WHERE KISSING IS UNKNOWN.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 November 1924, Page 4

WHERE KISSING IS UNKNOWN.

SECRET INDIAN TRIBES. LONDON, September 23. Fresh and fascinating light is thrown on the mysterious Chucunuque Indians of Central America in Lady (Richmond) Brown’s hook, "Unknown Tribes, Unchartered Seas.” It lives up to its alluring title in every page. Ladv Brown shared in all the adven-

ture and excitement ol the new spur of big game hunting in the sea whirl Mr F. A. M. Hedges has described si vividly in' his hook, “ Battles will Giant Fish.” which aroused wide scion lilic interest on its publication tel months ago. This is a companion val nine—from a woman’s point of view and it must he said that the intreph author faced every discomfort and dan ger of this still secret lountry witlmu ilinehing, and even merrily. She neve allowed “ M.’dge ” (as she called he fellow-adventurer) in leave her behind MEDICINE CHEST " MAGIC.”

The practical fruits of this remarkable expedition were harvested in the Im ill of a large collection ol ethnological specimens—including many examples of the elolli on which the Chueuuaquc women work puzzling designs—now to he seen in the British Museum and ether ieii--ciinis thioughout the count ry. The travellers, finding the natives in a "pretty had slate of disease.” quickly acquired supernatural prestige, on the strength of their medicine che-d. Strong ainiiionia, snilTed up till their eyes wale red, " seemed to stagger them.” They pronounced it the "medicine of the gods.” |h-fure going inland to the Chucunuque tribe, Ihe travellers visited the island of Alh-gandee in tlu-ir vachl. At the meeting to which they were inv iii'd the ( hii'f '• reposed in a remarkable hammock” in the centre ol a building packed with Indians. "At least one hour elapsed before the Chief spoke.” lie then inquired about our "groat god’s medicine” and "out came the ammonia bottle.” "Midge held it close tinder the ('ldol's nose, making him. gasp and ilia tears run down his cheeks.” The ice was eoinpletelv broken. BIRTHS FORBIDDEN.

A curious custom among these San Itlas Indians is that "a birth is forbidden on the island.” The woman goes to the mainland in a dug-out and hears her child quite alone* in Ihe hush, returning with it a few hours later. On leaching the carefully guarded country of the Chueuanqiie they again found the people in a terrible stale of disease. " Small-pox in its most malignant form was everywhere prevalent,” and practically the whole tribe were suffering from a form ot itch, “so virulent that in many instances the hair had entirely rotted from the head, while the body was covered with suppurating sores.” Lady Brown give particulars of the

preservation and embalming of the human body, “as far in advance of • any method of preservation as practised by the Egyptians,” of which the ('hueunaquo and other Indians hold the secret. A photograph gives examples " showing not only the lealures retaining their lifelike appearance, though reduced in size, hut also accurate in every detail, even to the hair on the head, eyebrows, eyelashes, and—in the case of several males—the hair on the face and in ears and nostrils.” The Chileltnaque idea of food is crude in the extreme. A pot is put on the (ire. Into this "everything edible is thrown ” —a mass of fruits and vegetables, ripe and unripe alike. " Added to them are large iguanas (hazards’; thrown in alive just as they are caught.” The virulent poison they use for their spears and arrows is made by holding out a piece of rotten liver on a stick to venomous snakes which have been purposely infuriated. In it they drive their fangs time and again, saturating the putrid offal with their deadly poison. .MARRIAGE SURPRISE.

The marriage ceremony is very quaint. "Neither the hoy nor the girl has any say in the matter.” The (selected) youth is considerably surprised to find himself suddenly

pounced on. He offers no resistance of any sort and is carried by the male relatives of the girl to her home. As the finale of the ceremony. " the father of the girl meets the hoy at day-break and they go into the hush together, returning at sunset carrying a load of wood on their shoulders.”

Among this queer people "affection as we know it. does not seem to exist between the sexes; kissing is unknown, and each appears to be quite indifferent to the other.”

The devotion and gratitude which the poor Indian women of the San Bias tribe poured out to Lady Brown must have been very touching to witness. The Chief’s daughter asked me very humbly if I would loosen my hair for all to see, following this by the singu-