" ./1 ·' , , .. J' I .. • ti' ......... ,... ~ 41 .·· ,. .. • Santa C:laus UST about now that "right jolly old elf," Santa Claus, is preparing Jfor his annual trip-giving his reindeer a trial-run around his vil­ lage and pointing out to them on the map the route they will take Christmas Eve. Soon the apple-cheeked fellow will pile high his sleigh with Christmas gifts and be on his merry way, bringing glad tidings and good cheer to children rich and poor. In different lands Santa is known by different names. French chil­ dren call him Pere Noel; English boys and girls, Father Christmas; and German youngsters, Kriss Kringle. In Holland he becomes San Nicolaas or Sankt Klaus. Nowadays everyone knows that Santa lives at the North Pole. But the home of St. Nicholas-the fourth century bishop after whom our present-day Santa is modeled-was not amidst the Arctic snows but in hot, southwest Turkey. Word of St. Nicholas' kind heart and generosity - especially to young people in need of help-spread throughout Europe. The leg­ endary bishop became the patron saint of children everywhere. Through the centuries St. Nicholas appeared each Christmas season as a bearded saint. Traditionally, he was garbed in magnificent bish­ op's robes and rode a white horse. While boys and girls flocked at his heels, he made his rounds, leaving presents for good children­ and bunches of birch switches for the bad. When Dutch colonists founded New Amsterdam, they brought their children's saint with them. But the stately church figure took on a new appearance and new personality in the New World. In 1822 Dr. Clement Clark Moore wrote his immortal poem, "A Visit from St. Nicholas," which paints Santa much as we know him today­ with "cheeks like roses, his nose like a cherry." Finally, in 1866 car­ toonist Thomas Nast put the finishing touches to the familiar picture. Nast gave Santa his bright red coat and showed him busily at work making toys and keeping track of children's good and bad deeds. But whether he be St. Nicholas or Santa Claus, this beloved Christmas visitor remains the universal symbol of kindness. -Story courtesy Hallmark Cards; photos, Santa's Village, Skyforest, California. the president's page AS THE Holiday Season approaches we can all feel the warm glow of Christmas radiating faith, hope, and gladness. There is good will in the hearts of men, and a feeling of fellowship and love manifests itself everywhere. But as we participate in the gaiety and fun of the Christmas Season, let us remember to offer a prayer of thanks for our many blessings-for we, as a free people, r old elf," Santa Claus, is preparing have much to be thankful for. reindeer a trial-run around his vil­ Millions of people throughout the world will spend n the map the route they will take Christmas under the galling yoke of tyranny. The -cheeked fellow will pile high his freedom-loving Poles, Hungarians, Latvians, East Ger­ Jeon his merry way, bringing glad m rich and poor. mans, and many others will not share with us the joy­ :vn by different names. French chil­ ous spirit of Christmas time. But the story of Christmas l boys and girls, Father Christmas; is eternal, and its meaning will give them courage in ringle. In Holland he becomes San their despair and hope that their dreams and aspira­ tions will ultimately come true. t Santa lives at the North Pole. But In the spirit of Christmas let us rededicate ourselves rth century bishop after whom our •as not amidst the Arctic snows but to our devotion to liberty for all men. Let us pray for unwavering courage and determination in combatting eart and generosity - especially to the evil forces of atheism and tyranny so that one day pread throughout Europe. The leg­ all mankind can truly achieve Peace on Earth, Good Will ron saint of children everywhere. Toward Men. as appeared each Christmas season To all of you and your loved ones-in whatever part he was garbed in magnificent bish­ ;e. While boys and girls flocked at of the world you may be-I send you my warmest !aving presents for good children­ wishes for a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New r the bad. Year. :d New Amsterdam, they brought But the stately church figure took personality in the New World. In wrote his immortal poem, "A Visit :anta much as we know him today­ like a cherry." Finally, in 1866 car- 1ing touches to the familiar picture. mt and showed him busily at work children's good and bad deeds. )las or Santa Claus, this beloved versa! symbol of kindness. :os, Santa's