Divisions.—1. The Maya Proper. 2. The Huasteca.Localities.—1. The Maya Proper in Yucatan. 2. The Huasteca, in the parts about Tampico.Area.—Discontinuous.
Divisions.—1. The Maya Proper. 2. The Huasteca.
Localities.—1. The Maya Proper in Yucatan. 2. The Huasteca, in the parts about Tampico.
Area.—Discontinuous.
The discontinuity of the Maya area is effected by the interposition of Totonaca and other languages; the discovery of the community of origin between populations so different as those of Yucatan and country round Tampico being one of the valuable notices of the Mithridates.
The value of the Maya-Huasteca (or Huasteca-Maya) group, is wholly undetermined. Probably it shouldextend to the inclusion of the Poconchi and several other tongues of Guatemala.
The further we approach the narrowest part of the Isthmus the more fragmentary is our ethnology. It loses, however, none of its importance, since it is by the way of the Isthmus that we find the most direct geographical transition from North to South America.
And here the division must be made between—a, those Indians who seem to have partaken of a civilization of the Mexican type,—andb, those who do not.
The former alternative was probably the case (more or less) with all the divisions already enumerated; the latter with the Indians of Panama, the islands, and the Moskito Coast.
The following is a notice of a tribe on the sea-coast, at present either extinct or incorporated with some other, but well known to the old buccaneers.[159]"The next day we got ashore in one of them [the islands] in hopes of getting some corn, but met with none but a few poor wretches, who had been stripped of all by the privateers, who also frequently made them their slaves; for they are very fit for that purpose, being of a low stature but strong limbed; for the rest they are of a dark olive colour, with round faces, black hair, and small eyes of the same colour: with eyebrows hanging over their eyes, low foreheads, short, thick, and flat noses, full lips, and short chins. They have a peculiar fashion of cutting holes in the lips of the boys whilst yet infants, which they keep open with small pegs till they are fourteen or fifteen years of age; then they put in them something resembling a long beard made of tortoise-shell. Both boys and girls have holesbored in their ears, which by degrees they stretch to the bigness of a crown-piece, and wear in them round and smooth pieces of wood, so that their ears seem wood, unless only in a small skin. As they have very little feet (notwithstanding they are bare-footed), so the females take a great pride in their legs, which they tie very hard from the ankle to the beginning of the calf with a piece of calico, which renders their calfs very round and beautiful. They have no other clothing but a clout about their middle."
The nearest remaining representatives of the aborigines thus described are the—
Locality.—The Moskito Coast.Language.—Peculiar.
Locality.—The Moskito Coast.
Language.—Peculiar.
Like the Indians of the original territory of the United States and Canada, the Europeans with which the Moskito Indians come in contact are of English, rather than Spanish, extraction; besides which, there is a considerable intermixture of Negro blood.
The language, for which we have a fair amount of data, has fewer miscellaneous affinities than any hitherto examined. Still, this is nothing more than what its geographical position leads us to expect. The nearest languages of which we have specimens are those of Guatemala on one side, and the northern part of South America on the other. For the contiguous areas of Honduras, San Salvador, and Costa Rica we have no specimens.
The Isthmus of Panama leads us from North to South America. Here the first tribe of importance which presents itself is—
Locality.—New Granada. Extinct.Language.—Peculiar; known, however, only from a few words collected by the Abbate Gilii.—SeeMithridates.Civilization.—The same (or nearly the same) with that of Mexico and Peru.
Locality.—New Granada. Extinct.
Language.—Peculiar; known, however, only from a few words collected by the Abbate Gilii.—SeeMithridates.
Civilization.—The same (or nearly the same) with that of Mexico and Peru.
1. Besides the Muysca, however, there were, most probably, two or three mutually unintelligible languages spoken in the Isthmus of Darien, and the following ten (all now extinct), in New Grenada. 1. The Agnala; 2. the Caivana; 3. the Chimeca; 4. the Kurumene; 5. the Gorrane; 6. the Guaraepoana; 7. the Guarica; 8. the Natagaima; 9. the Cueca; and 10. the Chiaczake.—Mithridates.
We now follow the line of the Andes, omitting for the present the consideration of their eastern declivity, and limiting ourselves to the mountain-range itself and the narrow strip between it and the Pacific. This brings us, probably, through the districts of the 1. Masteles; 2. Chorri; 3, Pichilumbuy; and, 4. Quillacingæ, to the country of the ancient
Locality.—Quito.
Locality.—Quito.
At the present moment, and even in the sixteenth century, the language of Quito was the Quichua. It is considered, however, although I have not investigated the evidence, that the aboriginal languages of the country, spoken before the conquest of the Incas, belonged to a different class of tongues; and that the Quiteno dialect of the Peruvian is a recent introduction.
Be this as it may, the population which now comes next is—
Locality.—From the Equator to 28° south latitudediscontinuously; the Quichua area being interrupted about 15° south latitude by the Aymaras. Limited almost exclusively to the plateau of the Andes and to itswesternslope.Numbers, according to D'Orbigny, 934,707 pure, 458,572 mixed.
Locality.—From the Equator to 28° south latitudediscontinuously; the Quichua area being interrupted about 15° south latitude by the Aymaras. Limited almost exclusively to the plateau of the Andes and to itswesternslope.
Numbers, according to D'Orbigny, 934,707 pure, 458,572 mixed.
