![]() They have been determined to retain their isolation and culture. Since then, the population has jumped to more than 20,000, many of whom still look with suspicion at outsiders. ![]() That remnant took to the mountains, and only during the past century have dared to come down and occupy the off-shore islands. Since the Cunas knew of certain sources of gold, they fell under the ruthless heel of early fortune seekers, who promptly reduced their number to about 10,000. The Indians were reported to be savage cannibals numbering some 700,000, and occupied, mainly, a strip of what is now Panama along the Atlantic coast. One of the first tourists to visit the primitive Cuna tribe was Christopher Columbus, when he made his fourth voyage to the New World. As frequent visitors to, and guests of, the Cunas of San Blas we have observed these “white” Indians and their problems. albinism occurs in one out of 10,000 births.Īlbinos in primitive Cuna society create certain problems among which are: (1) social (2) health (3) psychological. To get an idea of the significance of so high a percentage, consider the fact that in the U.S.A. This tallies with as authoritative a count as has been made. We have been told there are about two albinos per one hundred Cunas. The albinos are called Moon-children, on the theory that one or both parents gazed too long at the moon during that particular pregnancy. These white-skinned (or white-to-yellow) individuals stand out like the proverbial sore thumb, among their brown-skinned relatives. Travelers who visit the San Blas Islands, just off the Atlantic coast of Panama, are surprised at the high incidence of albinism among Cuna Indians who live there. ![]() One of the larger San Blas Islands, called Ailigandi. ![]()
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