AMAZON JUNGLES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 6, 8 January 1935, Page 5

AMAZON JUNGLES.

WORK WITH NATIVES.

MISSIONARY ENTERPRISE.

LITTLE-KNOWN LAND.

Tales of dark, twisted paths through matted jungles, dripping with everlasting humid tropical heat, stories of primitive wild Indians who wait in ambush with poisoned arrows, of beasts just as savage, and adventure in a region almost the least known on the world's surface, are told by Mr. Fred. J. Roberts, who arrived by the Niagara yesterday after having spent eight years doing missionary work among the Bed Indians of the Amazon jungle. He has been working under the auspices of the Unevangelised Fields Mission.

Mr. Roberts has a great story to tell of his experiences among the Tupi Guajajara Indians, and the wild nomadic tribe of Guasjas, among which he has laboured. On his first arrival among these Indians they had no written language, he said, but now, after much hard work, the language had been reduced to writing, and a big proportion of the Bible translated.

The Tupi Guajajara Indians have villages scattered over a large country. All were connected by Indian trails under the tall forests. From the central mission station down to the southern end of the district it took 17 days to walk. Many hills and swamps have to be crossed on foot, with an Indian guide in front to find the trail and to.be on the alert lest they should run into a party of wild Guajatfndians. Their food on these journeys consisted of farinlia (a native food made from the mandiocca root), wild animals such as wild pig, monkeys and tortoises. Indians Retain Ancient Beliefs. The Indians still retained their ancient beliefs. God they called "Tupan" (supreme spirit), also "Zaneapoliara" (our creator) and "Zaneru" lour father). believed God was good.

He would not do any harm, so there was no need to bother about Him. They just put Him on one side. The devil they called "Zarupari" ('"Old Twisted Mouth"). His evil spirits were supposed to inhabit the birds, animals and snakes. Seeing that these were bad and apt to kill them, the Indians, with the village witch doctor as leader, would spend night after night singing to appease them. The witch doctors with the help of the devil were supposed to •have power to put'pieces of wood or stone into the body of an enemy, thus causing death. , . Together with another missionary, Mr. Roberts travelled in forests where no other civilised people have ever been. "Often," lie said, "we have had to enter unarmed into wild Indian villages, trusting God to see us through. Many times we were in danger of being killed and having our liouse and belongings burnt down." Now, after many years of work, many of the Indians had turned to the Christian faith, the fighting among two tribes had practically .ceased, the killing 01 infants had been abandoned among those who had become Christian, and a number of the you* men and women were now out in the many villages holding Gospel meetings and teaching their own people to read the Bible.