216 



TRAVELS IN BRAZIL. 



step and necks contracted, looking sometimes to 

 the right and sometimes to the left ; the man went 

 first, carrying a bow and arrow in his left hand, 

 and had a bundle of arrows hanging over his 

 shoulders. The woman, with the older children 

 followed him, and carried on her back a basket 

 made of palm leaves, which was fastened by a band 

 to her forehead, and contained the domestic uten- 

 sils, their provisions, such as maize, mandiocca, 

 Spanish potatoes, an earthen pot, &c. Upon it 

 sat a httle child, a few months old, which had its 

 arms around its mother's neck. Scarcely had we 

 perceived each other, when they hurried into the 

 forest and disappeared. 



When we had reached the first fazenda in the 

 plain, we met with several of these Indians, some 

 with, and some without, weapons, who appeared to 

 live upon good terms with the mulattoes and ne- 

 groes here. We went up to them and saluted them 

 in a friendly manner ; they however turned aside 

 silent and distrustful, but at length accepted the 

 glass beads, knives, and other presents which were 

 offered them. Even the brown and black inhabit- 

 ants seemed not pleased with our arrival, so much 

 did they participate with the Indians in the savage- 

 ness and rudeness of the place. We therefore 

 found ourselves very uncomfortably situated in this 

 company, and passed a sleepless night, not without 

 apprehensions of a surprise, in a barn which did not 

 aflfbrd either us or our effects sufficient protection 



