THE WILD INPIAX TRIBES OF THE MADEIRA VALI.EY. ICS 
different domestic animals, and how the Zulu Caffro, desjute his negro 
brutality, seems a Croesus with his fat herds, Avheu compeared Aidth the 
Indian who de2eeuds on liis luck in the chase, the primitive immobility of 
the latter is not so very incomprehensible, even if Ave altogether disregard 
the difference of race. 
The only animal fit to become domestic, of all the rich fauna of 
Southern America, is the tajnr; hut its habit of isolation may be a 
difficulty in its cultmition. 
The all-stifling luxuriance of tropical Afegetation, against AAdiich man 
is quite helj)lcss Avithout iron imidements, was, at least in the densely- 
Avooded A’^alleys of the Ama^ion and the Parana, and of the innumerable 
smaller affluents of the Atlantic, one of the chief obstacles in the way of 
development; and, if at the time of the Conquest the Indians of the 
Pampas also were on the same Ioav level as then- cousins of the AA'ooded 
regions, the reason must be sought in the afore-mentioned Avaut of 
domestic animals, which did not suffer them to live othenvise than by 
fishing or hunting, and the scantj'^ produce of their very primitive 
and limited agiiculture. The intermediate connecting link of cattle- 
breeding, that, since the introduction of Euroi)ean cattle, has acquired 
so high an importance in these countries, Avas then totally missing ; 
and Avithout it there was no j)Ossibility of getting on for a not very 
highly gifted race. 
The religious notions of all these nations cannot be A"ery exalted ; 
and, moreoA^er, it is an extremely difficult task to make them out. 
Besides the difficulties of the language and the dilfoi-ence of individual 
convictions, the Indians sometimes take a sort of malicious pleasure in 
Avilfully misleading troublesome questioners ; and the missionaries, both 
the old and the modem ones, who might hav'e been expected to pay 
special attention to this matter, have ahvuys ti’oated theii’ poor, childish 
rehgious fables Avith scorn and disdain. On the whole, it seems as if the 
Indians belonging to the great Tuj)i family had someAvhat better notions 
in this respect ; and part of the early sixceess of the missionaries was 
owing, perhaps, to their innate awe of a mysterious spiritual Avorld, and 
of the priests mediating between it and them. 
The Coroados, Avhom I have so frequently mentioned, though in many 
respects above other tribes, seenv to be almost void of religions feelings, 
cc'rtaiuly according to the judgment of oim good old friend Frei Timotheo 
do Gastello Novo, Director of the Aldeamento Sao Pedro d’ Alcantara. 
I 
