74 TRAVELS IN BUAZIL. 



slavery is so distinctly marked, as among them. 

 Captivity and birth are the two causes which con- 

 demn an individual to slavery. Both of these 

 imply a certain difference of caste, which is main- 

 tained with great rigour. The slave or his de- 

 scendant can never contract a marriage with a free 

 person, because he would profane it by such a 

 union. He is condemned to menial occupations," 

 and is not allowed to accompany his master in 

 war. We were informed that among the Guay- 

 curus, there is no means by which their slaves can 

 be made free. The great superiority of the nation 

 over most of their neighbours, has induced many 

 of the latter voluntarily to become their vassals. 

 Thus there are among them Indians of the nations 

 of the Goaxis, Guanas, Guatos, Gayvabas, Bororos, 

 Ooroas Cayapos, Xiquitos, and Xamococos ; for 

 they are constantly at variance with all these dif- 

 ferent tribes, and almost always conquer them, 

 because the possession of horses likewise gives 

 them a great superiority. In former times, they 

 made prisoners only of the youthful portion of 

 their enemies, massacreing all the adults ; but 

 their manners have now become milder in this re- 

 spect. They, however, never were cannibals, and 

 the greater part of the tribe which dwells on the 

 eastern banks of the Paraguay, has been, since 

 the year 1791, in alliance with the Portuguese, 

 whose friendship they sought by an embassy, and 

 which is also secured to them by written* con 



