BOROROAN, an independent linguistic stock of South American Indians, so called from the Bororos who are its most important tribe. These Indians (known also as "Coroados," a term applied to various entirely unrelated tribes) occupy or once occupied a considerable area between the headwaters of the Para guay and San Lourenco rivers on the west, and the upper Ara guaya on the east, in southern Matto Grosso, Brazil. They are a short, warlike folk, practising some agriculture, but also depending largely on hunting and fishing. The men wear only a plantain leaf cover, the women a breech-clout and a bark corset-like garment.
Labrets are worn by the men. The bow and spear are their main weapons. Chiefs are selected for their ability a4 singers, the best singer in a village being the chief. These have very considerable power, and issue daily or rather nightly orders to their people. Boys are brought up in a separate men's-house. Monogamy is the rule, although polygamy is allowed. Infidelity leads to the woman being made a prostitute in the men's-house. Elaborate ceremonies are held, in which feats of strength are exhibited. See K. von den Steinen, (Inter den Naturvolkern Zentral-Braziliens (Berlin 1894) ; V. Fric, and F. Radin, "Contributions to the Study of the Bororo Indians" (Jour. Roy. Anthrop. Inst. Gr. Brit. and Ireland. vol. xlvi, pp.