ARRIVAL OF THE ROYAL FAMILY. 



29 



but there is one exists amongst them denominated the general lingua, which 

 is the Tupinamba. At this day many tribes retain the ancient custom of per- 

 forating their faces and using pieces of wood as ornaments. In contracting 

 marriages, the degree of relationship is not respected. Polygamy is admitted 

 amongst particular individuals only, in a very few nations. Divorcements are 

 generally very rare amongst them. They are acquainted with no liberal art, 

 and have a great antipathy to civilization. Thousands of instances have oc- 

 curred, in which they have preferred fleeing from it back again into the woods, 

 in pursuit of their former rude habits. The governor of one of the comarcas 

 of Minas Geraes related to me an instance of an Indian who, instructed in 

 the Catholic faith, had actually entered upon the functions of a priest, and 

 who, notwithstanding, was afterwards induced, from the natural bent of his 

 mind, to abscond and rejoin his uncivilized tribe. Their inherent indolence 

 is conspicuous, and they have but little consideration in life beyond the ac- 

 quirement of their daily sustenance. Frequent instances occur of their assassi- 

 nating some of the Portuguese, for whom they lie in ambush. The Portuguese 

 almost universally provide themselves with fire-arms, on traversing the districts 

 inhabited by the Indians, at which they are greatly terrified. Such as live 

 upon the banks of auriferous rivers or lands, and come in contact with the 

 Portuguese, will give pieces of gold for trifling articles of European manufac- 

 ture, particularly knives, the metal of which they consider of such value, that, 

 in sharpening them, they do not use a whetstone, but a piece of wood, in order 

 that the blade may experience as little diminution as possible by the operation. 

 Few Indians are seen in any of the seaport-towns of the Brazil. Some are 

 employed in the bay of Rio de Janeiro, rowing boats in the service of the 

 government. They appear to keep themselves quite distinct, and do not mix 

 with any other class of people. They are not tall, but their early occupation 

 of hunting has given to their limbs much strength and agility. A fine pro- 

 portion of form is their general characteristic, and they possess great muscular 

 powers. Their features are regular, and there is an universal resemblance be- 

 tween them and the various tribes. They are of a copper-colour, with strong, lank, 

 black hair, which is permitted to hang over their ears, necks, and foreheads, 

 adding something to the sombre aspect of their countenances, which are sad 

 even to an extreme. If they were capable of learning from history, and ap- 

 preciating with feelings of patriotism the force of such an event, it might - 

 naturally appear to be a dejection originating in the corroding idea of the con- 

 quest of their country by strangers ; but this apparent characteristic melancholy 



