AND AMOXG THE BOTOCUDOS. 



325 



defiance. Captain Jeparack, as the principal person of the offended 

 party, held out to the last ; all seemed fatigued and exhausted, when 

 he, not yet disposed to make peace, continued to sing his tremulous 

 song, and encouraged his people to renew the combat, till we went 

 up to him, clapped him on the shoulder, and told him that he was a 

 valiant warrior, but that it was now time to make peace ; upon which he 

 at length suddenly quitted the field, and went over to the Quartel. 

 Captain June had not shewn so much energy ; being an old man, he 

 had taken no part in the combat, but constantly remained in the 

 back-ground. 



All of us then left the field of battle, which was covered with ear- 

 plugs and broken poles, and returned to the Quartel ; where we found 

 our old acquaintance Jukeracke, Medcann, Aho, and others, sadly 

 covered with bruises ; but they showed to what a degree man can 

 hardeniiiimself, for none of them paid any regard to his swollen 

 limbs ; but they sat or lay down on their open wounds, and ate with a 

 hearty appetite the flour which the commandant gave them. The 

 bows and arrows of all these savages had stood, during the whole 

 combat, leaning against the neighbouring trees, without their touching 

 them ; but it is said sometimes to have happened, on similar occa- 

 sions, that they have thrown aside the poles, and taken to their arms, 

 for which reason the Portuguese do not much like to have such 

 combats in their neighbourhood. It was not till some time afterwards 

 that I heard the cause of the combat, of which we had been specta- 

 tors. Captain June, with his people, had been hunting on the south 

 bank of the river, in the grounds of Jeparack, and killed some wild 

 swine. This was considered by the latter as a great insult ; for the 

 Botocudos always observe, more or less strictly, the boundaries of a 

 certain hunting-district, beyond which they are in general careful not 

 to trespass : such ofi^ences are the usual occasions of their quarrels 

 and wars. Only one combat similar to that here described had ever 



