INHABITANTS OF GOYAZ. 129 



rains wliicli begin to full in September, and wbicli in tbe upland Tocantins valleys 

 appear to represent an annual precipitation of nearly 80 inches. 



Flora and Fauna. 



On the lower Goyaz slopes the selva is developed in a continuous sea of 

 verdure interrupted only by the watercourses ; but on the upland forests it becomes 

 rarer and more open. Here most of the surface is occupied with terraced campos 

 (savannas), where arborescent vegetation is represented only by isolated clumps, 

 or caUngas, that is, groves and thickets interrupted by numerous clearings. In 

 the more fertile regions these catingas present the aspect of pleasant parklands, 

 while elsewhere they have a wretched appearance, compared by the white settlers 

 to neglected orchards. 



The slopes descending from the sparsely-wooded plateaux to the leafy forest 

 tracts are clothed with a tall herbaceous vegetation. Here certain southern species 

 already indicate the transition between the Amazons and Plate basins. South of 

 the chapadoes the plateaux are overgrown with several varieties of the canella 

 de ema {^vellosia mariiima), an extremely picturesque plant with terminal clusters 

 of lovely white flowers protected by pendent fibres like the leaves of weeping 

 willows. 



The waters of the Tocantins are frequented by three species of caymans as well 

 as by dolphins. Its upper afiluents are said to be inhabited by the minhoceo, a 

 prodigious species of lepidosiren, resembling a huge worm, and big enough to 

 drag down and drown large animals. The so-called " ostriches " of Argentina 

 range as far as South Goyaz. 



Inhabitants. 



Although their name is perpetuated in that of the region traversed by the 

 Tocantins, the Goyaz or Guayaz Indians are extinct as a separate nation, and 

 their descendants are now merged with tribes of a diiïerent origin. At present 

 the most important indigenous people are the Cayapos, who are met also under 

 other names in Matto Grosso and S. Paulo. In Goyaz, where they are said 

 to number about 12,000, they live mostly apart from the settlements in the 

 western mountains between the Araguaya and the Xingu rivers, and in the north- 

 east on the borders of the State of Maranhao. 



According to their language and usages, the Cayapos must be grouped with 

 the widespread Ges family, so named by Martius from the final syllable of most 

 of the tribal denominations. But the shape of the head, which is highly brachy- 

 cephalic, differs from that of all other members of the Ges connection. They are 

 also distinguished by an extremely marked Mongoloid type. Like the kindred 

 Botocudos, the Cayapos wear the bofoque or wooden disc in the lower lip. But 

 they are much more industrious than the Botocudos, and display great skill in the 

 preparation of arms, instruments, and various other objects. 



Other Indians of the same race, known to the Brazilians by the name of 

 Chavantes, dwell in the Araguaya basin, and especially in the region traversed 



