Guatusos

Guatusos (Pranzos), Indians of Central America, who occupy the basin of the Rio Frio in Costa Rica. Several geographical features of this region - plains, mountains, and rivers - are named from the Guatusos aborigines, who have hitherto kept almost entirely aloof from all contact with the whites, and have consequently preserved their usages, language, and traditions more perfectly than perhaps any other native race. They allowed no strangers to penetrate into their territory, and the most extraordinary reports were long current regarding their appearance, customs, and origin, some supposing them to be descended from some English mutineers under Drake, who after the capture of Esparza took refuge in the Merivalles forests, killed all the men of the Pranzos tribe, and formed unions with the women. They were said to be much above the average height and to have red hair and blue eyes; but little was known of them beyond what had been gleaned by the few missionaries who have endeavoured to establish relations with this mysterious people. Lately, however, they have begun to visit the markets in the settled districts, even bringing offerings to the priests, "brothers of the sun." These show no trace of European blood, being of a dark brown complexion, with black hair and high cheek-bones, like the Chontals of Nicaragua, of whom they are probably a branch. So far from being fierce savages, as was formerly believed, they are peaceful agriculturists who have suffered much from the Ladinos invading their forests in search of rubber. (Franz in Petermann's Mittheilungen, 1862; Squier; Thiel; Reclus, vol. xvii.)