CHARACTERISTICS, 
131 
whicli gives them an exceedingly fantastic aspect, and 
makes the bead appear when seen from a distance, as if 
surrounded with a sort of aureole. The eyes ai-e rather 
yellow, but of a vivacity and brilliancy comparable to that 
of the eagle. The necessity of living by the chase, and 
of pursuing the prey without cessation, exercises this organ 
in a manner which gives it this remarkable Wvacity. The 
features of the Ajetas somewhat resemble (iimneni nn 
pew) those of the African blacks ; the lips, however, 
are less prominent. While still young they are neatly 
formed; but the life they lead in the woods, sleeping 
always in the open air without shelter, eating a large 
quantity one day and often nothing the next, and pro- 
longed fasts followed by repasts eaten with the gluttony 
of \\41d beasts, produce a large stomach and render the 
extremities meagre and lank. They wear no clothing, 
with the exception of a little belt of the bark of trees, 
eight or ten inches wide, which eneirelca the waist. 
"Their arms consist of a lance of bamboo, a bow of 
palm-wood, and poisoned arrows. They live upon i-oota, 
fruits, and the produce of the chase. They devour their 
meat almost raw, and live together in tribes consisting 
of fifty to sixty iniUvidaals. During the davj, the old 
people, the iniii'm, and the children, assemble around a 
large fire, while the others are hunting in the woods ; and 
when they obtain a prey that w^ill last for some days, they 
all remain around the fire. At night they all sleep pCde- 
miie among the ashes of the fire. It is extremely curious 
to see fifty of these creatures of all ages, and more or less 
deformed, thus collected together. The old women 
especially are hideous; their decrepit limbs, large 
