222 



STAY AT MORRO d'aRARA, 



to it, which is always accompanied by clapping of hands ; this clap- 

 ping was repeated by the savages on the other side of the lagoa. 

 The ouvidor, who on all occasions took much pains to gain the 

 savages, made frequent endeavours, while we were here, to entice 

 them, and called out to them : Scliamanih ! (comrade) or Capitam 

 Ney (great chief), &c. but all his endeavours were vain; though our 

 Indians, whom we sent out on the watch, frequently perceived by the 

 footsteps of the savages, that they had approached the abatis in 

 the night, and reconnoitred our encampment on all sides. As we 

 ourselves expected one evening to be suddenly attacked, because our 

 dogs were uncommonly uneasy, we were always on our guard, and 

 those who had to fetch water, collect fuel, or do any thing else in 

 the forest, always took care to be well armed. 



Our collections received large additions, particularly of quadrupeds, 

 at Morro d'Arara, by means of our jmmdeos. The Indians are ex- 

 tremely clever in making these traps. For this purpose they choose, 

 in preference, a spot near the bank of a river in the forest. They 

 erect here a long fence of green boughs, which is placed at right 

 angles to the bank, and must be from two feet and a half to three 

 feet high. Every fifteen or twenty paces, a small opening is left, on 

 which three long heavy pieces of wood are set up obliquely, propped 

 up by several small pieces. The small animals, as they go backward 

 and forward according to their custom, on the bank of the river, 

 seek a passage through, and finding the opening in the hedge, tread 

 upon the foundation which is composed of twigs woven together ; the 

 heavy pieces of wood fall down and kill the animal. It is usual to 

 make thirty, forty, or more of these traps in a line, and game is 

 caught in them daily. Frequently, and especially in dark nights, we 

 found five, six, or more animals at one time. It is however necessary 

 to examine the traps once or twice every day ; because in the great 

 heat, the game caught is soon spoiled or fly-blown. 