Locality.—From 15° to 20° south latitude. The parts around the Lake Titicaca, and the ruins of Tiaguanaco. Conterminous with and (almost?) surrounded by the Quichuas.Numbers, according to D'Orbigny, 372,397 pure, 188,237 mixed.
Locality.—From 15° to 20° south latitude. The parts around the Lake Titicaca, and the ruins of Tiaguanaco. Conterminous with and (almost?) surrounded by the Quichuas.
Numbers, according to D'Orbigny, 372,397 pure, 188,237 mixed.
Locality.—The valley of Cincha, in the diocese of Truxillo. Extinct.Synonym.(?)—Mochika. Perhaps the name for a separate dialect.
Locality.—The valley of Cincha, in the diocese of Truxillo. Extinct.
Synonym.(?)—Mochika. Perhaps the name for a separate dialect.
Locality.—The diocese of La Paz. Extinct.
Locality.—The diocese of La Paz. Extinct.
Probably these, with the Quixos, may represent the earlier population of the Andes anterior to the spread of the Peruvian Incas of the Quichua stock.
Locality.—The Provinces of Taracapa and Atacama. Conterminous with the Aymaras, Quichuas; and Moluché.Synonyms.—Olipes, Llipi.Numbers, according to D'Orbigny, 7348 pure, 2170 mixed.
Locality.—The Provinces of Taracapa and Atacama. Conterminous with the Aymaras, Quichuas; and Moluché.
Synonyms.—Olipes, Llipi.
Numbers, according to D'Orbigny, 7348 pure, 2170 mixed.
Locality.—The Coast of Peru, from 22° to 24° south latitude, conterminous with the Moluché.Numbers, according to D'Orbigny, 1000.
Locality.—The Coast of Peru, from 22° to 24° south latitude, conterminous with the Moluché.
Numbers, according to D'Orbigny, 1000.
Thus far we have followed the line of the Western Andes in the direction from north to south, along a tract forming the narrow line between the Cordilleras and the Pacific, a tract that, politically and historically speaking, nearly coincides with the empire of thePeruvian Incas, as it was found by the Spanish conquerors under Pizarro. For thehistoryof this remarkable empire the reader is referred to Prescott's History of Peru; the criticism that applies the facts therein found, being, in a great degree, the criticism which applies to similar civilization of Mexico.
In Chili we find the north-western branch of one of the great and definite divisions of the South American population, which may be called Chileno, Patagonian, Fuegian, Chileno-Patagonian, &c. as seems most convenient; the main fact requisite to be remembered being, that it comprises the population of three areas. 1. Chili; 2. Patagonia; 3. Tierra del Fuego.
Although for this group of Indians we have no general and collective names, the subordinate branches are conveniently denominated,Moluché,Puelché,Huilliché.
Locality.—(roughly speaking)—Chili. The wordMolu=Western,.Molu-che=Western People.Synonym.—Chileno, Araucanian.
Locality.—(roughly speaking)—Chili. The wordMolu=Western,.Molu-che=Western People.
Synonym.—Chileno, Araucanian.
Locality.—(roughly speaking)—south of the Chaco, and east of the Andes, as far as the Atlantic. The parts east of Chili. The wordPuel=Eastern.Puel-che=Eastern People.Synonym.—Pampa Indians.
Locality.—(roughly speaking)—south of the Chaco, and east of the Andes, as far as the Atlantic. The parts east of Chili. The wordPuel=Eastern.Puel-che=Eastern People.
Synonym.—Pampa Indians.
Locality.—Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego.Divisions.—a.Patagonians.b.Fuegians.Extracts respecting the physical appearance of the Patagonians:—1. "One of them, who afterwards appeared to be chief, came towards me; he was of gigantic stature, and seemed to realise the tales of monsters in a human shape; he had the skin of some wild beast thrown over his shoulders, as a Scotch Highlander wears his plaid, and was painted so as to make the most hideous appearance I ever beheld. Round one eye was a large circle of white; a circle of black surrounded the other, and the rest of his body was streaked with paint of different colours. I did not measure him; but if I may judge of his height by the proportion of his stature to my own, it could not be less than seven feet."—Byron.2. "They have a fine shape; among those whom we saw not one was below five feet ten inches and a quarter (English), nor above six feet two inches and a half in height. Their gigantic appearance arises from their prodigiously broad shoulders, the size of their heads, and the thickness of all their limbs. They are robust and well fed; their nerves are braced, and their muscles strong, and sufficiently hard, &c."—Bougainville.3. "The medium height of the males of these southern tribes is about five feet eleven inches. The women are not so tall, but are in proportion broader and stouter: they are generally plain-featured. The head is long, broad and flat, and the forehead low, with the hair growing within an inch of the eyebrows, which are bare; the eyes are often placed obliquely, and have but little expression; the nose is generally rather flat and turned up, but we noticed several with that feature straight and sometimes aquiline; the mouth is wide, with prominent lips, and the chin is rather large; the jaws are broad, and give the face a square appearance; the neck is short and thick; the shoulders are broad; the chest is broad and very full; but the arm, particularly the forearm, is small, as are also the foot and leg; the body long, large, and fat, but not corpulent. Such was the appearance of those who came under my observation."—King.
Locality.—Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego.
Divisions.—a.Patagonians.b.Fuegians.
