296 
TRAVELS ON THE RIO NEGRO « 
[June) 
leg ornaments and calabaslies, and a chant of a few 
words repeated in a deep tone, producing a very martial 
and animated effect. At certain intervals the young- 
women joined in, each one taking her place between two 
men, whom she clasped with each arm round the waist, 
her head bending forward beneath the outstretched 
arm above, which, as the women were all of low stature, 
did not much interfere with their movements. They 
kept their places for one or two rounds, and then, at a 
signal of some sort, all left and retired to their seats on 
stools or on the ground, till the time should come for 
them again to take their places. The greater part of 
them wore the ‘‘tanga,” or small apron of beads, but 
some were perfectly naked. Several wore large cylindri- 
cal copper earrings, so polished as to appear like gold. 
These and the garters formed their only ornaments,— 
necklaces, bracelets, and feathers being entirely mono- 
polized by the men. The paint with which they deco- 
rate their whole bodies has a very neat effect, and gives 
them almost the appearance of being dressed, and 
such they seem to regard it ; and however much those \ 
who have not witnessed this strange scene may be dis- 
posed to differ from me, I must record my opinion that 
there is far more immodesty in the transparent and 
flesh-coloured garments of our stage- dancers, than in the 
perfect nudity of these daughters of the forest. 
In the open space outside the house, a party of young 
men and boys, who did not possess the full costume, n 
were dancing in the same manner. They soon however p, 
began what may be called the snake dance. They had M 
made two huge artificial snakes of twigs and bushes 
