The Bible in Brazil; colporter experiences . We turn now to the red men of Brazil. Whilethe same interest scarcely attaches to the aborig-ines of this country as has been generally mani-fested in the Incas of Peru or the Montezumasof Mexico, they form an important element in thestudy of the history of Brazil and the are for the most part of a copper colour, ofmedium height, rather heavy set with muscularchests, thick, straight, black hair; black eyes andbroad faces. In disposition they are generallyapathetic and undemonstrative. The tribes arenot habitually and widely nomadic,
The Bible in Brazil; colporter experiences . We turn now to the red men of Brazil. Whilethe same interest scarcely attaches to the aborig-ines of this country as has been generally mani-fested in the Incas of Peru or the Montezumasof Mexico, they form an important element in thestudy of the history of Brazil and the are for the most part of a copper colour, ofmedium height, rather heavy set with muscularchests, thick, straight, black hair; black eyes andbroad faces. In disposition they are generallyapathetic and undemonstrative. The tribes arenot habitually and widely nomadic, nor can theybe said to be permanently settled. Each tribe ina general way keeps within certain limits, unlessdriven out by a superior force. As the countryis well watered and abounds in the plantain,banana, yam, mandioca root, a great variety ofvegetable palm, etc., as well as great quantitiesof fish and game, they have never felt the neces-sity of that effort and exertion which tendsto civilization. It is evident that they knew the. INDIANS OF THE AMAZON VALLEY. The Country and People 17 use of fire for roasting, boiling and drying foodbefore they knew the white man. They used firealso for making signals when hunting in theforests, and its use for warming the body wascommon. Their method of producing fire wasby the friction of two pieces of wood. Their moral and social characteristics showfaint evidences of the existence of the family, mar-riage customs, etc. The most generally prevail-ing religious belief among them seems to be thatthere are three great or chief gods, the Sun, godof the animal kingdom; the Moon, god of thevegetable kingdom, and Ruda, god of love or ofall reproduction. Besides these they have a mul-titude of subordinate and inferior gods for vari-ous purposes. Their burial custom of depositingat the grave the bow and arrow and vessels inwhich they prepare food, would indicate that theyhave some idea of immortality in the happyhunting ground of the futu
Size: 1346px × 1856px
Photo credit: © The Reading Room / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, booksubjectmission, bookyear1902