Extracts respecting the physical appearance of the Patagonians:—
1. "One of them, who afterwards appeared to be chief, came towards me; he was of gigantic stature, and seemed to realise the tales of monsters in a human shape; he had the skin of some wild beast thrown over his shoulders, as a Scotch Highlander wears his plaid, and was painted so as to make the most hideous appearance I ever beheld. Round one eye was a large circle of white; a circle of black surrounded the other, and the rest of his body was streaked with paint of different colours. I did not measure him; but if I may judge of his height by the proportion of his stature to my own, it could not be less than seven feet."—Byron.
2. "They have a fine shape; among those whom we saw not one was below five feet ten inches and a quarter (English), nor above six feet two inches and a half in height. Their gigantic appearance arises from their prodigiously broad shoulders, the size of their heads, and the thickness of all their limbs. They are robust and well fed; their nerves are braced, and their muscles strong, and sufficiently hard, &c."—Bougainville.
3. "The medium height of the males of these southern tribes is about five feet eleven inches. The women are not so tall, but are in proportion broader and stouter: they are generally plain-featured. The head is long, broad and flat, and the forehead low, with the hair growing within an inch of the eyebrows, which are bare; the eyes are often placed obliquely, and have but little expression; the nose is generally rather flat and turned up, but we noticed several with that feature straight and sometimes aquiline; the mouth is wide, with prominent lips, and the chin is rather large; the jaws are broad, and give the face a square appearance; the neck is short and thick; the shoulders are broad; the chest is broad and very full; but the arm, particularly the forearm, is small, as are also the foot and leg; the body long, large, and fat, but not corpulent. Such was the appearance of those who came under my observation."—King.
The previous extracts have been given because the greatsize of the Patagonians has been noticed by most of the voyagers who have described them—in some cases with considerable exaggeration. Illegitimate inferences, moreover, have been drawn from their supposed contrast to the Fuegians. These last, more undersized than over-sized, and ill-fed fish-eaters, like the Eskimo and Hottentot, have been separated too far from the populations nearest to them, and have been considered, by even good writers, as sufficiently distinct from the Indians of the Continent to form a separate division. Nay more, so much has been made of their sallow complexion that, in some cases, the Fuegian has been placed among theBlacksections of the human species,i.e.amongst the Kelænonesians.
Nevertheless, it is doubtful whether the extreme sections of the group in question exhibit greater contrasts in physical appearance than those which the difference of their physical and social conditions would lead us to expect; since the mountain range of the southern Andes, the nomadic extension of the Pampas, and the insular localities of the Chonos Archipelago, and the Tierra del Fuego, account for full as much difference as we find—to say nothing of the difference of latitude between Cape Horn and the Peruvian frontier of Chili, in the way of climate. Add to this the opposition between the vicinity of a semi-civilized kingdom like that of Peru on the north, and the absolute isolation of the Tierra del Fuego on the south, as influences which seriously affect the phænomena of the social and civilizational developments. That the typical features of the so-called copper-coloured Indian of America become lost as we approach Cape Horn, is a fact of more importance than the height or size of individual families. The Fuegian is Eskimo in appearance, and the Patagonian approaches the Fuegian.
In Chili we find special notice of a preeminently light-haired and blue-eyed population—the Boroanos.[160]
Fig. 14.
Fig. 14.
Fig. 14.
Having now reached theUltima Thuleof the New World we may look back and ask how far the general phænomena and problems connected with the ethnology of South, resemble those of North America: they do so in many respects. There are the same physical divisions of elevated table-land, of open pasture, of steppe, and of forest; the same low levels along similar large rivers, and the same swampson the sea-shore. And so it is with the distribution of tribes and races. Large areas, like those of the Algonkins and Iroquois, are conterminous with groups of unfixed and almost isolated languages: so that what we have found in Mexico, as opposed to Canada, we shall find in Central South America, as opposed to Brazil and Peru.
Still there are important points of difference. South America, like Africa, lies not only between the tropics, but under the equator. Like Africa, too, only farther than Africa, it extends towards the Antarctic Circle; so that hence we may call the natives of Tierra del Fuego either the Eskimos of the south, or the Hottentots of the west.
In respect to the abundance and value of its ethnological materials, South America, especially for its interior, is one of the dark spots of the world—it is better known than Central Africa, and better known than New Guinea: and saying this we have said all.
And here it may be well to indicate an ethnologicalmethod. In Tierra del Fuego we have one of the six extreme points of population;i.e.points from which no population has been supposed to have been determined elsewhere; Easter Island, Van Dieman's Land, the Cape of Good Hope, Lapland, and Ireland, being the other five. In working the problem as to the original centre of population—the birthplace of the human kind—it is these six points with which we should begin, and so seek their point of convergence. This is of two kinds,geographicalandphilological. The first is that part of the earth's surface where the distance from each is equal (or where it nearest approaches equality); the second, the locality of that language which has, at one and the same time, the greatest likeness to the Teapi,[161]the Tasmanian, the Fuegian, the Hottentot, theLapponic, and the Gaelic. Of course such centres would be conventional, and liable to the influence of disturbing causes. Still they involve a principle that is both safe and scientific; and, if the land were one vast circular island, in the midst of the ocean, and the changes that affect language had taken place at a uniform rate throughout the domain of speech, such a state of things would supply aconventional ethnologicalcentre.
Such a conventional centre would be the mean point between thegeographicaland thephilologicalones.
That the Chileno, Patagonian, and Fuegian populations are sections of a single stock I have no doubt. Whether, however, this stock may not contain other branches is uncertain.
There are three frontiers to the northern part of the area in question—the western, the central, and the eastern. The western has been already noticed: it is the country of the Changos, Atacamas, and other portions of the old Peruvian empire. Nevertheless it is probable, that the population may be Chileno, and still more likely that it may be transitional to the Peruvian and Moluché groups.
