XIV 
LIST OF THE ENGRAVINGS. 
I 
of water, whose dark surface vividly re- 
flects the luxuriant vegetation, the native 
hunter harpoons the mighty pira-rucu. 
The Pira-ruc(j (Suras gigas). 
This giant of the rivers is signalised as 
much by its size (3 metres length) as by 
the brightness of its colour, each of the 
big silvery scales being edged by a scarlet 
line, whence its name, — pu’A, fish ; and 
rucu, or urucii, red ; especially the red 
dyeing-stuff of the Bixa Orellana. 
The Lamantin, or Peixe-roi (Makatus 
Americanus). 
This representative of the cetaceans 
sometimes reaches the length of 4 metres, 
and is found on the whole course of the 
Amazon, up to Peru : but its principal 
abode is not in the main river, but in 
the lake-like old courses beside it, which 
usually are densely covered with wild rice 
and a sort of long grass with blister-like 
knots, that serve to keep it afloat. 
Fishing with the Covo. 
The Mojos Indians of the Missions wait, 
at the edges of shoals or banks, for the 
periodic ascent (at spawning- time, and in 
dense swarms) of the fish up the rivers 
and rivulets ; when, by dexterous throwing 
of the covo (a sort of basket of heavy 
palm-wood, open below and at the top) 
they try to enclose a certain proportion 
of them, which they can readily take out 
at the opening above. 
Mojos Indian RETimNiNO from a Fishing 
Excursion. 
These rivers, with their ichthjmlogie 
treasures (which can, besides, be acquired 
in the shortest time at the right season) 
would at low water level, and at the right 
spots, below some fall or rapid, indeed 
make an angler's paradise. The largest of 
the victims that fell to our Mojos is the 
spotted Burubim or pintado, a species of 
siluris ; the one behind it is the tambaki ; 
while at the other end of the bamboo a 
brown and yellow-spotted ray drags its 
armed tail over the rocks, and a poixe- 
cachorro shows its needle-like teeth on the 
fisher’s left hand. The orchid with the 
long leaves climbing up the mimosa, to 
the left, is the vanilla. 
Head op Swimming Tapir, pursued by 
Dogs. 
The poor, hard-pursued pachyderm had 
reached the opposite shore, thanks to its 
quickness in swimming and diving, and in 
another moment would have escaped the 
furious curs, if a ball from the hunters, 
waiting in the canoe behind over-hanging 
boughs, had not reached it. The uplifted 
short trunk discloses tooth of respectable 
size ; but, on the whole, the clumsy animal 
is a harmless, good-natured creature, and 
little danger is incurred in hunting it. 
C.VRIPUNA Indians, with kidded Tapir. 
Under a dense screen of parasite 
creepers, blooming orchids, graceful ferns, 
and stiff bromelim, the tapir, pierced by 
several arrows, has broken down. The 
lucky hunter, a dark Caripiina, will cut it 
up, selecting the best pieces for himself; 
and his faithful companion will carry home 
the heavy load in her platter of palm- 
leaves. Her lord and master only carries 
the weapons, and of these just what he 
requires to be ready for shooting — a bow 
and two arrows. The remaining supply 
of them the humble wife has also to carry. 
Vignette : dead Parrot, Toucan, and 
Water-fowd ; an Indian Head-dress ; 
Bows AND Arrows. 
