348 
TRAVELS ON THE RIO NEGRO. 
\March, 
! 1 
with two narrow boards, clumsily inserted, rather than | 
be exposed to more delay. i 
There was a large malocca here, and a considerable p 
very tastefully in diamonds and circles, with red, yel- 
low, white, and black. On the rocks were a series of 
strange figures, of which I took a sketch. The Indians 
were of the ‘‘ Ananas or Pine-apple tribe ; I bought r 
some dresses and feather ornaments of them ; and fish, 
mandiocca-cakes, etc., were brought me in considerable [ 
quantities, the articles most coveted in return being fish- 
stock. Just below the fall, the river is not more than 
two or three hundred yards wide ; while above, it is 
half a mile, and contains several large islands. 
The large black pacu was abundant here, and, with j 
other small fish, was generally brought us in sufficient 
quantity to prevent our recurring to fowls, which are j 
considered by the traders to be the most ordinary fare a ? 
man can live on. I now ate for the first time the cu- 
^rious river- weed,^ called caruru, that grows on the rocks. 
We tried it as a salad, and also boiled with fish; and 
both ways it was excellent ; — boiled, it much resembled 
Here, too, I first saw and heard the “ Juripari,” or j: 
Devil-music of the Indians. One evening there was 
a caxiri- drinking ; and a little before dusk, a sound as j 
of trombones and bassoons was heard coming on the ^ 
river towards the village, and presently appeared eight " ! 
Indians, each playing on a great bassoon-looking instru- ^ | 
ment. They had four pairs, of different sizes, and pro- ; 
number of houses. The front of the malocca was painted ^ 
i 
spinach. 
/ 