The central division has yet to be studied in detail; since we have yet to learn at what part of Central South America the Pampa population changes for that of the Gran Chaco,[162]and of what nature this change is. Nay, the Southern Indians of the Gran Chaco may, like the southern members of the Peruvian empire, be either Patagonian (or Pampa-Patagonian) or transitional.
The eastern portion of the division in question is the parts about the mouth of the River Plata.
The population, which I suppose to have been conterminous with the Patagonians (i.e.the Puelché portion of them) is that of—
Of the language I have seen no vocabulary. In physical appearance the Charruas approach the Patagonians; and equally akin are they to the fiercer tribes of that division in their habits and characters.
The Charrua population—for we are now within the territory of the Spanish Republic, and in areas where the displacement of the aborigines has been the consequence of contact with the European—is known only in fragments; whole sections of it being, at the present moment, either extinct or incorporated. The original divisions, however, were as follows:—
1. The Charruas Proper; 2. the Chayos; 3. the Chanás; 4. the Guenoas; 5. the Martedanes; 6. the Niboanes; 7. the Yaros; 8. the Minoanes; 9. the Caaiguas; 10. the Bagaez; 11. the Tapés. Of these the Chanás and Niboanes inhabited, at the arrival of the Spaniards, the islands of the Uruguay, at the junction of the Rio Negro. The Guenoas and Martedanes connected themselves with the Portuguese of the Colonia del Sacramiento, and were at enmity with the Yaros and Minoanes. The Chayos are the first that disappear from history, probably from having become amalgamated with the Yaros.
The Charruas proper, from the time of Solis to the year 1831, have lived the life of a nation of warriors, with their hand against every man, and every man's hand against them. Uninterrupted as was their hostility to the Spaniards, it was equally so against the other aborigines; so much so, that in no case do we find a common alliance against thecommon enemy to have existed;—on the contrary, the war against the Mamaluco, the Tupi, and the Arachanes, were wars of extermination. And so was the war against the Spaniards; except that the Spaniards were the exterminators. In 1831 the President of Uraguay, Rivera, destroyed the Charruas root and branch; so that at the present moment a few enslaved individuals are the only remains of that once terrible nation.
From eighty to one hundred families lived under the direction of a Tubicchó, or semi-hereditary chief, and when danger threatened, the Tubicchós met and chose amongst themselves a leader. Whoever is chosen commands the obedience of the rest—the election is half counsel, half feast. Chicha is drunk; wounds are exhibited; exploits are recounted: the most worthy is selected from his peers.
After this fires are lighted as beacons, and the warriors of tribes meet from all parts. When they can make the attack, they do it by night, and at the full-moon. How they treat their captives is a matter upon which there is a conflict in the evidence. Ruy Diaz de Guzman denies that they are cruel to their prisoners. I have no wish to disturb Ruy Diaz de Guzman's evidence. Others, however, have controverted it. Against the fact of their being cannibals there is the same, and (perhaps) better testimony. Where they taste human flesh at all, it is done in the spirit of vengeance, and not to satisfy appetite. They tasted of the body of Solis; and they had good reason to hate him.
Their chief ornaments are the tattoo and the feathers of the ostrich; and the favourite colour for their incisions is blue.
Now I believe that this savage semi-heroic character of the Charruas is a fair sample of the wilder and more unsubdued Indians of Chili, Patagonia, and the GranChaco; also, that it is equally true of the Araucanians as described by Ercilla, and the Pampa Indians of Sir E. Head. And what is this but a repetition of the same features which we see in the corresponding part of North America? Here, when we have got beyond the tropics, we find the Algonkin, Sioux, and Iroquois warriors, conterminous with, and (as the present writer believes) passing into the feebler Eskimo—these latter bearing the same relation to their southern neighbours as the Fuegians do to the northern ones.
Like the Paduca area for North America, the Pampas and the parts to the north of them are preeminently the country of the horse—so that the ethnology of Mongolia and Tartary partially reappears here.
In looking back to consider what parts of South America have been described, we find that the long but narrow strip of the western coast bounded by the Andes and the Pacific, has been nearly (perhaps wholly) distributed between three stocks—the Muysca, the Peruvian, and the Chileno-Patagonian. I sayperhaps wholly, because the Atacamas and Changos are probably referable to one of these two latter divisions. Again—it is likely that future researches may throw these three great groups into one; at least such is the inference to be drawn from a comparison of the Patagonian and Peruvian languages.
To a certain extent, the southern part of the peninsula is disposed of along with the western; since it is safe to say that as far as 30° south latitude (perhaps farther) the Chileno-Patagonian stock, like the Eskimo and Athabaskan, stretchesacrossthe breadth as well asalongthe side of the continent.
The parts still standing over—two-thirds or more ofthe whole peninsula—are those bounded by the ocean, the Andes, and 30° south latitude.
Premising that of these three boundaries the last is artificial and conventional, whilst the two former are natural, I shall take first in order those areas which, being geographical or political rather than ethnological, exhibit the phænomenon, so often met with already, of numerous groups within narrow compasses. This being done, the remaining part of the continent will exhibit the contrast of the wide extension of single families.
For the miscellaneous and imperfectly described sections of the South American population about to be noticed, the chain of the Andes, in its extension from Panama to Cape Horn, and in its remarkable parallelism to the coast of the Pacific, taken along with the three great water-systems of the Orinoko, the Amazons, and the La Plata, is the great geographical point of prominence.
