176 SOUTH AMERICA— THE ANDES EEGIONS. 



bours beyond the Magdalena, they appear to bave rivalled them in knowledge and 

 general culture. The oblivion into which they have fallen is doubtless due to 

 the fact that they obeyed no powerful kings, and had failed to develop a 

 warlike empire. The Spaniards, subjects of an emperor who aimed at universal 

 dominion, estimated the civilisation of the aborigines according to the extent 

 of the domains ruled over by their chiefs, and the wealth contained in their 

 treasuries. 



Yet the plateaux of Antioquia surpassed Cundinamarca in auriferous 

 deposits, and consequently the graves of the Nutabe and Tahami Indians have 

 in the end yielded far more golden treasures than those of the Muyscas. But 

 they are scattered over a wider area, and not grouped round a few sanctuaries 

 visited by hundreds of thousands of pilgrims, bearers of offerings to the gods. 

 The huaquei'os of Antioqaia, that is, the riflers of huacas (barrows), are very 

 skilful in selecting amongst the inequalities of the ground those which contain 

 human remains, and the treasures deposited with them. In 1833 a single huaca 

 yielded jewels to the value of £3,600 



, The marshy valleys draining east of Antioquia towards the Magdalena 

 are inhabited by a few remnants of the Pantagoros, a people formerly much 

 dreaded by the Spanish settlers. Amongst the various tribes that roamed the 

 dense forests on this slope of the Central Cordillera the most barbarous were 

 the Pijaos (Paes or Paezes), who selected the most innocent victims as offerings to 

 their gods. The enemy slain in battle was regarded as a poor sacrifice compared 

 with women, children, inoffensive strangers, and other harmless beings, who 

 were accordingly immolated to the spirits thirsting for blood. But even such 

 victims could secure the divine favour only for a certain period ; hence the 

 sacrifices had to be periodically renewed at the risk of being abandoned by the 

 neglected deities. 



Although possessing less gold than the Muyscas and Tahami, the civilised 

 Guanes, of the upper Sogamoso basin, were more richly endowed in the qualities 

 of courage, endurance, and probity. Some of their descendants, known under 

 various names, still occupy the Carare valley, where they are protected from the 

 whites by the unhealthy climate and dense forests of their territory. 



In the Sierra Perijaa dwell other wild tribes, such as the Chimilas, accused 

 of cannibalism without any proof, and the Motilones, of Carib stock, who occupy 

 the hilly frontier district east of the Rio Cesar. These still hold aloof from the 

 settled populations, whereas the Arhuacos (Aurohuacos), of the Sierra Nevada 

 de Santa Marta, have already begun to associate with and speak the language 

 of the Conquerors, while still preserving their mother tongue. 



The Goajiros (Guahiros of the early writers), who occupy the plains east of 

 the Pio Pancheria, between Pio Hacha and Maracaibo, are physically a much 

 finer race than the Arhuacos, taller, more robust and active, and especially 

 distinguished by a much lighter complexion. This feature has been attributed 

 to a more carnivorous diet, their arid territory yielding no fruits or vegetables, 

 and compelling them to depend mainly on theic herds, and on the turtles which 



