AND AMONG THE BOTOCUDOS. 



323 



they kept up a constant communication between both banks, as they 

 usually do when the river is low. On the 28th Captain Jeparack 

 again came with a company of his people : this time too they had 

 long poles, and enquired for Captain Gipakeiu, but again in vain : 

 as they, however, constantly remained in the neighbourhood, they at 

 length found an opportunity of gratifying their desire of fighting. 

 Captain June, with his three grown-up sons, and the rest of his men, 

 who sided with Captain Gipakeiu, had accepted the challenge. 



One Sunday morning, when the weather was most beautifully 

 serene, we saw all the Botocudos of the Quartel, some with their 

 faces painted black, and others red, suddenly break up, and wade 

 through the river to the north bank, all with bundles of poles on 

 their shoulders. Soon afterwards Captain June, with his people, 

 came out of the wood, where a number of women and children had 

 sought refuge in some large huts. Scarcely had the news of the 

 approaching combat become known in the Quartel, when a crowd 

 of spectators, among whom were the soldiers, an ecclesiastic from 

 Minas, and several strangers, whom I also joined, hastened over to 

 the field of battle. Each took for his security a pistol or a knife 

 under his coat, in case the combat should be turned against us. 



When we landed on the opposite bank, we found all the savages 

 standing close together, and formed a half circle about them. The 

 combat was just beginning. First, the warriors of both parties 

 uttered short rough tones of defian-ce to each other, walked sullenly 

 round one another like angry dogs, at the same time making ready 

 their poles. Captain Jeparack then came forward, walked about 

 between the men, looked gloomily and directly before him, with wide 

 staring eyes, and sung, with a tremulous voice, a long song, which 

 probably described the aflPront that he had received. In this manner 

 the adverse parties became more and more inflamed : suddenly, two 

 of them advanced, and pushed one another with the arm on the 



