88 THE AMAZON AXD MADEIRA RIVERS. 
ciiseura by the Iiidiau8 of Bolma, iiml turuiy* by those of the Amazon. 
Its cut is as simple ami classical as its material. A hole is cut iu the 
middle of a piece about 10 feet long, to i^ass the head through; aud 
the depending skirt is sewu together on both sides, from below up to 
the height of the gii-dle, which usually is a piece of cotton string or 
liana. 
Another branch of industry our Indians were busy at, in their hours 
of leisure, was the fabrication of straAV hats, with the young leaves of a 
kind of little palm, the same which supplies the excellent hats imported 
from Ecuador and Peru, and known in Europe under the name of Chile 
or Panamti hats. Dexterity at all sorts of wickorAVork seems to be innate 
to this race ; and the prettiest little baskets, aud the finest mats of coloured 
palm leaves, are to be bought on the Missions of thcMamord at the loAvest 
prices.! 
Put all these occupations are left at the call of the fii-st-raate ; who 
has the proud title of Capitano. The boats’ crews crowd round their 
pots ; each one receives his allotted portion in a calabash or a basin of 
horn; and their sj)oons of the same material are soon in fidl activity. If 
a jacare has lately beeu shot, or caught in a laco (sling), CA^cry one, after 
roasting his own piece of it on the spit, luocccds to cut at the large slices 
of the white meat (Avhich, though iu appearance like fish, is as tough as 
India-rubber) Avith the satisfaction usually produced by three or four hours 
of hard roAving on view of anytliiug eatable. One tribe especially, the 
Caniehanas, from the former Mission of San Pedro at the Mamore, think 
roast caiman the finest eating in thoAimrld; Avdiile others, the Cay n abas 
IVom Exaltacion, and the Mojos, from Trinidad, Avhosc palates are somo- 
Avhat more refined, prefer beef, fish, or turtle to the inusk-exhaliug 
saurian. Notably the turtles, Avhich arc not found ou the Guapord and 
Mamore (they arc not met Avith above the rapids of the Madeira) arc 
prized by them, though ive grcAV rather tired of them, and no wonder. 
Ou the loAver Madefra, at our tires, there Avas almost daily going on the 
cooking of turtles, of all sizes, from the full-grown one of a yard in 
length to the smallest of the size of a hand ; and iu every variety of 
preparation too — A\diole, and chopped up as for soup ; stcAved ; and 
roasted iu their OAvn shell or on the spit. 
*■ Curafari le<jdin, Martins. 
. t -It Itio de Janeiro a Pamiimi, lint costs twenty and more dollars ; in Holiviii ulioiit 
live or six. 