Herefrom, about 20° south latitude, a western extension of mountains and highlands separates the water-system of the Amazons on the North from that of the Rio de la Plata on the South.
Distinguishing, then—
1. The Indians of the water-system of the Amazons, from—
2. The Indians of the water-system of the Plata, and both from—
3. The Indians of the water-system of the Orinoco—the first section of the first division consists of the—
The distinction here is so far from being ethnological that it is scarcely geographical. Political, however, as itis, it is convenient—since the term itself indicates what we shall find, viz., a more or less imperfect Christianity throughout.
Localities.—a.Missions of Carmen de Moxos, Concepcion de Moxos, San Joaquin de Moxos.b.Loreto de Moxos, Trinidad, San Xavier, San Ignacio.c.To the east of the Missions of Concepcion and Carmen, near the river Guaporé.Divisions.—a.Muchojéonès.b.Baurès.c.Moxos Proper.Numbers.—Muchojéonès of Carmen230Christian Baurès4,178Pagan Baurès1,000Moxos8,212Total13,620
Localities.—a.Missions of Carmen de Moxos, Concepcion de Moxos, San Joaquin de Moxos.
b.Loreto de Moxos, Trinidad, San Xavier, San Ignacio.
c.To the east of the Missions of Concepcion and Carmen, near the river Guaporé.
Numbers.—
Locality.—North-east of the province of Moxos. Missions of Magdalena and San Ramon.Name.—Native.Numbersin 1830.—At Magdalena, 2,831, at San Ramon, 1,984. Total, 4,815. All Christian.Conterminouswith theIténès,Baurès,Canichanas,Moxas.
Locality.—North-east of the province of Moxos. Missions of Magdalena and San Ramon.
Name.—Native.
Numbersin 1830.—At Magdalena, 2,831, at San Ramon, 1,984. Total, 4,815. All Christian.
Conterminouswith theIténès,Baurès,Canichanas,Moxas.
Present locality.—The Mission of San Pedro.Name.—Native.Numbersin 1830, 1939. All Christian.
Present locality.—The Mission of San Pedro.
Name.—Native.
Numbersin 1830, 1939. All Christian.
Present locality.—Mission of Santa Anna.Original locality.—Banks of the Yacuma.Conterminouswith the Moxos, Canichanas, and Cayuvavas.Name.—Native.Numbersin 1830, 1238. All Christian.Language.—Between the Movima and the Moxas the language is the only important distinction.
Present locality.—Mission of Santa Anna.
Original locality.—Banks of the Yacuma.
Conterminouswith the Moxos, Canichanas, and Cayuvavas.
Name.—Native.
Numbersin 1830, 1238. All Christian.
Language.—Between the Movima and the Moxas the language is the only important distinction.
Present locality.—Mission of Exaltacion, at the northern part of the river Mamoré. Originally conterminous with the Movimas, Iténès, the Maropas, and Pacaguaras.Numbersin 1831, 2073. All Christian.Language.—Between the Cayuvava and the Moxas the language is the only important difference.
Present locality.—Mission of Exaltacion, at the northern part of the river Mamoré. Originally conterminous with the Movimas, Iténès, the Maropas, and Pacaguaras.
Numbersin 1831, 2073. All Christian.
Language.—Between the Cayuvava and the Moxas the language is the only important difference.
Locality.—The junction of the Iténès and Mamoré.Name.—Native.Probable number.—From 1,000 to 1,200.
Locality.—The junction of the Iténès and Mamoré.
Name.—Native.
Probable number.—From 1,000 to 1,200.
Locality.—The junction of the Beni and Mamoré.
Locality.—The junction of the Beni and Mamoré.
Locality.—The province of Moxos.
Locality.—The province of Moxos.
The Sapiboconi are mentioned by Hervas, and, from him, in the Mithridates. They are not, however, mentioned by D'Orbigny, and are probably extinct. Their language is evidently different from any known tongue of either Moxos or Chiquitos; and judging from the comparison of the Mithridates, consisting only of seven words, it seems to be Quichuan rather than aught else.
Locality.—Centre of the Province of Chiquito.Name.—Spanish.Tribes, both existing and extinct, numerous.Numbersin 1830, 14,925. All Christianized.Conterminouswith the Samucos, Guanos, Guatos, Tobas, Siriones, Guarayos, Saravecas, Otukés, Tapiis, Covarecas, Paioconecas, Tapacuras.
Locality.—Centre of the Province of Chiquito.
Name.—Spanish.
Tribes, both existing and extinct, numerous.
Numbersin 1830, 14,925. All Christianized.
Conterminouswith the Samucos, Guanos, Guatos, Tobas, Siriones, Guarayos, Saravecas, Otukés, Tapiis, Covarecas, Paioconecas, Tapacuras.
Present locality.—The Mission of Santa Ana, and Casalvalco.Original locality.—North-eastern limits of the Chiquito tribes.Numbers.—At Santa Ana, 250; at La Reduction de Casalvalco, 100. All Christianized.Except by language, scarcely distinguishable from the Chiquitos.
Present locality.—The Mission of Santa Ana, and Casalvalco.
Original locality.—North-eastern limits of the Chiquito tribes.
Numbers.—At Santa Ana, 250; at La Reduction de Casalvalco, 100. All Christianized.
Except by language, scarcely distinguishable from the Chiquitos.
