INHABITANTS OF COLOMBIA. 179 



the lower Guaviare, below the Mituas, follow the Papiocos ("Toucans"), one 

 of the many peoples amongst whom the curious custom of the couvade still 

 survives. 



The Mocoas of the upper Caqueta, east of Pasto, dwell in the forest glades, 

 and are held to be civilised because they speak the Quichua (Peruvian) language 

 mixed with a few Spanish loan words, and because they visit the settlements 

 always arrayed in violet-coloured garments. But farther down, along the Yapura 

 and Putumayo rivers, are scattered several primitive groups who still go naked, 

 and preserve their native languages. All are of peaceful disposition, and are dis- 

 tinguished by their ornaments, the cut of their hair, or even by mutilations 

 regarded as embellishments. The Mataquajes (Piajes), who pluck out their eye- 

 lashes and eyebrows and pierce the cartilage of the nostrils ; the Orejones (" Long- 

 eared"), who cut the lower lobe of the ear into strips, and the Encabellados, who 

 build up the hair into huge crested helmets — all roam the debatable borderlands 

 between Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Brazil. 



Some of these sedentary or nomad groups, such as the Papiaros, the Bamias, 

 the Yaruros, and most of the middle Orinoco people, are classed with the Maipure 

 family ; others, like the Carizonas of the upper Yapura, and the Uitotos widely 

 diffused throughout the Yapura and Putumayo basins, are regarded by Crevaux 

 as pure Caribs, while the Miranhas, of the middle Putumayo, appear to form a 

 separate group speaking a stock language. 



The Hispaxo-Colombians, 



The civilised inhabitants of the plateaux and upland valleys, in whom the 

 European and aboriginal elements are completely blended, present certain 

 contrasts, due to the different environments and to the preponderance of one 

 or other of the primitive stocks. Thus the Cundinamarcans, Muysca and 

 Andalusian mestizoes, are noted for their clear vision, impulsive action, and 

 lack of perseverance. The Pastusos, with some Quichua blood in their veins, 

 have the same patient, long-suffering, cautious, but sullen and revengeful spirit 

 as their southern kindred. Ever mindful of the past, and clinging to the old 

 usages, they have alwaj^s represented the conservative element in a pre-eminent 

 degree in the republic. 



On the other hand, the people of the Cauca valley, the most healthy and 

 flourishing district in Colombia, are hospitable, open-handed, full of sympathy and 

 pity for the w^eak. Their country has received the quaint name of " the gentle 

 land of Yes," being a people who " can never say No " to supplicants. But they 

 are impulsive and passionate, flying to arms on the least pretext, qualities due 

 to a large strain of negro blood. 



The natives of Antioquia are said to have a considerable admixture of a Semitic 

 element, derived from a number of Jewish converts taking refuge in the New 

 World from the persecutions to which they were subjected in the Old. In any 

 case, the Basques are largely represented in the Antioquian population, which is 



