MODERN "STONE AGE."

Marlborough Express, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12, 15 January 1906, Page 1

MODERN "STONE AGE."

AN EXPLOREII^sTiNTERESTING

DISCOVERIES.

Bavon Erlaiid Novdenskjold has famished some interesting details of liis 18 months' expedition to the Andes, which was undertaken for the purpose of penetrating the northern forests of Bolivia and studying the Indian tribes along the various tributaries of the Amazon in practically unknown districts.

Accompanied by Lieutenant D. de Bildt, a son of tho Swedish Minister in. London, and Dr. Holmgren, Baron Nordenskjold left England in January, 1904. He visited, says Reuters Agency, three smaller tribes, the Yamiace, Guarayo, and Atsapuaea, who until a couple of years ago lived in the pure "stone age." 'liie two last-mentioned, in tho main, still retain their original customs. No white man had ever previously visited the Atsapuacas, but yet they were in possession of tools, etc., which they had obtained from the "palefaces" through other tribes. Though regarded as hostile, the explorers were very well received by the savages, who are nomads, and whose principal pursuits are pastoral. Baron Nordenskjold got on such friendly terms with the Atsapuacas that they offered him Tamutsi, the belle of the tribe, if only he would marry her and settle down as an Atsapuaca Indian for the rest of his life. The explorer states that- the Christian so-called civilised Indians— the Quichuas and Aymaras—living round Lake Titicaca and in the fells of the Andes, are a very interesting study for the ethnologist, as they have retained many customs unaltered, or but slightly modified, since the time of the Incas, which, as v is known, is a term generally applied to the period prior to their culture becoming known to Europeans. Thus it wa.s found that the Indians often worship Christ and the Virgin Mary by dances in which the sun is used as the symbol for Christ and the moon for the Virgin Mary, this, showing how they mix up the symbols of their old religion with the Christian faith.