SHAUR INDIANS IN PERU

THE SHUAR BECAME KNOWN TO US IN THE 1800'S FOR THEIR CUSTOMS OF HUNTING AND SHRINKING HEADS THE SIZE OF A BASEBALL. THIS IS AN UNUSUAL TRADITION. ALTHOUGH THERE WERE MANY HEADHUNTING CULTURES THROUGHOUT THE WORLD, THE JIVARO CLAIM IS THE ONLY GROUP KNOWN FOR SHRINKING HUMAN HEADS. THEY LIVE DEEP IN ECUADOR AND NEAR THE AMAZON. THEY ARE A VERY PRIMITIVE SOCIETY. THAT HAS VERY UNUSUAL COSTUMES. THEIR FOUR SUBTRIBES INCLUDE: ASHUAR, AGUARISNA, HUABISNA, AND SHUAR. THE SHUAR ARE KNOWN FOR THEIR PRACTICE OF HEAD SHRINKING.

THEY ARE THE ONLY ONES WHO REVOLTED AGAINST THE SPANISH EMPIRE AND ONE TO REVOLT AGAINST SPANISH EMPIRE AND HAVE THWARTED ALL ATTEMPTS TO BE CONQUERED. THEY HAVE WITHSTOOD ARMIES OF GOLD SEEKING INCAS AND DEFIED THE EARLY CONQUISTADORS. THEY ARE AN INTENSELY WARLIKE GROUP AND VERY AND VERY PROTECTIVE OF THEIR FREEDOM TO SUBORDINATE THEMSELVES TO AUTHORITIES.

EARLY STORIES FROM THE 1599 SAY THEY BANDED TOGETHER AND KILLED 25,000 ANGLOS WHO TRIED TO CONQUER THEM! THE ROGRONE ATTACK STANDS OUT AS RUTHLESS. THE ATTACK WAS INSTIGATED OVER THE NATIVES BEING TAXED IN THEIR GOLD TRADE. AFTER UNCOVERING THE SCRUPULOUS MOLTEN GOLD WAS POURED DOWN THE GOVERNOR'S THROUT UNTIL HE DIED! THE REMAINING SPANIARD'S WERE KILLED ALONG WITH WITH OLDER WOMEN AND CHILDREN. THE YOUNGER WOMEN WERE TAKEN AS PRISONERS TO JOIN THE CLAN. THE VILLAGE WAS BURNED TO THE GROUND.BURNED TO THE GROUND.. FROM THIS POINT ONWARD THE JIVARO INDIANS REMAIN UNCONQUERED DESPITE THE FACT THEY LIVED IN ONE OF THE RICHEST GOLD BEARING TERRITORY OF SOUTH AMERICA. THEIR PRACTICES HAVE DISCOURAGED OUTSIDERS FROM ENTERING.

BY LATE 1800'S THEY WERE KNOWN FOR SHRINKING HEADS OF THEIR ENEMIES AND IT INTRIGUED TRAVELERS AND COMPELLED SOME FOLKS TO VISIT THEM. SOME VISITS BY ANGLOS HELPED THEM RECEIVE FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION FOR HEAD SHRINKING.

SOON THE PERUVIAN GOVERNMENT HAD TO PASS LAWS PROHIBITING THE TRAFFICE OF SHRUNKEN HEADS. THEY WERE IN A DESTRCTIVE CYCLE. WITH THEIR ENEMIES.IN THE 30'S THE HEADS HAD SOLD FOR $25.00.

ONE ETHNOLOGIST, BILL JAMIESON, VISITED THE SHUAR TRIBEE FROM 1995 -2001 AND RESEARCHED THEIR NATUROPATHIC HEALINGS AND RELATED RITUALS. HE LEAD FIVE EXPEDITIONS THERE. HE HAS AN EXTENSIVE LIBRARY OF SHUAR PHOTOS AND A COLLECTION OF THEIR SHRUNKEN HEADS.

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