Vol. XL, No. 4 



WASHINGTON 



October, 1921 



THE 



ATflOMAL 

 ra APE2C 



COPYRIGHT. 1 92 1 .BY NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY. WASHINGTON. D C. 



OVER TRAIL AND THROUGH JUNGLE 



IN ECUADOR 



Indian Head-Hunters of the Interior an Interesting 

 Study in the South American Republic 



By H. E. Anthony* 



With Illustrations from Photographs by the Author 



ECUADOR is a land of great in- 

 terest to the northerner, whether 

 he be scientist or layman; or 

 whether his inclinations lead him to a 

 study of peoples, their customs and tra- 

 ditions, or to the enjoyment of the natural 

 features of the country — the birds, the 

 mammals, the magnificent forests and 

 lofty mountains. 



This republic occupies a unique geo- 

 graphical position, astride the Equator, 

 where it extends approximately from one 

 degree thirty minutes north latitude to 

 almost five degrees south latitude. Within 

 this comparatively short distance are in- 

 cluded some of the grandest of the An- 

 dean peaks and a multitude of mighty 

 ranges and deep canons. 



On the west coast, Ecuador holds a 

 strategic position in regard to the Hum- 

 boldt Current, that chill invader from 

 southern seas, for it is at this point that 

 the current sheers off to the westward 

 and its influence upon the winds and the 

 climatic conditions of South America is 

 weakened. 



The eastern boundaries of the republic 

 lie across Amazonian drainage, and cut 



* The author, accompanied by Mr. George K. 

 Cherrie, was the leader of an expedition sent 

 to Ecuador, June, 1920, to March, 192 1, by the 

 American Museum of Natural History, of 

 which he is the Associate Curator of Mam- 

 mals of the Western Hemisphere. 



the Napo, the Pastaza, and the Paute, all 

 affluents of the world's largest river. 



The topography is extremely moun- 

 tainous. Although there are restricted 

 plains in western Ecuador, the greater part 

 of the republic lies along the Andes and 

 their foothills, so that level areas of any 

 great extent are seldom encountered. 



The drainage of the country includes 

 a number of large rivers flowing to the 

 eastward, as well as several important 

 western-flowing streams. 



Except for a narrow coastal strip, 

 Ecuador receives abundant rainfall. The 

 year is divided into two seasons — the dry 

 season and the wet, or so-called rainy, 

 season. The rains generally begin in 

 December or January and last until May 

 or June, the balance of the year having 

 only a scanty rainfall. 



In some localities there is a deviation 

 from this order, and on the eastern slopes 

 of the Andes there are heavy rains in 

 every month of the year. The annual 

 rainfall in some parts of the Oricntc may 

 reach as high as 150 to 200 inches. 



Ecuador's jivaros are head-hunting 



INDIANS 



The population of Ecuador is made up 

 of three distinct elements. Most of the 

 educated, upper class are of Spanish de- 

 scent and all of the political offices are 