Present locality.—The Mission of Santo-Corazon.Original locality.—North-eastern parts of Chiquitos, on the frontiers of Brazil.Numbers.—150. All Christians.Except by language, scarcely distinguishable from the Chiquitos.
Present locality.—The Mission of Santo-Corazon.
Original locality.—North-eastern parts of Chiquitos, on the frontiers of Brazil.
Numbers.—150. All Christians.
Except by language, scarcely distinguishable from the Chiquitos.
Present locality.—The Mission of Santa Ana.Original locality.—The neighbourhood of the Saravecas and Curuminacas.Numbers.—About 50.Language.—Extinct, or almost extinct. Out of a few words collected by D'Orbigny, one-third Otuké.
Present locality.—The Mission of Santa Ana.
Original locality.—The neighbourhood of the Saravecas and Curuminacas.
Numbers.—About 50.
Language.—Extinct, or almost extinct. Out of a few words collected by D'Orbigny, one-third Otuké.
Original locality.—North-east of the province of Chiquitos, between the Saravecas and the Otukés.Present locality.—With Saravecas, at Santa Ana and Casalvalco.Numbers.—100 at Santa Ana, 50 at Casalvalco. All Christian.Language.—Almost or wholly extinct. Out of a few words collected by D'Orbigny, five out of fourteen resembled the Otuké.
Original locality.—North-east of the province of Chiquitos, between the Saravecas and the Otukés.
Present locality.—With Saravecas, at Santa Ana and Casalvalco.
Numbers.—100 at Santa Ana, 50 at Casalvalco. All Christian.
Language.—Almost or wholly extinct. Out of a few words collected by D'Orbigny, five out of fourteen resembled the Otuké.
Present locality.—The Mission of Santa Corazon.Original locality.—The neighbourhood of the Saravecas and Curuminacas.Numbers.—50.Language.—Extinct. Said to have been peculiar. If so, the only important distinction between them and the other Chiquitos.
Present locality.—The Mission of Santa Corazon.
Original locality.—The neighbourhood of the Saravecas and Curuminacas.
Numbers.—50.
Language.—Extinct. Said to have been peculiar. If so, the only important distinction between them and the other Chiquitos.
Present locality.—The Mission of St. Jago de Chiquitos.Original locality.—The neighbourhood of the Otukés.Numbers.—50.Language.—Extinct. Said to have been peculiar. If so, the only important distinction between them and the other Chiquitos.
Present locality.—The Mission of St. Jago de Chiquitos.
Original locality.—The neighbourhood of the Otukés.
Numbers.—50.
Language.—Extinct. Said to have been peculiar. If so, the only important distinction between them and the other Chiquitos.
Present locality.—Mission of San Rafael.Original locality.—That of the Saravecas, Otukés, &c.Numbersin 1832, about 50.Language.—Extinct. Said to have been peculiar. If so, the only important distinction between them and the other Chiquitos.
Present locality.—Mission of San Rafael.
Original locality.—That of the Saravecas, Otukés, &c.
Numbersin 1832, about 50.
Language.—Extinct. Said to have been peculiar. If so, the only important distinction between them and the other Chiquitos.
This nation was conducted by the Jesuits to the Mission of San Rafael; its original locality having been tothe south of that settlement, on the borders of the Gran Chaco. Here they became unmanageable, and escaped to the woods—it is supposed to those of their original home. At present, the numbers were put by D'Orbigny's informants at 100: their language being said to be peculiar.
Present locality of the Christian Paioconecas.—The Mission of Conception.Original locality.—The head-waters of the Rio Blanco and Rio Verde; 16° south latitude, 63° west latitude from Paris. Hither, it is supposed, some of the more intractable Paioconecas of Concepcion have escaped.Conterminouswith the Chiquitos, Saravecas, and the Chapacuras of Moxos.Numbersof the Paioconecas of Concepcion, 360.Particular Tribe.—Paunacas, 250 in number.
Present locality of the Christian Paioconecas.—The Mission of Conception.
Original locality.—The head-waters of the Rio Blanco and Rio Verde; 16° south latitude, 63° west latitude from Paris. Hither, it is supposed, some of the more intractable Paioconecas of Concepcion have escaped.
Conterminouswith the Chiquitos, Saravecas, and the Chapacuras of Moxos.
Numbersof the Paioconecas of Concepcion, 360.
Particular Tribe.—Paunacas, 250 in number.
Localities.—South and south-east portions of the province of Chiquitos, on the limits of the Gran Chaco.Conterminouswith the Guanos, Guatos, Curaves, Xarayes, Otukés, Saravecas, Curuminacas, Paunacas, and Paioconecas.Name.—That of a particular tribe extended to the whole nation. Other Samucu tribes, still existing, are the Morotocos, the Potureros, and the Guaranocos.Habitat.—Forests, subject to inundations, when they retire to the hills.
Localities.—South and south-east portions of the province of Chiquitos, on the limits of the Gran Chaco.
Conterminouswith the Guanos, Guatos, Curaves, Xarayes, Otukés, Saravecas, Curuminacas, Paunacas, and Paioconecas.
Name.—That of a particular tribe extended to the whole nation. Other Samucu tribes, still existing, are the Morotocos, the Potureros, and the Guaranocos.
Habitat.—Forests, subject to inundations, when they retire to the hills.
The last three or four families have illustrated a common phænomenon in the ethnology of these parts; indeed, of many other parts of America as well, especially the United States.
