TRAVELS IN BRAZIL. 



recovered from the surprise occasioned by our ap- 

 pearance, when she hastened with all speed back 

 to her hut. We observed that on the information 

 given by her of our arrival, most of the Indians 

 threw themselves into their hammocks, or hid 

 themselves in their huts, and some others fled into 

 the neighbouring wood. 



When we reached the huts, no female was to be 

 seen, except a few old women ; the men lay silent, 

 motionless, and with their backs turned to us, in 

 their hammocks. Our rnilitary guide went first 

 into their habitations, saluted the savages, and 

 gave them to understand, as well as his knowledge 

 of their language would permit, that we had come 

 from a very distant country to visit them, and to 

 employ ourselves in collecting birds, butterflies, 

 and plants. This declaration seemed to make but 

 little impression upon them, they swung, as before, 

 silent in their hammocks, and looked at us only by 

 stealth. Even good words and presents had no 

 effect upon them ; on our asking for a draught of 

 w^ater, one of them turned his head, and pouting 

 out his mouth, and with gestures indicating im- 

 patience, pointed to the neighbouring stream. 



During this mute intercourse, we had time to 

 observe the domestic arrangement of this people. 

 Their huts were built upon the bare ground, sup- 

 ported by four corner posts, twelve or fifteen feet 

 high, and were from thirty to forty feet long. 

 The walls made of thin laths connected by wicker- 



VOL. II. Q 



