TO CARAVELLAS, &C. 



205 



thus made to project very much, and the ears of some of them hang 

 like large wings down to their shoulders : their brown bodies were 

 covered with dirt. They were already very familiar with the ouvklor, 

 who had them always in the room with him, in order to gain their 

 confidence more and more. He had some persons who spoke the 

 Botocudo language, and let us hear some specimens of their singing, 

 which resembles an inarticulate howling. Most of these young In- 

 dians had lately had the small-pox : they were still covered all over 

 with marks and scars, which, as their bodies were emaciated by the 

 disease, considerably increased their natural ugliness. 



The small-pox, which was introduced into these parts by the Eu- 

 ropeans, is extremely fatal to the Indians ; many of their tribes have 

 been wholly exterminated by it. Several of the attendants of the 

 ouvidor had died at Caravellas ; but most of them had recovered, and 

 as I was assured, by means of brandy, which was given them in large 

 quantities. The savages are exceedingly afraid of this disorder. A 

 shocking story was told me of the cruelty of a certain planter. In 

 order to revenge himself on the Tapuyas his neighbours and enemies, 

 he is said to have laid in the woods clothes which had been worn by 

 persons who had died of the small-pox, and many of these savages 

 are reported to have perished miserably in consequence of this in- 

 human proceeding. 



When the ouvidor set out for the Mucuri, we embarked, in order 

 first to visit Caravellas and the river Alcobafa, The boat glided 

 down between the beautiful green banks of the Peruipe, and where 

 the river falls into the sea to the east, turned into a broad arm, which 

 communicates with the Caravellas. Near the Villa are tall cocoa- 

 palms, which give the landscape a beautiful and original character. 

 The milk or water which is in the fruit, is very flat and ill-tasted in 

 the old nuts that are brought to Europe ; but here they are gathered 

 before they are quite ripe, and then this liquor has an agreeable 



