228 



TRAVELS IN BRAZIL. 



others, strings of red and black seeds, (of Canna 

 glauca, Abrus precatorius and Ormosia coccinea. 

 Jacks.) or of monkeys' or ounces' teeth. The 

 little children are carried about hy their mothers, 

 fastened to their backs. Even these infants were 

 already ornamented with red and dark blue stripes 

 and spots, particularly in the face, for the ten- 

 derness of the mothers exercises itself in this 

 painting* as soon as they awake from sleep. The 

 Indians of this district, however, like most of the 

 tribes in the south of Brazil, generally use only 

 colours that may be taken off again, and the 

 custom of tatooing is of more frequent occurrence 

 among the people on the river of the Amazons. 



After we had treated our silent hosts with va- 

 rious presents, which were received without any 

 expression of gratitude, we returned to the fa- 

 zenda, to fetch our arms and mules. Some of the In- 

 dians, tempted by the presents, followed us thither, 

 and were again regaled with brandy and maize- 

 flour. Among them was an old Indian, who was 

 distinguished by a pretty thick beard, accompanied 



* The Indians dye black with the fruit of the Genipapo 

 (Genipa americana) ; bluish black with a hitherto nondescript 

 Cissus : Hnctoria, caule articulato subtetragono, Jbliis ovatis 

 cordatis subquinqueangularibus acutis remote mucronato-serratis 

 utrinque glabriusculis, pedunculis axillaribus solitariis umbel- 

 liferis, umbellce radiis quatuor ad sex dichotomis ; red with 

 the seeds of the Urucd plant {Bixa Orellana), or with red 

 ferruginous lithomarge, of which there are layers on the sides 

 of the rivers. 



