rrible noise), or else armlets, earrings or necklaces. Some
of the designs woven with the tiniest feathers of those birds were quite
clever, and required delicate handling in their manufacture. Ducks, too,
supplied many of the feathers for the ornaments of the Bororos.

Their cooking utensils were simple enough--merely a few large earthen
bowls, badly baked and unglazed, the largest of which was seldom more
than 2 ft. in diameter. They broke easily, being made extremely thin.

The Bororos made basket-work by plaiting dried palm-leaves, but their
most interesting work of all consisted in the really beautifully made
fishing nets. Nearly all the Indians of South America showed remarkable
talent and patience at this work. The strings were twisted of a vegetable
fibre, extremely resisting, and eminently suitable by its softness and
regularity of diameter.

Whether owing to excitement, indigestion or other causes, the Bororos had
visions, which they attributed to the _Aroe Taurari_. In a certain way
they were believers in the transmigration of the soul--not generally, but
in specific cases.

There were certain Bororos who, by magic songs, professed to fascinate
animals in the forest and were able to catch them. The _barih_ or
medicine-man generally, assisted in those incantations.

The Bororos were remarkable walkers. They were extremely light on their
feet and had a springy gait, most graceful to watch. A striking
characteristic of these people was that, when standing--unlike nearly
every other tribe of savages I have seen--they spread their toes outward
instead of keeping both feet parallel. To a lesser extent the feet were
held in that position also when walking. The suppleness of their bodies
gave them a great advantage in penetrating with ease anywhere in the
forest without having to cut their way through.

Both men and women were passionately fond of dancing, although their
dancing had not reached any degree of perfection. With a strip of
_burity_ palm upon their shoulders they hopped around, monotonously
chanting, with a rhythmic occasional jump, the women following the men.

The women possessed considerable endurance. They could carry heavy
weights for long distances by means of a fibre headband resting on the
forehead. Under those circumstances the body was kept slightly inclined
forward. Children were also carried in a similar fashion in a sling,
only--less practically than among many Asiatic and African tribe