RETURN TO MANAOS. 261 
" Make no ceremony, and don't be ashamed ; eat with 
your fingers as your 're accustomed to do, and then you '11 
find your appetites and enjoy your dinner." His advice 
was followed, and I must say they seemed much more 
comfortable in consequence, and did more justice to the 
good fare. Although the Indians who live in the neigh- 
borhood of the towns have seen too much of the conven- 
tionalities of life not to understand the use of a knife and 
fork, no Indian will eat with one if he can help it. 
When the dinner was over, the room was cleared of the 
tables and swept ; the music, consisting of a viola, flute, and 
violin, was called in, and the ball was opened. The forest 
belles were rather shy at first in the presence of strangers ; 
but they soon warmed up and began to dance with more 
animation. They were all dressed in calico or muslin 
skirts, with loose, cotton waists, finished around the neck 
with a kind of lace they make themselves by drawing the 
threads from cotton or muslin, so as to form an open 
pattern, sewing those which remain over and over to se- 
cure them. Some of this lace is quite elaborate and very 
fine. Many of the women had their hair dressed either 
with white jessamine or with roses stuck into .their round 
combs, and several wore gold beads and ear-rings. The 
dances were different from those I saw in Esperanca's 
cottage, and much more animated ; but the women pre- 
served the same air of quiet indifference which I noticed 
there. Indeed, in all the Indian dances I have seen the 
man makes the advances, while the woman is coy and 
retiring, her movements being very languid. Her partner 
throws himself at her feet, but does not elicit a smile or 
a gesture ; he stoops and pretends to be fishing ; making 
motions as if he were drawing her in with a line, he 
