How groups of people from long time ago lived was always of interest to the researcher.

In a modern world in which she is exposed to much technological advancement and immense improvement in food and medicine availability, the researcher can not help but be captivated by the accomplishments that the Amerindians people made with the little they had. In fact, with respect to the Mayas, aspects of their architecture still baffle modern day architects. Additionally, the Tainos and the Kalinagos had the elements that constituted a balanced diet as a regular part of the dietary routine. Taking all this into account, the researcher became ecstatic about the lifestyle of these groups and decided to conduct this research.

The researcher is convinced that the information contained in this document would redound to the benefit of fellow students who can use it as a quick reference material. Moreover, the wider society would gain greater insight into the livelihoods of these Amerindians and how their activities might have helped shape present day development in our country.

The Amerindians can be described as a simple people in light of todays standards. Nonetheless, they had their way of life which gave them a sense of identity. The Amerindians had their peculiarities yet among these groups there were several aspects of commonality. The people worshipped their various Gods, engaged in farming activities and other occupations as well as they had a home and family life. Therefore, the researcher chose the topic, What major difference and similarities existed in the lives of the Tainos, Kalinagos and Mayas? This was further broken down by the researcher into three sub-areas which are: dress and appearance, religion and beliefs, and economic life.

Moreover, in an effort to help in the gathering of information, the researcher used the work of writers such as Norman ( ), Claypole and Robottom (1989), Greenwood and

Hamber (1979), and many others. Thus, this document is an informed compilation.

All three Indian groups flattened their foreheads and were of middle height. However, while the Mayans and the Kalinagos appeared to be robust and strong, (Fig. 1), The Tainos on the other hand seemed a bit more physically weak. Additionally, both the Kalinagos and the Tainos were brown skin in complexion whereas the Maya Mongolians. Columbus cited in Hall (1982) remarked that the Arawaks go always naked as they were born, with the exception of some of the women, who wore the covering of a leaf, a small bough, or an apron of cotton which they prepare for that purpose. Additionally the Tainos and the Kalinagos had straight black hair which they oiled and wore long. To this end, Columbus was in agreement when he wrote that, they wear their hair long, like women, and make use of the bows and javelins of cane (Page 4). On the other hand, the Mayas were cross-eyed which gave them a special mark of beauty.

Fig. 1 depicts a Kalinagos family with flattened foreheads.

Furthermore, in the area of dress, all these Indians adorned themselves with paint, jewelry, shells and other accessories. It is interesting to note too, that the loin cloth was a common feature in each society. (Fig 2). However, in the case of the Mayas, the loin cloth was more elaborate. Also, the Mayan women wore a simple dress with a square neck called the kub, which they wore a petticoat beneath.

Fig. 2 displays a Mayan man wearing an ex or loincloth.

The researcher thinks that the Indigenous people had a love for colour and nature and this was demonstrated in the way they elaborately dressed themselves.

The three Indian groups were polytheistic and their religion was a blend of nature and ancestor worship, and protective magic. Thus their religious ceremonies involved a lot of pomp and gaiety. Also, their priest paid an integral part in the worship. (Fig. 3 shows a Mayan pyramid where worship was held.) In the case of the Maya and the Tainos, the priest was also their political leader, thus for the Maya he was called a priest king, while the Tainos called their leader the Cacique. On the other hand, the Kalinagos had a separate political and religious leader. Politically the important man was the ouboutou while the religious priest was called the boyez. The boyez had awesome responsibilities and like the other tribes, he was highly regarded.

All three of the Indian groups performed singing and dancing during their worship. However, the Tainos and the Kalinagos favoured powdered tobacco in their rituals whereas the Mayas performed human sacrifices.

All three of the Amerindians also believed in the after life. Both the Tainos and Kalinagos believed in one heaven and one hell but the Tainos named their heaven the coyaba. In the case of the Mayas, they believed in thirteen heavens and nine hells.

Indeed the Indigenous people felt that their world was ordered by the creator spirits. The researcher feels as though they were devoted to their religious beliefs.

In the area of agriculture, the Tainos and the Kalinagos were subsistence farmers, which meant that they grew food only for themselves and family members, using the slash and burn method which is still evident in todays society. However, the Kalinagos did little agriculture for they were primarily warriors. The little agriculture they did were learnt from the Tainos women who they captured. In the case of the Mayas, they were said to be surplus farmers, which meant that they had enough food to store for the future as well as to trade. Of the three groups, the Mayas were the only ones who traded by both land and sea.

Despite the different agricultural techniques used, all three groups cultivated similar crops which included maize, cotton, cassava, beans and chili. (Fig.4) Moreover, the healthy trade that developed in the Mayas society helped them to build complex independent city states.

In conclusion, they had a passion for the beauty and splendor of the natural world. This was reflected quite vividly in their physical appearance. They were also very committed and devoted to their spiritual development as they engaged in regular worship, they also showed that religion influenced every aspect of their existence, since they believed that all things in life whether good or bad was controlled by a spiritual force. Moreover, they displayed a love for the earth as they actively engaged in growing their own food. As a result of agriculture, some of these groups developed healthy trade which resulted in their societies becoming highly developed. However, it must be borne in mind that the Kalinagos were primarily fighters and they did very little agriculture.

In the final analysis, it is evident that these three Amerindian groups had very much in common while at the same time their peculiarities stood out.

Clay pole, William, and John Robot tom. Caribbean Story Book One: Foundations. Essex Longman Group Ltd., 1989. Greenwood, Robert, and Shirley Hamber. Amerindians to Africans. Ed. Brian Dyde. 2nd ed. Oxford: Macmillan Education, 2003.

Fig. 3 shows a Mayan pyramid where worship was held

Fig 4 displays a crop called corn, which was cultivated by all three of the Amerindian groups.