iSji.] A GRAND DANCE. 201 



depends in a great measure upon this refuse food of the Indians, 

 and several thousand alqueires are purchased, and most of it 

 sent there, annually. 



The principal food of these Indians is fish, and when they 

 have neither this nor any game, they boil a quantity of peppers, 

 in which they dip their bread. At several places where we 

 stopped this was offered to our men, who ate with a relish the 

 intensely burning mess. Yams and sweet potatoes are also 

 abundant, and with pacovas form a large item in their stock of 

 eatables. Then they have the delicious drinks made from the 

 fruits of the assai, baccaba, and patawa palms, as well as 

 several other fruits. 



The large saiibas and white ants are an occasional luxury, 

 and when nothing else is to be had in the wet season they eat 

 large earth-worms, which, when the lands in which they live 

 are flooded, ascend trees, and take up their abode in the 

 hollow leaves of a species of Tillandsia, where they are often 

 found accumulated by thousands. Nor is it only hunger that 

 makes them eat these worms, for they sometimes boil them 

 with their fish to give it an extra relish. 



They consume great quantities of mandiocca in making 

 caxiri for their festas, which are continually taking place. As 

 I had not seen a regular dance, Senhor L. asked the Tushaiia 

 to make some caxiri and invite his friends and vassals to dance, 

 for the white stranger to see. He readily consented, and, as 

 we were to leave in two or three days, immediately sent round 

 a messenger to the houses of the Indians near, to make known 

 the day and request the honour of their company. As the 

 notice was so short, it was only those in the immediate neigh- 

 bourhood who could be summoned. 



On the appointed day numerous preparations were taking 

 place. The young girls came repeatedly to fill their pitchers 

 at the river early in the morning, to complete the preparation 

 of the caxiri. In the forenoon they were busy weeding all 

 round the malocca, and sprinkling water, and sweeping within 

 it. The women were bringing in dry wood for the fires, and 

 the young men were scattered about in groups, plaiting straw 

 coronets or arranging some other parts of their ornaments. 

 In the afternoon, as I came from the forest, I found several 

 engaged in the operation of painting, which others had already 

 completed. The women had painted themselves or each 



