STRANGE RACE

Grey River Argus, 22 May 1928, Page 3

STRANGE RACE

WILDS OF SOUTH AMERICA POLYNESIAN AFFINITIES In a wild inaccessible district near the Bolivian-Brazilian border, Air. Hyatt Verill, the explorer for the Heye Foundation Museum of the American Indian, has found the remnant of a strange tribe distinctly different from other American Indians, s ays the New York correspondent of the “Morning Post.” In language, features, stature and customs, indications were found that it is probably the remains of some tribe which succeeded in crossing the Pacific from the South Sea Islands. The people are extremely warlike, re. sisting the attempts of the neighbouring tribes to enter their district which is only reached through river rapids. To them clothing was completely unknown and they marvelled at Verill’s attire, and were tremendously awed by his fire arms. Conversation with tho tribe was only possible through signs, for none of the jargon of the other Indian tribes in the ' surrounding region is known to them. In the few months he spent with the tribe Verill made notations of the lan- .

guago. hoping that its roots would con- i firm a Malaya or Polynesia origin. ‘ 1 A.rill states: “This tribe is hostile ; to everybody. The people speak a dialect wholly unlike that used by Indians anywhere in South America. They don’t want to trade with, the outside world. And they are ’lying off. I con- • vinced them that I could be of some use to them and that my intentions were good or (Use I never would have reached there. “The men of their tribe buy their wives, taking girls from 12 to 14 years old. Their religion is a mixed worship of sex and nature. There is a spirit in °verv stone, tree and brook. Other Indians worship the sun, but these keep no calemlar and no track of the days. They don’t know how old anybody is. “The main village is reached through rapids, which mean death to invaders; in fact the river takes fearful toll of the members of the tribe. This and the fact that they live among wild animals and deadly insects, and are in almost constant warfare with marauding bands attempting to cross their borders, have cut into the ranks of the tribe, until it stands very litle chance bf surviving much longer.” (