AND AMONG THE BOTOCUDOS. 



After these had been removed, we found the pit filled with earth, from 

 which came some single bones. A young Botocudo, who had pointed 

 out the grave, loudly expressed his dissatisfaction when we reached the 

 bones ; the digging was therefore suspended, and we returned for that 

 day to the quartel : but I did not renounce the idea of more minutely 

 exploring this grave. 



Some days afterwards, I again repaired to the spot, in hopes of ac- 

 complishing my object before the return of the savages. We had pro- 

 vided ourselves, therefore, with a pick-axe, in addition to our fowling- 

 pieces. It was our intention to complete our examination as speedi- 

 ly as possible, but in the narrow serpentine path, between the lofty 

 trees, appeared many interesting birds, which detained us : we shot 

 some of them, and I was just about to pick one up, when I was sud- 

 denly surprised by the short, but harsh tone of a rough voice. I in- 

 stantly turned round, and lo ! close behind me were several Botocu- 

 dos ! naked, and brown like the beasts of the forest, they stood with 

 their great plugs of white wood in their ears and lower lips, and their 

 bows and arrows in their hands. My surprise, I confess, was not 

 small; had they been inimically disposed, I should have been pierced 

 by their arrows before I could have suspected they were near. As it 

 was, I advanced boldly towards them, and repeated what words I 

 knew of their language : they pressed me, after the manner of the 

 Portuguese, to their bosoms ; clapped me on the shoulder, and pro- 

 nounced in a loud tone, some harsh words ; but particularly on see- 

 ing my double-barrelled gun, they repeatedly exclaimed with asto- 

 nishment, pun imihd, (several guns). 



Some women laden with heavy sacks now came up one after ano- 

 ther, surveyed me with equal curiosity, and communicated their re- 

 marks to each other. Both men and women were entirely destitute 

 of clothing : the former were of the middle size, strong, muscular, 

 and well made, yet in general rather slender, but the great plugs of 



