Cuap. VII. MURA SNUFF-TAKERS. 169 
both ; but, according to tradition, they once formed part of the Mun- 
duruct nation. The language of the Muras is entirely different from 
that of the tribes mentioned; but language is not a sure guide in the 
filiation of Brazilian tribes ; seven or eight different languages being 
sometimes spoken on the same river, within a distance of 200 or 30c 
miles. There are certain peculiarities in Indian habits which lead to 
a quick corruption of language and segregation of dialects. When 
Indians, men or women, are conversing amongst themselves, they seem 
to take pleasure in inventing new modes of pronunciation, or in dis- 
_torting words. It is amusing to notice how the whole party will laugh 
when the wit of the circle perpetrates a new slang term, and these new 
words are very often retained. I have noticed this during long voyages 
made with Indian crews. When such alterations occur amongst a 
family or horde, which often live many years without communication 
with the rest of their tribe, the local corruption of language becomes 
perpetuated. Single hordes belonging to the same tribe and inhabiting 
the banks of the same river thus become, in the course of many years’ 
isolation, unintelligible to other hordes, as happens with the Collinas on 
the Jurtia. I think it, therefore, very probable that the disposition to 
invent new words and new modes of pronunciation, added to the small 
population and habits of isolation of hordes and tribes, are the causes 
of the wonderful diversity of languages in South America. 
There is one curious custom of the Muras which requires noticing 
before concluding this digression; this is the practice of snuff-taking 
with peculiar ceremonies. ‘The snuff is called Parica, and is a highly 
stimulating powder, made from the seeds of a species of Inga, belonging 
to the Leguminous order of plants. The seeds are dried in the sun, 
pounded in wooden mortars, and kept in bamboo tubes. When they 
are ripe, and the snuff-making season sets in, they have a fuddling-bout, 
lasting many days, which the Brazilians call a Quarentena, and which 
forms a kind of festival of a semi-religious character. They begin by 
drinking large quantities of caysima and cashiri, fermented drinks made 
of various fruits and mandioca, but they prefer cashacga, or rum, when 
they can get it. Ina short time they drink themselves into a soddened, 
semi-intoxicated state, and then commence taking the Paricad. For this 
purpose they pair off, and each of the partners, taking a reed containing 
a quantity of the snuff, after going through a deal of unintelligible 
mummery, blows the contents with all his force into the nostrils of his 
companion. The effect on the usually dull and taciturn savages is 
wonderful ; they become exceedingly talkative, sing, shout, and leap 
about in the wildest excitement. A reaction soon follows; more 
drinking is then necessary to rouse them from their stupor, and thus 
they carry on for many days in succession. The Mauhés also use the 
Paricd, although it is not known amongst their neighbours the Mun- 
durucus. Their manner of taking it is very different from that of the 
swinish Muras, it being kept in the form of a paste, and employed 
chiefly as a preventive against ague in the months between the dry and 
wet seasons, when the disease prevails. When a dose is required, a 
small quantity of the paste is dried and pulverised on a flat shell, and 
the powder then drawn up into both nostrils at once through two vulture 