Village, Skyforest, Cal,ifornia. Called the Motolones, thest dangerous, often attacking wor1 people have actually seen them 0 tance, for no one has ever been k w s and survived. Occupying a ver Colombian-Venezuelan border,· dry season, come into the vici1 working to hunt and fish. Othe only people in the area were tho: n d across the river and some in anc W estern Canoe Though no Western employ canoe was. Two client geologists and were preceding it up the riv skiff. The geologists were about rm s canoe when, suddenly, the Mo1 the canoe from the shore. Three eight fell into the water. None o canoe were hit- but they were n The arrows are made of a ver palm. They are pointed, as well Contributors: Story Leo J. Dunn Julian Potter Westerners Heavily Guarded Photos Leo J. Dunn As They Explore Julian Rasmussen Ed McCutcheon Among Dangerous South American Indians , Prospect I )/' ~ jt-1~ ORO __ ;,,-·· ~.~ ~ ; oo~~jrc6"1p QUIPPED with double-barreled shotguns, further pro­ The entire party worked and lived in camp, and each E tected by armed guards, and circumscribed by spot­ member of the technical staff, which consisted of nine J lights, nine Westerners were not, as it might seem, moving men, mostly Americans, was equipped with a double­ gold from Fort Knox or nuclear weapons to the armed barreled shotgun. In addition to the exploration crew, forces; they were engaged in their usual occupation of armed guards were employed. The number of these varied, exploring for oil. but there was at least one with each segment of the crew­ Such intense precautionary measures were provided for one with each drill, one with the recording unit, one with the protection of these Westerners and the nationals with the survey unit, and the like. Also, one or two guards were ~ them because of the nature of the area in which they were always on duty at the camp, and it was surrounded by working and living. The men were the members of Party spotlights. 35, and the site was the deep, almost inaccessible, Indian­ Through the jungle, north of the main camp approxi­ populated jungle of western Venezuela. mately six miles, was the party's Hy camp. It had two Party 35 was so far west in Venezuela, in fact, that the bulldozers that operated in that area and was staffed by 400-foot width of the Rio de Oro River was all that sepa­ 10 nationals (workers and guards), eight dogs, and one rated it from Colombia, and the prospect was reached lone American surveyor-scout. That was Del Letourneau. only after trails had been cut by hand and rafts made of CUCUl dugout canoes. The Indians? Well, no one has ever been Motolone In dians A rouse Fear in All known to have visited them and survived. Specifically, the crew was located on the Colombian­ No one feared that any of the guards would go to sleep Venezuelan border, approximately 124 miles north of on the job, for they were extremely terrified of the Indians. Cucuta, Colombia. The camp itself was on the north bend Not only did the guards remain awake, but the entire of the Rio de Oro River, a little more than six miles east local labor force kept numerous dogs with them as dogs of a Colombian company's Rio de Oro camp, on the south are reputed to be able to smell the Indians from quite a side of this river. distance. 2 W ESTERN PROF ILE DECEMBER 1958 Called the Motolones, these Indians are extremely 4~ feet long and very well made. There is nothing crude dangerous, often attacking workers in the area. Very few about their construction. As they are not feathered and people have actually seen them and then only from a dis­ therefore lack stability in the air, they are not extremely tance, for no one has ever been known to have visited them accurate. The Motolones shoot them in an arc similar to rows and survived. Occupying a very large region along the the way one would use a mortar. Some arrows have shown Colombian-Venezuelan border, the Motolones, during the up with steel arrowheads. This metal obviously was ob­ dry season, come into the vicinity where the crew was tained by the theft of saws and the like from a company working to hunt and fish. Other than these Indians, the camp. The arrowhead is fastened to the shaft with cord only people in the area were those in the Rio de Oro camp taken out of V-belts, also stolen. across the river and some in another camp at Rosario. Getting into the Party 35 camp was a major task. A plane n d flies daily from Maracaibo to Casigua, shown as La Paloma W estern Canoe Attacked on many maps.