ACROSS UNKNOWN SOUTH AMERICA 
decided to go to heaven. In the aideja there lived an old 
woman and a red macaw. Both could speak. The boys, 
having eaten the polenta, cut off the woman’s arms, tongue, 
and eyes, and tore out the tongue of the speaking bird. 
Having done this, they went into the forest, where they 
found a liana twisted into innumerable steps (in the 
Bororo language, ippare , young; kugure , multitude; 
groiya , step). They could not speak for fear of drawing 
attention, nor ask any one for help. They had taken the 
precaution of setting free all the captive birds in the 
aide j a, and they had flown away, except the pio duddu 
(the colibri), which they took with them into the forest. 
The boys gave a long liana, like a rope, to the colibri J 
requesting him to fasten it to the top of the highest tree, 
and another long liana which he must tie to the sky, where 
they all wished to ascend. The colibri tied the vegetable 
ropes as requested, and all the boys climbed up. 
“ The mothers, missing their children, went to the 
old woman and the speaking macaw. 
“‘Where are our children?’ said they in a chorus. 
“No answer. They were horrified when they per¬ 
ceived the mutilated woman and bird. They rushed out 
of the hut and saw the children — up — up — high, like 
tiny spots, climbing up the liana to heaven. The women 
went to the forest, to the spot where the boys had pro¬ 
ceeded on their aerial trip, and showing the breasts that 
had milked them, entreated them to come down again. 
The appeal was in vain. The mothers, in despair, then 
proceeded to follow their children skyward up the liana. 
“ The youthful chieftain of the plot had gone up last. 
When he perceived the mothers gaining on them, he cut 
the liana. With a sonorous bump, the mothers dropped 
in a heap to the ground. That was why the Bororo 
women were resigned to see their sons in heaven, forming 
the stars, while they, the women themselves, remained the 
transmigrated souls of their mothers upon earth.” 
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