INHABITANTS OF MATTO GEOSSO. 259 



the Spaniards gave the name of Lengoas, "Tongues," from the distension of the 

 lower lip by the insertion of a disk, giving it the appearance of a second tongue. 

 They constituted one of the largest nations in South America, and even still far 

 outnumber all other natives of the Paraguay basin except the Guarani. 



Yet according to Severiano da Fonseca, the Cadiueos or Beaqueos, as they are 

 now commonly called, are already reduced to no more than 1,600, although a few 

 years after the declaration of independence they could muster as many as 4,000 

 fighting men. At that time they still tattooed and painted themselves in vivid 

 colours, and shaved the crown of the head like the Coroados of the eastern pro- 

 vinces. The women use many words in conversation which do not occur in the 

 speech of the man. This double language probably originated in the custom of 

 bride cajDture. 



Another designation of the Guaycurus is that of Cuhalleros, " Cavaliers," which 

 is well merited since the introduction of the horse three centuries ago. They 

 show as much skill in the saddle as the Argentine Gauchos themselves, and 

 during their migrations from one camping-ground to another, the women mount 

 the pack-horses perched on the loads. The Guaycuru horsemen were long dreaded 

 for their method of attack, resembling that of the Arab bedouins in its swift 

 advance and retreat. On the rivers they were also formidable combatants, using 

 oars tipped with spear-heads, so that the same implement served to pursue the 

 foe, to strike and retire. Hundreds of Europeans have perished in the wars with 

 the Guaycurus, whose type has been greatly modified by the large number of 

 women captured from the white settlers during the last three hundred years. At 

 present many, especially in the Corumba and Albuquerque districts, live on 

 friendly terms with the Brazilian population, to which they are being gradually 

 assimilated. 



In a quiet self-satisfied way the Guaycurus regarded themselves as the first 

 nation in the world. They tolerated no intercourse with strangers, except to 

 receive their tribute and recognition of inferiority. All the other Indians living in 

 their territory had been reduced to a state of servitude, and even now the Guanes 

 bend the neck to a sort of slavery under the whites, for the sole purpose of escaping 

 from a harder fate as subjects of their Guaycuru kindred. 



But even in the Guaycuru social system itself, everybody is not equal. The 

 community, constituted by force, is divided into three perfectly distinct classes, 

 the j'oagas, or nobles, the plebeians, and the slaves. The daily life of every mem- 

 ber of the tribe has been strictly regulated by this division into three irreducible 

 castes. Thus the nobles can only marry " ladies of high birth " who bear the 

 title of dona, although they are permitted to choose concubines from the lower 

 castes. The slaves, descendants of captives in war, can never be emancipated 

 under any circumstances. Even the very tents, which the Guaycurus carry about 

 on their wanderings from place to place, are all arranged in accordance with the 

 laws of precedence. Great homage is paid to a noble at his death ; in his grave 

 are deposited his bow, arrows, lance, and martial adornments, and by his side is 

 killed his favourite steed. 