It by no means follows that the existing locality of any section of the aboriginal population is the real natural and original one. On the contrary, wherever we find them Christianized, or semi-civilized, the chance is in favour of their having been moved from the original habitat to some so-calledReserveorMission, andvice versâ. Now the Indians of theReservesandMissionsare almost always modificated in character as well as frequently mixed in blood. On the other hand, although less typical in the way of ethnological characteristics they are the best known, on account of the greater opportunities ofintercourse; the laborious and successful Jesuit Missionaries of Spanish America being the chief authorities.
Politically the Chaco, or Gran Chaco, is the tract nominally belonging to the inland and northern republics of the so-called Argentine Confederation, rather than to Bolivia; whilst geographically it is the water-system of the Paraguay and Upper La Plata, rather than of the Amazons. Ethnologically it is characterized by being the area of a civilization, which even when compared with that of Moxos and Chiquitos, is imperfect,—of a still more imperfect and partial Christianity, and of tribes which are at once nomadic, warlike, and independent; approaching, in their moral characters, the Charruas and Patagonians rather than the Peruvian.
The Indians of this part are either equestrian and nomadic, or else partially settled in villages; this latter being generally the case where the forests are densest, and where the river-sides afford tracts of alluvial (and often half inundated) soil. Our knowledge of them is preeminently scanty; still such vocabularies as are known exhibit miscellaneous affinities with the languages of other tribes of South America in general.
Divisions.—1. Abiponians Proper. 2. Mbocobis and Tobas. 3. Lenguas. 4. Payaguas. 5. Mataguayos. 6. Mbayas.Sub-divisions.—Of the Mataguayos. The Chaès (Qu.? Guanas), the Yoes, the Matacos, Begosos, Chunipis, and Oeolis.Localities.—a.Of the Abiponians, the central parts of the Chaco, conterminous withb, the Mbocobis and Tobas conterminous with the Araucanians of Chili.c.Of the Lenguas, the central parts of the Chaco.d.Of the Payaguas, the banks of the Paraguay as far as its junction with the Parana,e.Of the Mataguayos, the parts between the Pilcomayo and Vermejo.f.Of the Mbayas, the eastern shore of the Paraguay.
Divisions.—1. Abiponians Proper. 2. Mbocobis and Tobas. 3. Lenguas. 4. Payaguas. 5. Mataguayos. 6. Mbayas.
Sub-divisions.—Of the Mataguayos. The Chaès (Qu.? Guanas), the Yoes, the Matacos, Begosos, Chunipis, and Oeolis.
Localities.—a.Of the Abiponians, the central parts of the Chaco, conterminous withb, the Mbocobis and Tobas conterminous with the Araucanians of Chili.c.Of the Lenguas, the central parts of the Chaco.d.Of the Payaguas, the banks of the Paraguay as far as its junction with the Parana,e.Of the Mataguayos, the parts between the Pilcomayo and Vermejo.f.Of the Mbayas, the eastern shore of the Paraguay.
The Guayanas.—I am unable to say how far this is the same tribe as the Chanès and Guanas.
The Calchaquis.—In the time of Dobrizhofer, nearly extinct at present, most likely wholly so.—Equestrian.
Malbalaes, Mataras, Palomos, Mogosnas, Oregones, Aquilotes, Churumates, Ojotades, Tanos, Quamalcas,—probably extinct; at least they are placed by Dobrizhofer in the same category with the Calchaquis. Like the Calchaquis, also, they were equestrian.
Natekebits.—Equestrian. Probably Abiponian.
Amokebits.—Ditto.
Yapetalecas.—Ditto.
Oekakakalots.—Ditto.
The Lules.—Pedestrian; speaking the same language with
The Vilelesand—
The Ysistines.—Pedestrian.
The Tonocote.—Converted and partially settled in towns.
The Homoampas, theOcoles, thePazaines,—Christianized.
The Caypotadesand theYgaronos, like theZamucus, removed to the Missions.
Explanatory of the wordsnot Guarani, it is necessary to state that in Brazil begins a distribution of nations and tribes which, tested by the evidence of language, present the same phænomenon which is exhibited by the Algonkins of North America,i.e.a single area of language covering a vast space, in contrast with numerous areas covering a small one; a phænomenon which will be repeated when wereach Guiana and Essequibo. To clear, therefore, the ground, thenon-GuariniBrazilians will be disposed of first.
Synonym.—Aimorés, Guaymarés.Native name.—Engcraecknung.Locality.—The Sierra dos Aimorés, between the rivers Pardo and Doce, from 18° to 20° south latitude.Divisions.—1. The Gherens. 2. The Kinimures.Language.—Peculiar.
Synonym.—Aimorés, Guaymarés.
Native name.—Engcraecknung.
Locality.—The Sierra dos Aimorés, between the rivers Pardo and Doce, from 18° to 20° south latitude.
Divisions.—1. The Gherens. 2. The Kinimures.
Language.—Peculiar.
Inhabitants of shady forests, the Botocudos are light-coloured or yellow-coloured cannibals, with oblique eyes.
Locality.—A small tribe very little known, between the river Mucury and the river Caravellas, in the Comarca de Porto Seguro.
Locality.—A small tribe very little known, between the river Mucury and the river Caravellas, in the Comarca de Porto Seguro.
