The Campa Indians of the Upper Amazon
By T. E. Bowen
In the Bible in the World for November, 1910, H. H. Pulling gives a very interesting account of his adventures among the Campa Indians on the headwaters of the Amazon, where the gospel, as found in the Bible, had not hitherto entered. He explains that this tribe is located principally in that portion of Peru between 10° and 12° latitude south, and 73° and 75° longitude west. He estimates the Campa Indians to number between seventy and one hundred thousand, the largest tribe, excepting the Quichuas, in Peru. The region where they live is hilly, and has scarcely been explored. The Indians scatter themselves over the face of the country by single families, and in obscure corners. They are also nomadic, and can not be counted upon to stay in the same place for any length of time. They are commonly found along rivers in which fish are plentiful. The road leading to the place which this tribe inhabits, is the only one in all that section, and even it, Mr. Pulling says, hardly deserves to be called a road. It leads back into the country for two hundred miles, and, in many places, narrows down to a mere track eighteen inches wide, threatened on either side by encroaching vegetation. It is only from April to September that the road is usable, as the rains are almost incessant during the rest of the year. About every fifteen miles, public inns are stationed, where a meal, and sometimes a bed, may be obtained. Outside of this, almost the sole inhabitants are Indians. In describing them, Mr. Pulling says:— “I found the Campas an intelligent race, remarkably honest, frank, and truthful. Though docile as a rule, they are reserved and suspicious. Generous in disposition, they willingly share with one another, and with the traveler, whatever food they may have. They are accustomed to take life easily, and are great laughers. The laughter of a Campa is something which must be heard to be appreciated. It sounds forced, however, and lacks the ring of true10mirth. Beginning on a low note, the laugh goes up by a series of jerks to a high pitch; at the same time the face reveals but little, and is instantly composed, and the eyes resume their usual lack-luster appearance.” “In color the Campas are a coppery brown. Though not tall, they are well built, with strong, muscular bodies, and well-formed limbs. Their foreheads are somewhat flat, and their eyes strongly almond-shaped. Their hair is black, straight, and coarse, and is worn fairly long.” “Their only dress is the cushma, which is worn by both sexes. This garment extends from the neck to the feet, and is best described as a sack turned upside down, with slits left, through which to pass the head and arms. It is woven of wild cotton, and dyed a rich nut-brown, so that the cloth has the appearance of coarse, unbleached calico. The Indians say that their fathers used to go unclad, until some men (probably the Jesuits) came and taught them to make the cushma.” “Like most savage races, they are fond of ornaments, which are worn almost as much by men as by women. Their favorite decoration is the skins of birds of bright plumage. The men usually wear a band of split cane about an inch wide, which sets on the head like a coronet, and serves to keep the hair down. This, with a tall feather standing up at the back, gives them a rather stately appearance. Necklaces of birds, seeds, monkey’s teeth, etc., are freely worn. They also paint and mark the face and arms, and sometimes the entire body, with red and black dyes. I saw no signs of tattooing.” “Evidently they consider a broad, flat nose beautiful, for I frequently met men and women with pieces of sticks passed through the inner cartilage of the nose, to extend the nostrils.” “Their houses are simple roofs, thatched with palo leaves, standing on four corner poles, and serve for little more than shelters from the sun and rain. Furniture they have none, except a few earthen pots to hold their favorite drink, with a bundle of bows and arrows, and odds and ends. They prefer to build on a sunny spot upon the shoulder of a hill, and they usually depend upon the river for fish, though they choose to live retired from its banks.” “The only native weapon is the bow, to which the Campas accustom themselves from childhood, using it with great skill. They shoot up into the air, so that the arrow falls down upon the prey or foe. Arrows are made in different shapes and lengths, and are pointed with bone or hard wood. They are sometimes poisoned.” “The Campas can not be called industrious. The men especially are idle. Almost all work falls on the women, while their lords lie around the fire, no matter how hot the weather. It is common to see a woman carrying a large, heavily laden basket hung on her back and suspended by a broad band around her forehead.” “Notwithstanding the wonderful fertility of their country, the Campas live a hand-to-mouth existence. During the wet season, they are often driven to eat snails and mice. The Campa does not build his house to last, and it is pulled down upon the slightest impulse,—from a vague suspicion that an enemy is about to make a raid, or from a sudden desire to seek other fruitful hunting-grounds, or even from pure restlessness. He will eat gluttonously of whatever food may come to hand, and suffer hunger to-morrow.” “The average age of the adult Campa is only thirty-five years. This is due, doubtless, to their ignorance regarding the common laws of health. They are great lovers of the water, and swim with ease; they are also skilful in making dugout canoes, for which they employ the giant cedars of the forest. When shooting the river rapids, the Indians keep up a continuous whistling as they ply the paddle, nor does a ducking at all disconcert them. Should the raft ‘turn turtle,’ they keep laughing, and speedily right it again, going on as if nothing had happened.” “Polygamy is common, but it is seldom that a man has more than two wives. Marriage is accompanied by no other ceremony than a dance lasting all night. When a wife dies, it is common for her husband to kill or cast adrift the younger of her children.” “Like most savage tribes, these folk also have their medicine-man, whom they credit with power to bewitch and kill at his pleasure.” “The Campa language would not be difficult to master. Roman Catholic priests have compiled a prayer-book in this tongue; but so far as is known, no portion of the Bible has yet been translated into the language.” “So far as I could ascertain, the Campas have no religion. They seem to have no idea of God, and stoutly deny that they worship idols. Upon every opportunity I closely questioned them on this subject, and was met every time with a blank denial. In his notes upon the tribes of the Upper Amazon, Mr. Bates, the naturalist, significantly remarks: ‘None of the tribes of the Upper Amazon have any idea of a Supreme Being, and consequently have no word to express it in their own languages.’ This certainly would appear to be correct concerning the Campas.” Here is a large tribe of Indians, within the borders of the New World, in dense heathenism. They literally know not God. They know not that Jesus has been sent into the world to save sinners. But God loves these children of the forest. Some one must teach them of the love of God. What a precious work it would be for missionaries, whose hearts have been touched with the third angel’s message, to pioneer the work of giving the gospel to them!