PROVINCE OF RIO DE JANEIRO. 



107 



Upon the Parahiba, between the town of St. Salvador and the mouth of the 

 river Muriahe, the parish of St. Antonio occupies a delightful situation. It 

 was founded for the habitation of a horde of Indian Garulhos, who have insen- 

 sibly disappeared. Its district is extensive, and abounds with sugar-works. 



Thirty miles above the town of St. Salvador, and two below the last fall of 

 the Parahiba, the aldeia or village of St. Fidelis, is agreeably and secludedly 

 situated. It is an Indian parish, and was founded by three padres, one of whom, 

 two years ago, was still living, and had the whole management of this establish- 

 nient. A French gentleman, who was shipwrecked at the mouth of the Parahiba, 

 proceeded through the Campos as far as this Indian village. He informed me, 

 that, on leaving the plains cultivated with the plantations of the sugar-cane, 

 he had to traverse a thick wood, rendered more difficult to penetrate by the 

 wild grass and almost impervious underwood at the bottom of the higher trees. 

 After a laborious march of five hours, this gentleman reached the aldeia, which 

 consisted of a stone church, decorated with saints and much finery. It was 

 fronted by the padre's house at no great distance ; both sides of this space 

 were occupied by the huts of the Indians, over whom, from the imposing show 

 of religious ceremony, and occasional personal chastisement, the padre had 

 acquired a perfect command. Part of the Indians were employed in his house 

 for domestic purposes ; others in the cultivation of the necessaries of life ; some 

 were occupied in fishing in the Parahiba ; and others, of proved fidelity, in 

 shooting game in the surrounding woods ; and thus subsistence was procured 

 for the establishment. The domestic arrangement, however, of this priest was 

 truly miserable. 



The savage Indians frequently carry off by force some of their Christianized 

 brethren, and display an inveterate antipathy to civilization. The tribes on the 

 northern bank of the Parahiba, bordering upon the Portuguese establishments^; 

 are considered much more cruel than those on the southern, and have afforded 

 various and recent proofs of cannibalism. On some occasions they lie in 

 ambush near pathways, and, with their arrows, pierce the stranger to the 

 heart, and feast upon his body. A proprietor of a sugar-work was carried off 

 about three years ago, and devoured by them ; and since that time three or four 

 negroes have shared the same fate. They are addicted to plunder, and commit 

 at times great devastation amongst the sugar-plantations, advancing in bodies 

 of fifty or sixty from the woods, and cutting down the canes, which they carry 

 off to their retreats. They are great cowards ; and, on those appointed to keep 

 watch giving the alarm of the approach of a single individual, they fly precipitately. 



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