INDIANS OF THE UCAYALI. 



209 



little doubt that they are descendants of the Inca race. From the 

 extent of their territory, one might judge them to be the most numerous 

 body of savages in America ; but no estimate can be formed of their 

 numbers, as no one capable of making one ever ventures among them. 



The Cashibos, or Callisccas, are found principally on the Pachitea. 

 They also make war upon the invaders or visitors of their territory; but 

 they only venture to attack the Indians who visit their river, and who 

 often come to make war upon them and carry off their children. They 

 rarely trust themselves within gun-shot of the white man ; they are 

 bearded, and are said to be cannibals. A small tribe called Lorenzos 

 live above these on the head waters of the Pachitea and banks of the 

 river of Pozuzu. 



The Sends occupy the country above Sarayacu, and on the opposite 

 side of the river. They are said by Lieutenant Smyth, from information 

 supplied by Father Plaza, (the missionary governor, succeeded in his 

 office by my friends,) who had visited them, to be a numerous, bold, and 

 warlike tribe. He said that some whom he saw at Sarayacu exhibited 

 much interest in his astronomical observations. They had names for 

 some of the fixed stars and planets, two of which struck me as peculiarly 

 appropriate. They called the brilliant Canopus " Noteste," or thing of 

 the day, and the fiery Mars " Tapa," (forward ;) Jupiter they called 

 Ishmawooh; Capella was Cuchara^ or spoon ; and the Southern Cross 

 Nebo, (dew-fall.) I saw some of these people at Sarayacu. They 

 frequently come to the Mission to get their children baptized, to which 

 ceremony most of the Indians seem to attach some virtue, (as they 

 probably would to any other ceremony,) and to purchase the iron 

 implements they may stand in need of ; but I saw no difference in 

 appearance between them and the other Indians of the Ucayali, and 

 did not hear that there was anything peculiar about them. 



Smyth also states (still quoting Father Plaza) that the Sencis are a 

 very industrious people, who cultivate the land in common, and that they 

 kill those who are idle and are indisposed to do their fair share of the 

 work. If this be true, they are very different from the savages of the 

 Ucayali whom I have met with, who are all drones, and who would be 

 rather disposed to kill the industrious than the lazy, if they were dis- 

 posed to kill at all, which I think they are not. 



The Conibos, Shipebos, Setebos, Pirros, Eemos, and Amajuacas a~e 

 the vagabonds of the Ucayali, wandering about from place to place, 

 and settling where they take a fancy. They are great boatmen and 

 fishermen, and are the people employed by the traders to gather sarsa- 

 parilla and salt fish, and make oil or lard from the fat of the vaca 

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