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ON THE ABORIGINES 



The Lingoa Geral is theTupi, an Indian language found in 

 the country by the Jesuits, and modified and extended by them 

 for use among all the tribes included in their missions. It is 

 now spread over all the interior of Brazil, and even extends 

 into Peru and Venezuela, as well as Bolivia and Paraguay, and 

 is the general vehicle of communication between the Brazilian 

 traders and the Indians. It is a simple and euphonious 

 language, and is often preferred by Europeans who get 

 thoroughly used to it. I knew a Frenchman who had been 

 twenty years in the Solimoes, who always conversed with his 

 wife and children in Lingoa Geral, and could speak it with 

 more ease than either French or Portuguese; and, in many 

 cases, I have seen Portuguese settlers whose children were 

 unable to speak any other language. 



I shall now proceed to give some account of the various 

 tribes that still exist, in all their native integrity, among the 

 trackless forests of the Purus, Rio Branco, Japura, and the 

 rivers Uaupes and Isanna, near the sources of the Rio Negro. 



As I am best acquainted with the Indians of the river 

 Uaupes, I shall first state all I know of them, and then point 

 out the particulars in which other nations differ from them. 

 The tribes which inhabit the Uaupes, as far as any of the 

 traders ascend, and of which I can get any information, are 

 the following : — 



Up the main stream, 



1. Queianas, at Sao Joaquim. 



2. Tarianas, about Sao Jeronymo. 



3. Ananas (Pine-apples), below Jauarit^. 



4. Cobeus, about Caruru caxoeira. 



5. Piraiuru (Fish's mouth). 



6. Pisa (Net). 



7. Carapana (Mosquito), Jurupuri caxoeira. 



8. Tapura (Tapir). 



9. Uaracil (a Fish), above Jukeira Parana. 



10. Cohidias. 



11. Tucundera (an Ant). 



12. Jacami (Trumpeter). 



13. Miriti (Mauritia Palm), Baccate Parana. 



14. Omauas. 



