258 



TRAVELS IN BRAZIL. 



by his wife. On these occasions he takes the 

 narrow, almost imperceptible foot-paths, or goes 

 directly across the forest. If the object of his 

 journey is distant, he breaks branches of the shrubs 

 as he goes along, which he leaves hanging, or 

 scatters in the path, in order the more easily to 

 find his way back. The man carries his arms in 

 his right hand, and a short knife, if he has been 

 able to obtain one, tied to a string round his 

 neck ; his wife follows empty-handed, or with a 

 bag, braided of strings, containing some provisions. 

 They walk through the thicket with their body 

 bent forwards, in short steps, constantly bending 

 and stooping, and look attentively to all sides. 

 At the least noise, they stand still or hide them 

 selves. If they observe a wild animal, the Indian 

 draws nearer with extreme caution, with his bow 

 bent, and at length discharges the arrow with un- 

 erring aim. The woman generally looks for the 

 game and the arrow in the bushes. Their arrows 

 are of different forms, according to the size of the 

 animal, and sometimes barbed ; we never saw any 

 poisoned arrows among these Indians. Birds, 

 which they desire to possess as domestic animals, 

 are caught by means of a noose fixed to the end 

 of a very long pole. The Indian steals cautiously 

 up or silently climbs the trees, and holds the noose 

 before the animals so long and so dexterously, that 

 it at length is taken in it. They were not ac- 

 quainted with the art of angling before the settle- 



