The eleventh model illustrates the home of the Goajiros Indians of Venezuela, a type of the Orinoco ethnic province. The discoverers of the coast of South America were astonished to find tribes living in huts built out over the water, and so they gave to this region the name of Venezuela, or Little Venice. The huts, only a few feet square, stood among the trees, on platforms constructed by interlacing the stems. The houses later were supported on piles or trunks of trees sunk in the water and standing 5 or 6 feet high. In the center of each platform was a pile of earth, and on this the fire was built and kept continually burning. Over tire platform was suspended a low roof thatched with palm loaves. Access to the house was had by means of a notched tree trunk. The natives moved about in dugout canoes, and when the water was high one of these could he seen tied to every notched ladder. Little clothing was worn, but there was much decoration of the person with feathers and seeds, and the bones and teeth of small animals.
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