The North-West Amazons
Notes of Some Months Spent Among Cannibal Tribes

An early twentieth-century study of indigenous peoples of north-west South America and their way of life.

Thomas Whiffen (Author)

9781108007337, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 26 November 2009

432 pages
21.6 x 14 x 2.4 cm, 0.55 kg

This 1915 volume recounts Captain Thomas Whiffen's travels in Brazil and Colombia in the region between the rivers Issa (or Içá) and Apaporis, and the Putumayo District. The study looks at the way in which the indigenous peoples, especially the Boro and Witoto, relate to their land. He describes their way of life, including their homes, agriculture, food, weaponry, warfare, clothing, health and medicine, songs and dances, magic and religion, tribal organisation, the social status of women, and their reaction to strangers. The practice of cannibalism is also addressed and Whiffen suggests some possible reasons for it, including vengeance and supreme insult to enemies, the need to consume all available meat, and the desire to adopt some characteristics of the dead. Appendices include detailed lists of the Native Americans' physical features, deities, vocabulary, and names, and an example of tribal poetry.

Preface
1. Introductory
2. Topography
3. The Indian homestead
4. Classification of Indian races
5. Dress and ornament
6. Occupations
7. Agriculture
8. The Indian armoury
9. The food quest
10. Drinks, drugs and poisons
11. Small families
12. Marriage regulations
13. Sickness
14. The medicine-man
15. Indian dances
16. Songs
17. The Indians' magico-religious system
18. Darkness feared by Indians
19. Limitations of speech
20. No individualism
Appendices
List of books referred to
Index.

Subject Areas: Linguistics [CF]