32 



Prime Maxim'iliarCs 



ments of these parts being inhabited by Indians. They have here 

 a capitom mor (commandant or mayor) of their own nation, dis- 

 tinguished, however, only by his title. Besides the priest, there 

 are but few Portuguese here. The Indians have, for the most 

 part, retained their characteristic features, but their dress and 

 language are the same as of the lower classes among the Portii- 

 guese ; their ancient language being only known to few of them. 

 Their ambition or vanity makes them eager to pass for Portu- 

 guese, and they look with contempt on their ruder brethren in the 

 forest, whom they call Caboclos or Tapuyas. Their women wear 

 their black hair in the Portuguese fashion, tied in a knot above 

 their heads. 



The sleeping hammocks of the family are suspended in the cor- 

 ners of their cottages. We also found among them many earthen 

 vessels, made of a grey-coloured clay. The men are good sports- 

 men, and well practised in shooting with fire-arms ; the boys will 

 shoot very well with small bows, made of any wood, and here call- 

 ed hodoc. These bows have two strings, which are kept asunder 

 by a couple of short pieces of wood ; in the middle the two strings 

 are united by a sort of net work, upon which the clay bullet or the 

 small round stone (pelotts) is laid. The string and ball are drawn 

 back at the same time with the fore-finger of the right hand, 

 which, being suddenly withdrawn, an impulse is given to the lat- 

 ter. These bows are in use all along this coast, and on the Rio- 

 Doce, they are even used by the men, to defend themselves against 

 the Botocudi, who have fire-arms. They are very adroit in the 

 use of them, and can kill a small bird, or even a butterfly, on the 

 flower, as M. de Langsdorf reports, at a considerable distance. 



One of the causes of the little cultivation, and indifferent cha- 

 racter of these Indians, may be traced to the bad treatment which 

 they formerly experienced from the Europeans, who scarcely con- 

 sider them as men, and connected with the names of Caboclos and 

 TapuyaSy entertain the notion of beings merely made to undergo 

 oppression and tyraimy. They still evince a propensity for an 

 unrestrained life ; they are addicted to strong liquors, and averse 

 to labour— not very punctual in keeping their word, and with 

 none, or very few, distinguished to illustrate their character. 

 They are, however, not deficient in their intellectual faculties, but 

 easily comprehend what they are taught, not without indications of 

 art and cunning. An unrelenting pride and a prevaihng predi- 

 liction for their forests, seem to be impressed on their temperament. 

 Many of them are yet attached to their old prejudices, and the 

 clergy complain of their being bad christians. They ai'e admis- 

 sible to holy orders, but few as yet have taken them. One indi- 

 vidual of the more savage tribes, who had officiated with general 

 respect, for several years, as priest in Minas Geroes, suddenly ab- 

 sconded from his parish, and it was found that he had returned 



