BRASIL. 



415 



to the expectation, that their domestic intercourse 

 would present a similar scene of violence. Here, 

 . r, a remarkable contrast was presented. Al- 

 though there existed no regulations for securing inter- 

 nal tranquillity ; although the chiefs possess no power, 

 unless in war, and never interfere in private quarrels; 

 yet no bad consequences nre felt ; the most perfect 

 the most profound harmony, reigns in ail their 

 villages. A traveller, who resided more than a year 

 among one of the fiercest uf these tubes, was wit- 

 ness, during that time, only to two quarrels. In their 

 sickness, they received from each other the must ten- 

 der attention ; and all the offices of friendship were 

 mutually performed with zeal and fidelity. This 

 internal union, so remarkably superior to what would 

 be found among the most polished nations, if freed 

 from the restraint of law, seems derived, in a great 

 measure, from the fierceness of their animosity against 

 their neighbours and enemies, and the continual dan- 

 ger to which they were exposed from them. A com- 

 mon sentiment of fear and hostility diffused through 

 all the members of the society, proves the most 

 powerful bond of union between them. In these wild 

 and ardent natures, the sentiments of attachment and 

 tenderness are as strong as those of hatred and ven- 

 geance ; and all the force of the latter being turned 

 in another direction, the former alone are felt to- 

 wards their kinsmen and countrymen. To avenge 

 such of these as had been the victims of the barba- 

 rous ferocity of their enemies, was the motive which, 

 rankling continually in their minds, impelled them to 

 such incessant and dreadful warfare. When the ora- 

 tors wished to animate their valour, it was by remind- 

 ing them of their relations, who had been slain and 

 devoured by the tribe against whom their arms were 

 directed. 



The laws of hospitality have always been held in 

 peculiar veneration among rude nations. The rare 

 appearance of travellers, the helplessness of their si- 

 tuation, and the absence of all motives to enmity 

 against them, excited that natural disposition to 

 kindness which exists in these tribes, when not em- 

 bittered by the belief of real or imagined wrongs. 

 This law of hospitality was established in full force 

 among the Brasilian tribes. The stranger was re- 

 ceived not only with kindness, but with rapture, and 

 was loaded with every distinction which it was in 

 their power to bestow. When a stranger arrived at 

 a village, he chose the person with whom he was to 

 lodge, who was called his moussacat; and, in all fu- 

 ture visits, he must choose the same person, by whom 

 his going to any other would be considered as a se- 

 rious affront. As soon as he entered, the women 

 crowded round him with the most flattering expres- 

 sions of kindness and of gratitude for his having ta- 

 ken up his abode in their house. The master of the 

 dwelling then slept forward, and received him with a 

 graver welcome. Was he hungry or thirsty, the best 

 that the house contained was prepared and set before 

 him ; and his hosts stood round in a circle, to keep 

 off the children, or whatever could occasion disturb- 

 ance. At night, the best hammock was spread for 

 him ; and, with even superfluous attention, small 

 fires were kindled near it, and kept up during the 

 r.ight ; on the morning, the host was at hand to in- 



3 



quire how he had slept. In short, a traveller de- Brawl. 



clarcs, that he felt more secure among the savage ' *** 



Brasilians, than among his countrymen at home, who 

 were then torn with religious dissensions. 



In their domestic manners, and the intercourse be- Mannmof 

 twccn the sexes, the Brasilians were far from being thewomeii. 

 dissolute. The unmarried fen;:iles, indeed, were un- 

 der little restraint, though this we suspect to have 

 been chiefly in regard to Europeans, to whom the 

 same rules of morality were not, among the inhabi- 

 tants of the New World, supposed to apply, as to 

 their own countrymen. After marriage, however, 

 the most rigid propriety of behaviour was observed. 

 A savage custom required of every man, as a neces- 

 sary preliminary to his entering into that state, to 

 have first taken a captive, and given him to the na- 

 tion to be devoured. Marriage could be dissolved at 

 pleasure, and polygamy was considered lawful, 

 though it was practised only by a few of the chiefs. 

 Notwithstanding the entire want of covering, the 

 utmost decency was observed in their outward de- 

 portment. 



The vice of intoxication is very general among sa- mtoxica- 

 vages. The vacuity of their minds, the want of re- tioo. 

 gular amusement and occupation, makes them eager- 

 ly grasp at whatever can give an impulse to the ani- 

 mal spirits. The Brasilians had invented a species of 

 fermented liquor, the manner of preparing which we 

 have described above ; and they indulged in it with 

 an excess and fury of which civilized nations can with 

 difficulty form an idea. Days and nights were con- 

 sumed in the gratification of this propensity ; and 

 so long as a drop remained, they never desisted. 

 Lery, after enumerating all the nations most noted 

 for drinking, calls upon them to yield the palm to 

 the Brasilian savages. 



On fixed days, they assembled for the purpose of Dancing, 

 dancing, which, as formerly observed, served at 

 once as an amusement, and as a religious ceremony. It 

 was practised in a manner extremely singular and 

 uncouth. The men, women, and children, formed 

 three separate parties, who were each placed in a 

 house by themselves. They began with wild howl- 

 ings, which were soon followed by softer and sweet- 

 er notes ; they then arranged themselves into circles, 

 and without moving from the spot, placed them- 

 selves in a variety of attitudes, mixed with leaps and 

 gestures. In the midst of each circle stood a jug- 

 gler, who performed a multitude of superstitious 

 ceremonies, which have been described under the 

 head of religion. They were continued usually for 

 six or seven hours. 



The Brasilians lived in villages, two or three of Habita- 

 which constituted a nation. In each village there lions, 

 were only three or four houses ; but these structures 

 were extended to a great length, and contained sixty 

 or seventy families. Each family had a certain space 

 allotted to it, but without any partition to separate 

 it from the rest. One village, seen by a traveller of 

 the name of Knivet, though consisting only of 

 four houses, arranged in the form of a square, was 

 estimated to contain 4000 inhabitants. The interior 

 of these houses presented a singular spectacle, from 

 the multitude of human beings crowded together, 

 with their arms, implements, and grotesque orna- 



