Congressional Serial Set (4394)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1903 edition. Excerpt: ...(Plate 45) illustrates the home of the Goajiros Indians of Venezuela, a type of the Orinoco ethnic province. The discoverers of the coast of South America were astonished to find tribes living in huts built out over the water, and so they gave to this region the name of Venezuela, or Little Venice. The huts, only a few feet square, stood among the trees, on platforms constructed by interlacing the steins. The houses later were supported on piles or trunks of trees, sunk in the water and standing 5 or 6 feet high. In the center of each platform was a pile of earth, and on this the tire was built and kept continually burning. Over the platform was suspended a low roof thatched with palm leaves. Access to the house was had by means of a notched tree trunk. The natives moved about in dugout canoes, and when the water was high one of these could be seen tied to every notched ladder. Little clothing1 was worn, but then-was much decoration of the person with feathers and seeds, and the hones and teeth of.small animals. The twelfth model (Plate 4(5) illustrates the houses and human life of the Tehuelche tribe of Patagonia. Fabulous stories are told of their stature. They are, in fact, among the tallest people in the world. Their food is derived mainly from the chase. They clothe themselves in skins of animals, and their women are expert not only in dressing hides, but also in decorating them with patterns of various colors. For a house the Tehuelches cover a framework of sticks with a number of skins sewed together. These shelters, generally open in front, are called toldos. and the furniture consists of only a few rude appliances. In this exhibition are shown a tent in process of construction, a finished tent, and a temporary shelter. Men and women are...