Indians of the Maeanon. ^ 585 



shin affections, geo^hagy, malarial fevers, severe colics, 

 trismus nascentium, abscesses. 



But, before sketching these, it may be well to give some 

 notes on the diiferent nationalities, or representatives of 

 man, one finds on the Maranon. And first in point of 

 numbers and possession is the Indian, who lives scattered 

 very much about the river -margins, the interior of the 

 montana itself being entirely too dense a vegetation to 

 permit man to move about even on foot — the water-courses 

 being the only highways of that region. The South- Amer- 

 ican Indian, particularly the one living under the tropical 

 skies, is a different character from the obstinate "patriot" 

 of our Western reserves, or the bold and tenacious Arauca- 

 nian of Chile, or the Bedouin-like wanderers on the North- 

 western plains of the Argentine Confederation. Born in 

 a sweltering climate, with impenetrable forests to defy 

 even stealthy tread, with alternate deluge to drive him 

 from his anchorage, the Maraiion red man lives, as it were, 

 apart from the nature which is contesting his natural right 

 to soil and life. He is not a gregarious animal ; but lives 

 in detached families, or at most where two or three house- 

 holds are collected. He moves from his dirty hut to spear 

 the fish, to overturn the turtle on the bank, or to enjoy the 

 amiable diversion of stealing an additional wife or child 

 from a neighboring tribe ; and is altogether totally nega- 

 tive in his virtues, though positive enough in his vices. 

 The lazy stroke of the paddle is his only vigorous exercise ; 

 and, without the warlike virtues of the red man of the 

 colder climes, his whole anatomy exhibits a heavy, flabby, 

 unimpassioned physique, which has some effect on his case 

 when diseased. The want of resistance to circumstances 

 about him, the want of numbers, the want of mobility, as 

 it were, have made the native Indian of the Amazons val- 

 ley always appear as a stranger here on his " native heath." 



