Chap. II. MENTAL CONDITION OF INDIANS. 137 



and unprincipled traders who go amongst them. I 

 think no Indians could be in a happier position than 

 these simple, peaceful and friendly people on the banks 

 of the Cupari. The members of each family live together, 

 and seem to be much attached to each other ; and the 

 authority of the chief is exercised in the mildest manner. 

 Perpetual summer reigns around them ; the land is of the 

 highest fertility, and a moderate amount of light work 

 produces them all the necessaries of their simple life. 

 It is difficult to get at their notions on subjects that 

 require a little abstract thought ; but the mind of the 

 Indian is in a very primitive condition. I believe he 

 thinks of nothing except the matters that immediately 

 concern his daily material wants. There is an almost 

 total absence of curiosity in his mental disposition, con- 

 sequently he troubles himself very little concerning the 

 causes of the natural phenomena around him. He has 

 no idea of a Supreme Being ; but, at the same time, he 

 is free from revolting superstitions — his religious notions 

 going no farther than the belief in an evil spirit, re- 

 garded merely as a kind of hobgoblin, who is at the 

 bottom of all his little failures, troubles in fishing, 

 hunting, and so forth. With so little mental activity, 

 and with feelings and passions slow of excitement, the 

 life of these people is naturally monotonous and dull, 

 and their virtues are, properly speaking, only negative ; 

 but the picture of harmless homely contentment they 

 exhibit is very pleasing, compared with the state of 

 savage races in many other parts of the world. 



The men awoke me at four o'clock with the sound of 



