300 
TRAVELS ON THE RlO NEGRO. 
\June^ 
offered me, and pronouncing it to be “ purangarete ’ 
(excellent). We then said ‘‘Ere’' (adieu), and groped 
our way down the rough path to our river-side house, to 
be sung to sleep by the hoarse murmur of the cataract. 
The next morning the dance was still going on, but, as 
the caxiri was nearly finished, it terminated about nine 
o’clock, and the various guests took their leave. 
During the dance, Bernardo, an Indian of Sao Jero- 
nymo, arrived from the Rio Apaporis. Senhor L. had 
sent a message to him by his son (who had come with 
us) to procure some Indian boys and girls for him, and 
he now came to talk over the business. The procuring, 
consists in making an attack on some malocca of another 
nation, and taking prisoner all that do not escape or are 
not killed. Senhor L. has frequently been on these ex- 
peditions, and has had some narrow escapes from lances 
and poisoned arrows. At Ananarapicoma there was an 
Indian dreadfully scarred all over one shoulder and part 
of his back, the effects of a discharge of B.B. shot which 
Senhor L. had given him, just as he was in the act of 
turning with his bow and arrow : they are now excellent 
friends, and do business together. The “ negociantes” and 
authorities in Barra and Para, ask the traders among the 
Indians to procure a boy or girl for them, well knowing 
the only manner in which they can be obtained ; in fact 
the Government in some degree authorize the practice 
There is something to be said too in its favour, for the 
Indians make war on each other,- — principally the natives 
of the margin of the river, on those in the more distant 
igaripes, — for the sake of their weapons and ornaments, 
and for revenge of any injury, real or imaginary, and then 
