This very brief study of the Incas and Chibchas concludes the civilized elements of the Aboriginal South American.  To the east of the Andes were a number of tribes, all of which were, to a greater or lesser degree, still in a state of sheer savagery.  Near the eastern frontier of the Inca Empire resided such peoples as the Chiriguanos, Chunchos, Abipones, Chiquitos, Mojos, Guarayos, Tacanas; while to the north were similar tribes, such as the Ipurines, Jamamaries, Huitotos, Omaguas.  These appear to have absorbed some crude and vague forms of the Inca religion, and were addicted to the worship of the Sun, but more frequently of the Moon.

On the east of the Continent, ranging from the territory which is now known as Misiones in Argentina, and Southern Paraguay to the north-east of the Continent, were various branches of the great Guarani family, a nation that some consider should be more correctly known as Tupis, and whose northernmost section are known as Caribs.  It is impossible to attempt to give an account of the very great number of the tribes which went to make up this powerful and great nation.  Many of these remain to the present day, and sixteen are still accounted for in the comparatively insignificant district of the Guianas alone.

It is, indeed, only feasible to deal with the main characteristics of these various peoples—­mostly forest-dwellers.  Naturally enough, the tribesmen were hunters and fishers.  The majority were given to paint their bodies and to pierce their ears, noses, and lower lips, in order to insert reeds, feathers, and similar savage ornaments.  In the more tropical forest regions the blowpipe constituted one of the most formidable weapons.  Bows and arrows were in general use, the points of these latter being of bone or hardened wood.  The barbs of the spears were similarly contrived, many of these weapons being beautifully decorated in the more northern territories.  The greater part of these tribes still remain in the forest districts of the Continent.

[Illustration:  Diego de Almagro.

The fellow-conquistador and rival of Pizarro in the conquest of Peru, and pioneer explorer of Chile.]

In Chile and in the River Plate Provinces an entirely different type of Indian prevailed; great warriors these, for the most part, who roamed the plains of the River Plate Provinces, or, like the Araucanians, lived a turbulent and fierce existence among the forests and mountains of the far south to the west of the Andes Chain.

It was these Southern Indians who disputed the soil with the Spaniards with the courage and ferocity that frequently spilled the Castillian blood in torrents on the mountains or plains.  To the end, indeed, they remained unconquered, and death was almost invariably preferred to submission to the hated white invaders of their land.