The material presented in the following pages was collected during the first year of field work of the University Museum's South American Expedition, 1913–1916. The work was done under the supervision of Dr. G. B. Gordon, Director of the Museum, and with the assistance in the field of Dr. Franklin H. Church, Sr. Joaquin Albuquerque and Mr. John Ogilvie.

The Arawak tribes, whose culture, somatic characteristics and language are here recorded, are in contact with numerous other tribes whom we visited and whose study will be presented at another time. As this is the first time that any detailed account of this group of tribes has been attempted, no doubt many mistakes have been made which will remain for future students to correct. The somatic data and much of the ethnological and linguistic material are based upon personal observation: the rest of the material was obtained from Mr. H. P. C. Melville and Mr. John Ogilvie or through them as interpreters. Mr. Melville has lived among the Wapisianas and Atarois for twenty-five years, Mr. Ogilvie for fourteen; both know the Indians intimately, speak their language perfectly and are reliable observers.