508 BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 



viduals who appeared strong and well- nourished, was a shining 

 bright copper-brown, just the same as we had seen in all 

 Indians when in good health ; for it is only by sickness, poor 

 living, and seclusion from the open air, or mingling with 

 Europeans, that this original hue of the native Americans 

 is ever changed to a paler tinge. There was not a tattooed 

 face among all the individuals present, nor do I think this 

 disfiguring custom prevails among any of the tribes in the 

 Province of MaranhSo. But the whole horde having been 

 invited to dance at night, they appeared painted black and 

 red on the upper part of the body, their countenances dis- 

 torted with the wildest bacchanalian frenzy, and their long 

 raven hair hanging loosely about their necks. One of them 

 summoned the rest to the dance by blowing a large cane- 

 trumpet, called a bore, which gave a rattling sound, and was 

 echoed by the terrific howls of another individual, and finally 

 responded to by the yells of the entire horde, alarming the 

 peaceful town, and startling whole swarms of bats from their 

 slumbers in the roofs of the houses. The irregular bounds 

 and contortions, the martial brandishing of the arms and 

 weapons, with the hideous countenances of this unbridled 

 rabble, accompanied by their discordant, monotonous howl, 

 and the sound of their rattle-boxes, called maraca, might 

 well convey an idea of Pandemonium. Most of them had 

 worn short breeches of cotton cloth, which some of them 

 exchanged, during the dance, for a kind of belt, such as is 

 commonly worn by the Indians of the northern parts of 

 Brazil. The few women who accompanied the party were 

 decently clad, and took no part in the dance ; but were 

 occupied in receiving the little gifts which were tendered to 

 them by the spectators. 



The language of the Aponegi-cram and that of the Carumts, 

 which we ascertained by examining individuals from both 

 tribes, appeared the same, abounding in guttural sounds, sharp 

 accents, and accompanied by many and significant contortions 

 of the features. The identity of the two hordes, now composing 



