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STAY AT VILLA DE ST. SALVADOll, 



a principal trait in the character of these savages. This is a necessary 

 consequence of their mode of hfe ; for it is the same that makes the 

 hon and the tiger thirst for blood. Next to this, revenge, a certain 

 degree of jealousy, with an unconquerable love of freedom and of a 

 roving life, particularly characterise these people. They have in general 

 several wives ; many even four or five, when they can maintain them. 

 Upon the whole they do not treat them ill, but the husband considers 

 the wife as his property ; she must do w hat he commands ; and is 

 therefore loaded like a beast of burden, while he walks at her side 

 with his weapons only in his hand. 



The language of the Puris is different f]-om that of most of the 

 other tribes ; but it has an affinity with those of the Coroados and 

 Coropos. Some writers, among whom is Azara, are disposed to deny 

 these American tribes all religious ideas ; but there seems to be the 

 less foundation for this assertion, smce this author himself communi- 

 cates notions entertained by some of his Indians from Paraguay, 

 which are certainly derived from a still rude religion. Among all 

 the tribes of the Tapuyas that I visited, I found evident proofs of a 

 religious belief prevailing among them ; and I am therefore fully 

 convinced that there is not a single nation on the face of the earth 

 entirely destitute of religious ideas. The savages of Brazil believe 

 in various powerful beings, the mightiest of whom they recognise in 

 the thunder by the name of Tupa or Tupan. Many tribes agree in 

 the appellation of this supernatural being ; nay, even some of the 

 Tapuyas coincide with the Tupi tribes, or the Indians who speak the 

 lingoa geral. The Puris give him the name of Tupan, which Azara 

 adduces from the language of the Guaranis ; another proof of the 

 affinity of that nation with the tribes of the east coast. No idols 

 are to be seen among the Tapuyas, not even the maracas, or magic 

 protecting apparatus of the Tupinambas. On the river of the Ama- 

 zons alone, certain images are said to have been found which seemed 



