32 
Wapisiana Belles. 
ties except chat tlieir vigour and musculature appeared to be mucli more 
delicately moulded. I had already enjoyed many an opportunity for 
admirino- tlie liair of Indian women, but I had never yet seen it in sucli 
xengtli and profusion as possessed by the Wapisianas. Tiiey generally 
had it nicely smootlied, tidied u]i and greased with palm oil : falling- 
over tlie shoulders, it reached to the calves in Biany cases. The men 
almost always cut theirs short. In the perforat^^d nasal septum they 
(men) Wore polished smooth and tlattencd-ont silver or C(^])per coins, 
and in the perforated under lip either a small cylinder or sort of bell 
m'ade of Ixtue. In their clothing, ihc men and women corresi>on(led with 
other tribes, in that it consisted only of a lap-cloth. There \vias more 
difference, however, in their language which had much resemblance to 
that of the Pauixanas of the Eio Branco: its utterance, and intona- 
tion of hard and sharp words reminded me forcilily of Jews. 
78. The endemic skin disease that ap])ears to be hereditary amongst 
the South American tribes, was also indigenous here. As yet ^Xit had not 
found a tribe with which we had come in contact, free from it, while all 
others of whom Ave had got to learn, were affected with it.* 
79. We Avere less surprised at OoodalFs keen fondness for his art 
l>eing so fired by the really lovely features and beautiful figures of the 
women land girls as to want to transfer them instantly to his sketch- 
book than we were at the infinitely naive maidenly conduct of the origin- 
als, who, on account of the ignoiance of the actions and scrutinizing 
gaze of the artist Avere placed in such embarrassment and restlessness 
that the blushes Avhich shame called to their cheeks Avere CA^en noticeable, 
through their broAvn complexions. Aftei- the first upset Avas overcome, 
Goodall, as we expected, met with further- difficulties, because before he 
Avas aware of it the pretty creatures had disappeared and it Avas only 
after making many a present that Ave succeeded in persuading them to 
submit once more in the presence of their husbands or mothers to thä 
artist's critical contemplation. But still more interesting Avas it for 
the observer to follow the inward struggle betAveen natural shame and 
cm'iosity. When (byodall lookcnl doAA'u on his draAving-paper, the' eye- 
balls of the oriuiiials rolled in itsS direction; but Avliat a shock they 
received on finding themsplA'es caught on their stealthy ei'rand either bv 
ns or by the artist suddeidy glancing up! Although the men apparently 
felt flattered by this portraiture, we could prevail as little upon them 
as ur»on the women, to l(»ok straight at their own likenesses; their friends 
on the other hand i-egarded the pictures Avith evident interest. 
80. PolyganiA- is also indii:enous amongst them, if not as prevalent 
as it is amongst the Warraus and AraAvaks. 
81. Judging from t1ie quantity of hunting trophies, which included 
the dorsal carapaces of scA^eral turtle, and the larire number of beautiful 
dogs, the Wapisianas ninst l)e as equally passionate of hunting, as they 
are of smoking. They also roll the tobacco-leaves in the inner bark- 
Pi-obnbly impetigiiious com dit ions, not hereditary, but due to the uucleanly surroundings 
