210 



PROVINCE OF MATTO GROSSO. 



use when they carry the bow and arrow. They also use the la9o in their hunt- 

 ing excursions. 



A year does not elapse without their undertakmg campaigns against, and 

 making prisoners of the Guatos, Cayapos, Bororos, Xiquitos, Chamococos, (the 

 two last are of the province of St. Cruz de la Sierra,) Guaxis, who dwell about 

 the heads of the Aranhahy, Coroas, Caiavabas, Guannas, and other tribes. 

 The Guannas are the most numerous, and amongst them alone is remarked 

 the cultivation of some hortulans and cotton trees. 



They content themselves with one wife ; but the law is free to both parties 

 to effect a separation, and contract a new alliance, when one is disgusted with 

 the other ; such separations, however, are very rare. The ceremony of marriage 

 consists in a plentiful banquet, accompanied with a rude dance. 



They have a general cemetery, which is a large open structure covered with 

 mats, where each family has a part staked off for its use. Above the sepulchres 

 of the men are deposited their bows, arrows, and other arms. Those of dis- 

 tinguished warriors are decked with ornaments. Rich young females are deco- 

 rated as if for the bridal day. They have no religion; and, in place of doctors 

 or surgeons, there are certain persons denominated Unigenitos, Mvho are pre- 

 tended diviners and superstitious imposters, absolutely destitute of that know- 

 ledge of medicine or cure of diseases, which belongs to other savages less dis- 

 tinguished. They cure their patients by smoking or sucking the part affected, 

 and expectorating into a grave ; they do not prescribe any beverages. 



They believe in a creator of all, but to whom they pay no kind of homage, 

 nor have recourse upon any urgent occasions; and also an inferior spirit, 

 endowed with the knowledge of futurity, whom they denominate Nanigogigo. 

 They admit the immortality of the soul ; but it would appear, they have no idea 

 of future recompenses being proportioned to the conduct of life ; they imagine 

 that the souls of the captains and unigenitos are in a state of enjoyment after 

 death, and that those of the people wander about the cemetery. 



The unigenitos acquire most credit by their pretended familiarity with the 

 Nanigogigo, for which the people consider them privileged. The macauhan is a 

 bird which produces much auguration amongst the Guaycurus, when its notes 

 are unintelligible to them ; upon such occasions the subsequent night is a sea- 

 son of inconvenience and labour to the unigenitos, who occupy themselves 

 alternately in lamentable singings, or in imitating the notes of various birds, 

 shaking at the same time a calabash with little stones in it, and in calling upon 

 the Nanigogigo to interpret the mysterious song of the bird. They practise the 



