t85i.] A DESCRIPTION OF J A VITA. 177 



Lie hid, o'ershadow'd by th' eternal woods, 



And trickle onwards, these to increase the wave 



Of turbid Orinooko ; those, by a longer course 



In the Black River's isle-strewn bed, flow down 



To mighty Amazon, the river-king, 



And, mingled with his all-engulfing stream, 



Go to do battle with proud Ocean's self, 



And drive him back even from his own domain. 



There is an Indian village ; all around, 



The dark, eternal, boundless forest spreads 



Its varied foliage. Stately palm-trees rise 



On every side, and numerous trees unknown 



Save by strange names uncouth to English ears. 



Here I dwelt awhile the one white man 



Among perhaps two hundred living souls. 



They pass a peaceful and contented life, 



These black-hair'd, red-skinn'd, handsome, half-wild men. 



Directed by the sons of Old Castile, 



They keep their village and their houses clean; 



And on the eve before the Sabbath-day 



Assemble all at summons of a bell, 



To sweep within and all around their church, 



In which next morn they meet, all neatly dress'd, 



To pray as they've been taught unto their God. 



It was a pleasing sight, that Sabbath morn, 



Reminding me of distant, dear-loved home. 



On one side knelt the men, their simple dress 



A shirt and trousers of coarse cotton cloth : 



On the other side were women and young girls, 



Their glossy tresses braided with much taste, 



And on their necks all wore a kerchief gay, 



And some a knot of riband in their hair. 



How like they look'd, save in their dusky skin, 



To a fair group of English village maids ! 



Yet far superior in their graceful forms ; 



For their free growth no straps or bands impede, 



But simple food, free air, and daily baths 



And exercise, give all that Nature asks 



To mould a beautiful and healthy frame. 



"Each day some labour calls them. Now they go 

 To fell the forest's pride, or in canoe 

 "With hook, and spear, and arrow, to catch fish ; 

 Or seek the various products of the wood, 

 To make their baskets or their hanging beds. 

 The women dig the mandiocca root, 

 And with much labour make of it their bread. 

 These plant the young shoots in the fertile earth 

 Earth all untill'd, to which the plough, or spade, 

 Or rake, or harrow, are alike unknown. 



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