AND VISIT TO THE PUKIS AT ST. FIDELIS. 



109 



St. Fidelis they at present behave peaceably, but higher up the river 

 at Aldea da Pedra they were very recently at war with the Coroados. 



Minas Geraes is in reality the head-quarters of these two tribes, 

 but they extend to this part of the country along the Paraiba and 

 the sea-coast. On the right or south bank dwell the Coroados, and 

 at St. Fidelis also some Coropos, who are now all civilized, that is to 

 say, settled. Their district extends along the south bank of the 

 Paraiba, up to the Rio Pomba ; there, on the left bank of this latter 

 river, they are still indeed in their savage state, but yet build better 

 huts than the Puris, with whom they are at war, and by whom they 

 are said to be feared. Mr. Freyreiss had visited them on his former 

 journey to Minas, and found them not entirely savage, but in a ruder 

 state than their brethren on the Paraiba. These Indians, as I have 

 said, are now almost all settled ; that is, the Coropos entirely, and the 

 Coroados for the most part ; but they have scarcely begun to lay 

 aside their savage manners and customs ; for only a month before our 

 arrival, the latter at Aldea da Pedra, in one of their expeditions, had 

 shot a Puri, and made great rejoicings on that occasion for several 

 successive days. Yet these three tribes were originally related to each 

 other, as is attested by the similarity of their languages*. They cul- 

 tivate mandiocca, maize, gourds, &c. They are hunters from their 

 infancy, and skilful in the use of their strong bows and arrows. 



The day had scarcely dawned when we repaired to the huts built 

 by the missionaries for the Coroados and Coropos. We found these 

 people still very original, with dark-brown complexions, perfectly 

 national physiognomy, very strongly-marked features and coal-black 



* The Corografia says; the Coroados are descendants of the ancient Goaytacases, (vol. II. 

 p. 53.) but this is improbable, as the latter suffered their hair to grow long, and the Coro- 

 ados in former times derived their name from their custom of cutting it all off except a small 

 crown. 



