PROVINCE OF RIO DE JANEIRO. 



109 



niacuco, (which sits upon trees during the night,) they immediately rise, and, 

 although it rains, they go and bathe in the nearest torrent or lake ; for which 

 purpose a signal is made by the sound of an instrument formed of a cane. 



Their marriage ceremonies consist of a species of banquet, at which all the 

 inhabitants of the aldeia assemble ; and generally the whole party become 

 intoxicated. Immediately on being sensible of the approach of labour, the 

 women retire into a wood, where they become mothers without any assistance 

 whatever, and return with their infants, already covered with the j uice of certain 

 herbs, to render them less susceptible of cold. 



These natives inter their dead in a sitting posture. Formerly the cemeteries 

 of their caciques, or captains, consisted of cylindrical earthen vases, denomi- 

 nated cammucis ; some of which have been recently found, containing bones. 



These Indians use the bow and arrow only. The arrow is a species of cane, 

 with a point of peculiarly hard wood, exposed to the fire till it acquires the 

 greatest degree of consistency ; some, intended for large animals, are formed 

 at the point like a sword ; others triangular and quadrangular, 



A man who returns to the house after an absence of many days does not 

 say a single word, in compliment, to his family, nor do they receive him in any 

 other manner than if he had only been to fetch water from the fountain. 



In 1814 the parish of Santissimo Sacramento was created a town, with the 

 name of St. Pedro de Canta Gallo. Its civil government is conducted by two 

 ordinary judges, three magistrates, and various minor officers. It is a middling 

 town, traversed by a current of good water, which flows to the river Macuco. 

 Its inhabitants, and those of its extensive district, prefer agriculture to mining, 

 and they cultivate the usual necessaries of life belonging to the country. 



In this district is the parish of St. Joze de Leonissa, upon the Parahiba, in 

 front of the embouchure of the river Pomba, was created a parish in 1812, and 

 is 2i povoacao, abounding with fish and all the necessaries of life. Its inhabitants 

 are yet almost all Indians. 



Between the rivers Pomba and Parahiba, about six miles distant from the 

 angle of their confluence, the parish of St. Antonio de Padua was erected, in 

 1812, in a district well adapted to the culture of various branches of agriculture. 



The dwellers of the northern margin of the Parahiba are diocesans of Rio 

 de Janeiro. 



