166 The Andes and the Amazon. 



From this it will be seen that the capacity of this indi- 

 vidual Napo is 8 cubic inches greater than the average 

 bulk (75 cubic inches) of the old Peruvians; a trifle less 

 than the average North American (84) ; 10 cubic inches 

 less than the European (94) ; and the same as the average 

 Polynesian and native African. He has a rounded head, 

 somewnat prominent vertex, not an excessive protuberance 

 of brain behind — a line through the meatus dividing it 

 into very nearly equal parts ; but a narrow front as viewed 

 from above, small vertical diameter, quadrangular orbits, 

 vertical teeth, and low facial angle. These characters 

 place him between the Toltecan and the more barbarous 

 tribes of the New World. 



The Napos are nominally subject to the Ecuadorian 

 government, which is represented by three or four petty 

 alcaldes ; but the Jesuit missionaries, who have established 

 a bishopric and three curacies, genei'ally control affairs — 

 spiritual, political, and commercial. The Indians of each 

 village annually elect one of their number governor, who 

 serves without salarj^, and whose only show of authority is 

 a silver-headed cane about four feet long. He is attend- 

 ed by half a dozen "justices," whose duty it is to supply 

 the curate, alcalde, and any traveling hlanco who may 

 happen to be in town with daily food at a reasonable rate. 



The religion of the Napos is a mixture of Paganism and 

 Christianity. In common with all the other orient tribes, 

 they believe in good and evil principles, and in metempsy- 

 chosis. They swear in the name of the devil. They bury 

 their dead horizontally, in a coffin made of a part of a ca- 

 noe, with a lid of bamboo. They are \ery kind to the aged. 

 Monogamy is the rule : the usual age of wedlock is sixteen 

 or seventeen. The parents negotiate the marriage, and the 

 curate's fee is one castellano ($3 50). When a person 

 dies they hold an Irish "wake" over the body, and then 