Synonyms.—Goyatacaz, Waytaquases.Called by the Portuguese.—Coroados=tonsured. By the Coropos—Chakwibu.Divisions.—1. Coroados or Goïtacas Proper. 2. Puris. 3. Goaïnases(?) 4. Cariyos(?).Sub-divisions.—Of the Goïtacas.a.Goitacamope.b.Goïtaca-asu.c.Goïtacá-Iacorito.Locality.—The rivers Macabé, Cabapuana, and Xopoti for the Goïtacas. The upper part of the river Paraiba, and the interior of the province of Esperito Santo for the Puris.
Synonyms.—Goyatacaz, Waytaquases.
Called by the Portuguese.—Coroados=tonsured. By the Coropos—Chakwibu.
Divisions.—1. Coroados or Goïtacas Proper. 2. Puris. 3. Goaïnases(?) 4. Cariyos(?).
Sub-divisions.—Of the Goïtacas.a.Goitacamope.b.Goïtaca-asu.c.Goïtacá-Iacorito.
Locality.—The rivers Macabé, Cabapuana, and Xopoti for the Goïtacas. The upper part of the river Paraiba, and the interior of the province of Esperito Santo for the Puris.
The evidence that the Goaïnases, inhabitants of subterranean caves, and more incompletely known than the partially-civilized Goïtacas, belong to this group is inconclusive. So is the evidence as to the Cariyos. That the Puris speak a language closely akin to the Coroados may be seen in the Atlas Ethnologique.
The unsubdued remnants of the Cariyos, "still wander about in small bodies in the woods of Sierra dos Orgaos and in the meadows of the province of San Paulo. Descendants of them, settled in villages, are probably found in the Mission of Aldea da Escada, in the environs ofMacabé, Ilha Grande, and the islands of San Sebastian and San Catharina."—Von Martius.
Divisions.—1. The Machacari. 2. The Patacho. 3. The Camacan. 4. The Malali.Sub-divisions.—(?)a.Of the Machacari—the Machacari Proper and the Macuari.b.Of the Camacan—the Camacan Proper, the Menieng, and the Cutachós.Localities.—Of the Machacaris, the Rio Belmonte, formerly the Rio Mucury.—Of the Macuani (Maconi), originally the woody mountains on the boundaries of Minas Geraes, Porto Seguro, and Bahia; at present, the neighbourhood of Caravellas.—Of the Patacho, the river Mucury, and the head-waters of the rivers Pardo and Contas.—Of the Camacan, Bahia, between the rivers de Contas and Pardo.—Of the Menieng, a domiciled section of the Camacan, the Villa de Belmonte.—Of the Malali, Minas Geraes, on the Rio Senchy Pequeno, a northern tributary of the river Doce.Synonymsof the Camacans—Mongoyós, Mongxocos, or Mangajas.
Divisions.—1. The Machacari. 2. The Patacho. 3. The Camacan. 4. The Malali.
Sub-divisions.—(?)a.Of the Machacari—the Machacari Proper and the Macuari.b.Of the Camacan—the Camacan Proper, the Menieng, and the Cutachós.
Localities.—Of the Machacaris, the Rio Belmonte, formerly the Rio Mucury.—Of the Macuani (Maconi), originally the woody mountains on the boundaries of Minas Geraes, Porto Seguro, and Bahia; at present, the neighbourhood of Caravellas.—Of the Patacho, the river Mucury, and the head-waters of the rivers Pardo and Contas.—Of the Camacan, Bahia, between the rivers de Contas and Pardo.—Of the Menieng, a domiciled section of the Camacan, the Villa de Belmonte.—Of the Malali, Minas Geraes, on the Rio Senchy Pequeno, a northern tributary of the river Doce.
Synonymsof the Camacans—Mongoyós, Mongxocos, or Mangajas.
This is a class taken from the Atlas Ethnologique of Balbi, wherein we find a short specimen of the language or dialect of each nation enumerated as belonging to it.
Besides these, however, there is, in the same area,i.e.the parts about the watershed of the rivers Doce, Pardo Da Contas, &c., on one side, and that of the river San Francisco on the other.
Locality.—Living along with the Coroados, on the river Xipoto.Language.—Placed by Balbi with the Coroados, by Spix and Martius with the Macuani.
Locality.—Living along with the Coroados, on the river Xipoto.
Language.—Placed by Balbi with the Coroados, by Spix and Martius with the Macuani.
The discrepancy between the evidence of the two authors just named, explains the note of interrogation, and induces me to leave the Coropos as an unplaced tribe.
Original locality.—The river Preto, in Pernambuco.Present locality.—In the district of Desemboque, in Goyaz.Numbersin 1830, about 800.
Original locality.—The river Preto, in Pernambuco.
Present locality.—In the district of Desemboque, in Goyaz.
Numbersin 1830, about 800.
In the paper of Von Martius, the Chacriabas, althoughplaced geographically in the province of Goyaz, are stated to be, "probablyat first a part of the same nation with the Malali."
Divisions.—1. Kiriri Proper. 2. Sabujah.Locality.—Formerly in the interior of the province of Bahia, nowsettled invillages in Caranqueyo, and Villa de Pedra Branca.
Divisions.—1. Kiriri Proper. 2. Sabujah.
Locality.—Formerly in the interior of the province of Bahia, nowsettled invillages in Caranqueyo, and Villa de Pedra Branca.
Locality.—Mountains between Minas Geraes and Porto Seguro. Migratory.
Locality.—Mountains between Minas Geraes and Porto Seguro. Migratory.
Locality.—Head-waters of the river Mucury, on the Sierra das Esmeraldas. Migratory.
Locality.—Head-waters of the river Mucury, on the Sierra das Esmeraldas. Migratory.