1 comments about Unknown tribes, uncharted seas,.

1. Lady Richmond Brown created a scandal in the 1920s by traveling through the Caribbean with a man who was not her husband. I guess this would make her an adventuress and that's the reason this book has been reissued instead of being justly ignored by our more racially enlightened generation.
   
   The "unknown tribe" of the title are the Kuna people of Panama, who, far from being unknown, were first contacted by Europeans during Christopher Columbus's final voyage. The pirate Lionel Wafar lived with them in the late 16th century, later penning A NEW VOYAGE AND DESCRIPTION OF THE ISTHMUS OF PANAMA which describes Kuna life and customs far better than Richmond Brown's book. The Kunas have been in continuous, although not always congenial, contact with the outside world for almost 500 years.
   
   And when you read Richmond Brown's writing, you realize why this contact was not always congenial. Richmond Brown and her male companion "Midge" were patronizing purveyors of cheap trinkets and snake oil, offering "medicines" that were admittedly useless and bartering chocolate (a staple of Kuna diet which Richmond Brown congratuales herself on introducing to these "primitives") for cultural artifacts. Richmond Brown returned to England with over 1000 Kuna blouses -- she claimed most were obtained as "gifts" -- which begs the question of how many naked Kunas she left behind!
   
   Richmond Brown asserts that the Kuna language is so simple that it consists of no more than 400 words. She also doubts that these primitive people can feel any kind of advanced emotions such as love. The two Brits delighted in displays of "cultural" superiority, such as repetedly shooting off guns for no reason. At one point they staged an elaborate display of fireworks in order to convince their hosts that these white visitors were "gods."
   
   I've worked with the Kunas for over 15 years. They are artistic, highly intelligent, and sensitive people, fiercely equalitarian and independent. They are probably the only New World indigenous people to win a war against the Europeans (the elaborately planned revolution took place the day after Carnival, when they knew that all of the Panamanian oppressors would be hopelessly hung over!). Their language, as described by Joel Sherzer in KUNA WAYS OF SPEAKING, consists of three complex dialects that are utilized in different social situations. Their political system, a highly represenative form of democracy, puts our own (and that of Great Britian) to shame.
   
   Richmond Brown's book is an insult to the Kuna people and to any racial sensitive person. I would have given it no stars if that were possible. This book never should have been reprinted.
   
   Anyone wishing to learn more about the Kuna people should look into books by Joel Sherzer, James Howe, and Mari Lyn Salvador.

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