360 



PROVINCE OF PERNAMBUCO. 



terior, the principal of whom were Tupinambas, and divided into numerous 

 tribes, were by degrees surrendering the country and allying themselves to the 

 conquerors, or retiring to the western districts. The latter were reduced about 

 the years 1802 and 1803. 



These Indians were divided into four nations, who have always exhibited the 

 most irreconcileable hatred to each other, and to this day preserve their ancient 

 animosity undiminished. They were distinguished by the appellations of 

 Pipipan, Choco, Uman, and VouvL The language of each differed in idiom, 

 but the general resemblance between them sufficiently demonstrated that they 

 sprung from the same origin. They occupied a wild and uncultivated tract of 

 country, of thirty square leagues, between the rivers Moxoto and Pajehu, near to 

 the serra of Ararippa, a country sterile and deficient ia water. All are wandering 

 tribes, ignorant of any kind of agriculture, and support themselves on wild fruits, 

 honey, and game ; a hog, a deer, or a bird are all dressed with the hair, 

 feathers, and intestines. The arms of the men are a bow and arrow, and they 

 go perfectly naked. The women cover themselves with a small and elastic net, 

 or with a deep fringe of thick thread much twisted, and made with consider- 

 able ingenuity. They inter their dead in a bent posture, having no instruments 

 to make a grave sufficiently large to admit of the body lying at full length. 

 They always bury under the most shady tree, preferring the ambuzo, if it be 

 found near the spot. Of all savage nations they are perhaps the most remark- 

 able for conjugal fidelity ; polygamy and adultery are unknown among them, 

 and the latter crime they abominate in their conquerors. 



All these savages received baptism ; and, after being formed into villages 

 and rendered rather more civilized, they began to cultivate the most necessary 

 provisions of life, as mandioca, Indian corn, gourds, and vegetables. But, 

 notwithstanding their apparent improvement, they still retained their wild and 

 savage propensities for hunting and general depredation : early accustomed to 

 live on plunder, they conceived they had a natural right to the property of each 

 other, and they frequently drove off and appropriated the sheep and oxen of 

 the neighbouring farmers. Independently of these savage propensities to a wild 

 and predatory life, their religious instructors gave them a very good character 

 for innocence of general manners, in which they were said to resemble the 

 primitive Christians. 



They suppose, froai the above circumstances, that the present race of 

 these Indians are descendants of some who, after having settled in the 

 villages and become Christians, had again returned to their native wilds ; and, 



