A SACRED WAR TEOPHY FROM ECUADOR. 185 



I'osiding near Bcaador. Wc may bi'icfly describe it as a 

 Imman head shrunk to about tlie size of a large orange 

 without causing any distortion or disproportion of a feature ; 

 eyelids and month closed; hair about twenty- four inches 

 long, intensely black, falling in graceful waves, and singu- 

 larly beautiful in quality, hue, and brightness ; skin very 

 (lark brown and hard, feeling like dried leather; a cord 

 made of several cotton strands slightly twisted passes twice 

 throu"-!!, the lips, tying them together, the ends then plaited 

 hauf d(jwn about cightoon inches ; anotlier cord is fastened 

 to the top of the head for the purpose of suspension. 



It is further stated that when this oracle has to be con- 

 sulted, the priest first drugs the inquirer with some nar- 

 cotic, and then, taking away the cords that seal the lips, 

 places his ear to the mouth, and after listening repeats the 

 answer imparted to him. 



To canonize the head of an enemy intentionally killed is 

 surely a strange freak in, psychical phenomena ! 



Measured by comparison with their surrounding races, 

 the Jivaros arc a remarkable people. Velasco, the liistorian 

 of Quito, speaks of them as bi'ave, astute, warlike, muscular, 

 and hospitable. Having a history of more tlian three cen- 

 turies' duration, and having retained their independence 

 whilst their neighbours were subjugated by the Spaniards, 

 their strong individuality is obvious. Some of those inde- 

 pendent characteristics may however owe gomotliing to the 

 fact of the country being very mountainous. 



Unliko the head before us, the one mentioned by Mr. 

 Buckland was painted in colours. Perhaps this arises from 

 difference in the customs of the various tribes of which the 

 Jivaros are composed. 



