CASHIBO INDIANS IN PERU

THE CASHIBO LIVE IN EASTERN PERU ALONG THE AGUAYTIA RIVER IN EASTERN PERU ALONG THE AGUAYTIA RIVER. THEIR POPULATION IS OF THE PANOAN FAMILY. HISTORICALLY THEY HAVE BEEN HOSTILE TO THEIR NEIGHBORS AND THE MISSIONARIES WHO ATTEMPTED TO WORK AMONG THEM . WHEN THE FIRST IN THE CASHIBO KILLED ONE OF THEM AND FORCED THE REST TO LEAVE. BY 1829 THEY RETREATED TO THE HEADWATER OF PACHITA. IN 1870 WHEN THEY RETURNED DOWN RIVER THEY WERE VICTIMS OF RAIDS BY THE SHETELBO AND COJUBO. IT HAS ONLY BEEN IN THE ONLY PAST 20TH CENTURIES THAT THE CASHIBO ARE IN CONTACT WITH THE PERUVIAN NATIONAL SOCIETY. IN THE PAST WHEN SETTLERS APPROACHED THE CASHIBO THE INDIANS SIMPLY MOVED FURTHER INTO THE FOREST TO AVOID THEM. BETWEEN THE 30'S AND 40'S MANY EPIDEMICS OCCURRED. BECAUSE ACCULTURATION WAS RAPID MANY CASHIBO DIED AS A 0RESULT OF CULTURE SHOCK AND DISEASE. BY 1940 THEY REFUSED TO BE ON A RESERVATION AND STAYED ON THEIR LAND. THE MAJORITY LIVE IN FIVE COMMUNITIES EACH OF WHICH IS HALF BILINGUAL DIRECTED BY THE SUMMER INSTITUTE, A MISSIONARY GROUP.

BOTH CASHIBO AND SHIPIBO INTERMARRY. THE TRADITIONAL CASHIBO SUBSISTENCE WAS BASED ON HUNTING, FISHING, CROPS RAISED IN SWIDDEN AGRICULTURE . FOLKS ALONG THE RIVER SELL BANANAS, SALTED MEAT, FISH AND CHICKEN TO TRUCK DRIVERS. BUT THOSE ON THE NON NAVIGABLE PACHITAS, WHO HAVE NO TRANSPORTATION, HAVE LESS OPPORTUNITY TO SELL THEIR PRODUCE. SOME CASHIBO HAVE SOME CCASHIBO HAVE LEFT FARMING TO WORK FOR CASH AS LUMBERERS AND OTHER JOBS. THEY ARE FARM AND OTHER WORKERS.

IN THEIR GARDENS THE CASHIBO RAISED MAIZE AND SWEET MANIOC AS STAPLES, PUMPKINS, PEANUTS, GOUYRDS, PAPAYA, PEPPERS SWEET POTATOES. NON FOOD CROPS INCLUDE COTTON, GENIPAPO, ANNATO, REEDS, FOR ARROWS, TWO TYPES OF FISH POISON PLANTS AND TOBACCO. EVERY THREE YEARS MEN CLEAR NEW FIELDS. CASHIBO DEPEND UPON FISH THAT THEY CATCH WITH BOW AND ARROW AND HARPOONS. THEY ALSO SALT AND SELL FISH. THE MOST IMPORTANT ANIMALS ARE DEER, CAPYBARAS AND MONKEYS, SQUIRRELS, TAPIR AND WATERFOWL. THEY KEEP THE DOMES,PIGS, AND PARROTS AND MONKEYS.

THEY ARE KNOWN FOR THEIR BEAUTIFUL POTTERY, BASKETS, AND MATS. MEN DO WOODWORKING. TYPICALLY THEY HAVE ONE OR TWO FAMILIES IN EACH HOUSE. THEIR COMMUNITY WAS SELF SUFFICIENT AND INDEPENDANT. THEIR WAS LITTLE TRADE WITH THE OTHER GROUPS. THEIR COMMUNITY WAS LEAD BY A FAMILY OWNED THIER GARDEN.

THE EMMISSIONARIES CONVINCED THEM TO WEAR CLOTHES. THE CHASHIBO DEFORMED THE HEQADS OF THEIR INFANTS BY USING A PAD AROUND THEIR HEADS TIED TO THEIR CRADLEBOARDS. IT TOOK ONLY FOUR DAYS. THEY HAD MANY OTHER RITES AND SOME WEIRD PRACTICES.

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