540 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [Bull. 13? 



does it happen that only he and his wife have attained this extraordinary 

 size? No one of their subjects has explained this to me, but I have ques- 

 tioned the above-mentioned licentiate Ayllon, a serious and responsible man, 

 who had his information from those who had shared with him the cost of 

 the expedition. I likewise questioned the servant Francisco, to whom the 

 neighbors had spoken. Neither nature nor birth has given these princes the 

 advantage of size as an hereditary gift; they have acquired it by artifice. 

 While they are still in their cradles and in charge of their nurses, experts in 

 the matter are called, who by the application of certain herbs soften their 

 young bones. During a period of several days they rub the limbs of the 

 child with these herbs until the bones become as soft as wax. They then 

 rapidly bend them in such wise that the infant is almost killed. Afterwards 

 they feed the nurse on foods of a special virtue. The child is wrapped in 

 warm covers, the nurse gives it her breast and revives it with her milk, thus 

 gifted with strengthening properties. After some days of rest the lamentable 

 task of stretching the bones is begun anew. Such is the explanation given by 

 the servant Francisco Chicorana. 



The Dean of La Concepcion, whom I have mentioned, received from the 

 Indians stolen on the vessel that was saved explanations differing from those 

 furnished to Ayllon and his associates. These explanations dealt with medica- 

 ments and other means used for increasing the size. There was no tortur- 

 ing of the bones, but a very stimulating diet composed of crushed herbs was 

 used. This diet was given principally at the age of puberty, when it is 

 nature's tendency to develop, and sustenance is converted into flesh and 

 bones. Certainly it is an extraordinary fact, but we must remember what is 

 told about these herbs, and if their hidden virtues could be learned I would 

 willingly believe in their efficacy. We understand that only the kings are 

 allowed to use them, for if anyone else dares to taste them, or to obtain 

 the recipe of this diet, he would be guilty of treason, for he would appear 

 to equal the king. It is considered, after a fashion, that the king should not 

 be the size of everybody else, for he should look down and dominate those 

 who approach him. Such is the story told to me, and I repeat it for what it 

 is worth. Your excellency may believe it or not. (Anghierra, 1912, pp. 266-269; 

 S wanton, 1922, p. 46.) 



Very probably the ingredients of this story are : head deformation, 

 the accompanying and synchronous effect in straightening the body, 

 the administration of medicines to the mother, and manipulation of 

 the head and body of the infant. The addition of medicines at 

 puberty was in line with Indian ideas relative to the importance 

 of that period in life and the efficacy of magical performances and 

 magical decoctions applied then. 



To sum up, we have definite statements as to the existence of the 

 custom of head deformation among the Natchez, Taensa, Tunica, 

 Houma (though of late introduction among these last), and prob- 

 ably most of the other tribes of the lower Mississippi are involved, 

 and to these must be added the Chitimacha, and in the early historic 

 times, the Caddo. Among the tribes farther east addicted to the 

 practice were the Choctaw, Chickasaw (to a less extent probably), 

 Waxhaw and perhaps Catawba and some of their neighbors, and 

 some of the prehistoric peoples along the Gulf coast. There is, how- 



