1 8s i. 3 KIDNAPPING THE INDIANS. Z07 



together. The " negociantes " and authorities in Barra and 

 Para, ask the traders among the Indians to procure a boy or 

 girl for them, well knowing the only manner in which they can 

 be obtained ; in fact, the Government in some degree authorise 

 the practice. There is something to be said too in its favour, 

 for the Indians make war on each other, — principally the 

 natives of the margin of the river on those in the more distant 

 igaripes, — for the sake of their weapons and ornaments, and 

 for revenge of any injury, real or imaginary, and then kill all 

 they can, reserving only some young girls for their wives. The 

 hope of selling them to the traders, however, induces them to 

 spare many who would otherwise be murdered. These are 

 brought up to some degree of civilisation (though I much doubt 

 if they are better or happier than in their native forests), and 

 though at times ill-treated, they are free, and can leave their 

 masters whenever they like, which, however, they seldom do 

 when taken very young. Senhor L. had been requested by 

 two parties at Barra — one the Delegarde de Policia — to furnish 

 them each with an Indian girl, and as this man was an old 

 hand at the business, he was now agreeing with him, furnish- 

 ing him with powder and shot — for he had a gun — and giving 

 him some goods, to pay other Indians for assisting him, and to 

 do a little business at the same time if he had the opportunity. 

 He was to return at the furthest in a fortnight, and we were to 

 wait for him in Sao Jeronymo. 



The Tushaua came to pay us a visit almost every day, to 

 talk a little, and sometimes drink a cup of coffee. His wife 

 and some of his daughters, who possessed a " sai'a," also often 

 came, bringing us pacovas, mandiocca-cake, and other things, 

 for which they always expected to be paid. We bought here a 

 good number of stools and baskets, which cost five or six 

 hooks each ; also fowls, parrots, trumpeters, and some other 

 tame birds. When we first arrived, almost the whole body of 

 the inhabitants came to visit us, requesting to see what we had 

 brought to sell ; accordingly we spread out our whole stock of 

 fish-hooks, knives, axes, mirrors, beads, arrow-heads, cottons 

 and calicoes, which they handled and admired in unintelligible 

 languages/for about two hours. It is necessary to make this ex- 

 position in every village, as they will bring nothing to sell un- 

 less they first know that you have what they want in exchange. 



Two days after the dance we bade adieu to Jauarite, and by 



