ACROSS UNKNOWN SOUTH AMERICA 
largest of which was seldom more than two feet in 
diameter. They broke easily, being made extremely 
thin. 
The Bororos made basket-work by plaiting dried 
palm-leaves, but their most interesting work of all 
consisted in the really beautifully made fishing-nets. 
Nearly all the Indians of South America showed remark¬ 
able talent and patience at this work. The strings were 
twisted of a vegetable fibre, extremely resistant, and 
eminently suitable by its softness and regularity of 
diameter. 
Whether owing to excitement, indigestion, or other 
causes, the Bororos had visions, which they attributed to 
the Aroe Taurari. In a certain way they were believers 
in the transmigration of the soul, not generally, but in 
specific cases. 
There were certain Bororos who, by magic songs, 
professed to fascinate animals in the forest and were able 
to catch them. The barih or medicine-man generally 
assisted in those incantations. 
The Bororos were remarkable walkers. They were 
extremely light on their feet and had a springy gait, most 
graceful to watch. A striking characteristic of these 
people was that, when standing, unlike nearly every other 
tribe of savages I have seen, they spread their toes outward 
instead of keeping both feet parallel. To a lesser extent 
the feet were held in that position also when walking. 
The suppleness of their bodies gave them a great advan¬ 
tage in penetrating with ease anywhere in the forest 
without having to cut their way through. 
Both men and women were passionately fond of 
dancing, although their dancing had not reached any 
degree of perfection. With a strip of burity palm upon 
their shoulders they hopped around, monotonously chant¬ 
ing, with a rhythmic occasional jump, the women fol¬ 
lowing the men. 
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