W. E. Hardenburg

“ The Cionis are very skilful in the manufacture of the light, durable, and beautiful hammocks, which they use in place of beds, from the strong fibers of the leaves of the cambira-pahti. They often spend months upon the fabrication of a single hammock, first collecting the leaves, next extracting the fibres, then twisting them into long strings, and finally weaving the strings into a ham- mock. One of these hammocks can be rolled up until it occupies only the space of a fair-sized book, and it is so durable that it will last for years. ”

“ In descending a river one puntero is sufficient, for the canoe is generally carried along rapidly enough by the current, and all the bogas (known as Boatmen) have to do is to keep the craft from striking against obstacles and from being thrust by the strong currents sometimes encountered into the unpleasant and often dangerous remolinos or whirlpools. But when the river is to be ascended, several bogas are necessary. ”

“ Materon informed us that they had but recently established themselves here, abandoning their old village on the other bank of the river on account of a severe epidemic that had broken out among them and killed nearly half their number.
We spent the rest of the afternoon trading with them, giving them some of our beads, harmonicas, mirrors, hats, handkerchiefs, &c., for a few of their manufactures, such as hammocks, yactas strings of monkey and danta teeth, combs, and the like. They are no fools at bargaining, and have a pretty good idea of the value of the articles they are acquainted with. ”

“ The houses of these Indians are, like those of the Incas, large, rectangular structures, the walls of which are formed either of upright poles tied together with the bark of the sacha-huasca or the tamshi, or else of slabs of split bamboo or palms, such as the chonta (Bactris ciliata) the camona or huacrapona (Iriartea deltoida) and the tarapoto (Iriartea ventricosa) whose thick, almost hollow trunks, when split, form large durable planks, quite suitable for different purposes. ”

“ For cooking they employ the earthen pots similar to those of the Incas; in the manufacture of these pots and the subsequent painting and varnishing of them the Cionis exhibit great skill. Other utensils are — fans, various-sized baskets, rude drums, palm-fibre bags, little clay ovens to bake farina in, fishing-nets, whistles made of the leg-bones of different birds, fifes made of bamboo, and torches of the heart of the magiwy or of chonta, impregnated with resin, etc. ”

“ In such cases the bogas either wade ashore and pull the canoe out of the bad place by means of a rope or else enter the water and shove and lift until it is free. If, however, the canoe is very heavy and these methods fail, they strip the bark from the sezco-tree, which is always to be found on the banks of these rivers, and stretch it out on top of the obstacle. As this bark is very slippery and soapy, the canoe readily slides over it when they push. Materon informed us that, as a general rule, one day's descent is equivalent to three days' surcada. ”

“ For washing their clothes, hair, etc, they use the inner bark of a tree called the quillay and a soapy substance known as suyuyu. Each of their villages seems to be absolutely independent of the others, and, like the Incas, elects annually, with great solemnity, its chief or gobernador, who has about the same powers as among those aborigines. ”

“ These ducks are generally to be seen perched up in the trees along the banks or else on some stump in mid-stream, although occasionally one perceives them floating with the current or swimming on the surface of the water. They dive with lightning-like rapidity, and very often succeed in getting away, even when hit severely. ”

“ Directly the whole surface of the pool becomes covered with the dead bodies of the fish, of which the largest only are selected, the rest, including the millions of tiny fish, thus being killed and left to rot without being utilized at all. ”

“ They also hunt wild birds of many different species and sizes, such as the paujiles, wild -ducks, partridges, wild -turkeys, various kinds of doves, etc. To all these we must add the numerous different kinds of fine fish, which they catch at all seasons of the year, especially in the dry season. ”

“ Several families, as a rule, live in the same house, each, however, having its own corner, fireside, and utensils. Their furniture is limited to hammocks of their own manufacture and little low stools either carved out of solid wood or else made from slabs of bamboo or the above-mentioned palm-trees. ”

“ They also exhibit marvelous patience and skill in making the insect, feather, and shell ornaments that they wear on their feast-days. One especially interesting ornament is the yacta, a beautiful crown, composed of a great variety of fine large red and yellow plumes, inlaid with so many small feathers of so many different kinds and colors that it is a veritable work of art. ”

“ The only difference between the men's cushma and the women's is that in the former the opening that admits the head is vertical and runs down along the bosom, while in the latter it is horizontal and reaches from shoulder to shoulder. ”

“ In canoeing in the smaller rivers, especially in the dry season, bad places, caused by the shallowness of the water or the immobility of the huge logs that frequently form an impenetrable network on or near the surface of the water, are often met with _______. ”

“ Overhead several light cross-timbers are stretched, upon which they hang their clothes, their arms, and many domestic utensils. As they generally eat with their fingers, knives and forks are unknown, while for spoons they employ certain shells or small gourds. ”

“ They also collect the bright green wings of a large insect, very common in these parts, of which, after a sufficient supply has been obtained, they make a similar string, which also encircles the neck. ”