INHABITANTS OF BOLIVIA. 371 



The Chiquitos, a Spanish word meaning "Little Folks," are so called in refe- 

 rence, not to the people themselves, but to the form of their huts, the entrance to 

 which was made so low, in order, as was said, to keep out flies and raosquitos, that 

 they could be entered only on all fours. Without, however, being actually "little 

 folks," the Chiquitos are still somewhat shorter than the Indians of Gran Chaco, 

 discovered at an early date by the Europeans who first ascended the Paraguay 

 river. 



The men measured by D'Orbigny had an average height of 4 feet 10 inches, and 

 in other respects they differed in appearance somewhat from the southern natives 

 comprised by this anthropologist under the general name of Pampas Indians. 

 They have robust frames, broad shoulders, a strong but not prominent muscular 

 system. The shapeless body seems " all of a piece," even amongst the women, 

 whose girdle scarcely does more than suggest a waist, and whose solid figures 

 betray a strength scarcely inferior to that of the men. 



The Chiquito has a round head and full face, in which the projection of the 

 cheekbones disappears in the massiveness of the jaws. A smile generally plays 

 about the corners of the small mouth, giving to the whole physiognomy a pleasing 

 expression of benevolent kindliness. The moral character of the Chiquitos fully 

 corresponds with their physical traits. They are always cheerful, preserving a 

 naturally kind disposition despite the cruel treatment to which they have been so 

 frequently subjected. Being extremely sociable and hospitable, they are constantly 

 paying a round of visits from tribe to tribe, and never fail to give the stranger a 

 friendly welcome. In their enjoyment of life they thus present a striking contrast 

 to their neighbours dwelling on the southern Pampas. 



Disputes are rare, even in the domestic circle, for the Chiquito is by no means 

 of a jealous nature, while the wife is all the more faithfal. With his quick 

 intelligence, he readily masters all crafts, and plies them with ease ; under the 

 direction of the missionaries the village people willingly applied themselves to the 

 work required of them. Born musicians, they greet the rising sun with the flute, 

 and then set about the day's work, which is over about noon, the afternoon and 

 evening being given up to the chase, singing, dancing and recreation. One of 

 their great amusements is the game of tennis, in which hundreds take part, using 

 their heads as rackets to catch and drive back the ball. 



The happy disposition of this light-hearted people corresponds with the delight- 

 ful country which they inhabit, a land of low hills and heights, of pleasant valleys 

 and open woodlands easily traversed. Those engaged in husbandry were wont to 

 set apart a patch of well-sheltered and fertile land for each tribal community, 

 while the hunting tribes kept a broad forest preserve round their dwellings. The 

 whole race was thus divided into numerous isolated groups, the more distant of 

 whom had but a nominal acquaintance with each other. 



All the inhabitants of a villào:e had often but one house in common, a sort of 

 communistic abode, as if the group formed a single large family. But after the age 

 of fifteen the young people lived apart, also under one roof, where was passed their 

 novitiate before marriage, Avhich concluded with an offering of game. But these 



