OF THE AMAZON. 
483 
men and women also eradicate the hair of the eyebrows, 
the arm-pits, and the private parts. The colour of the 
skin is a light, uniform, glossy reddish-brown. 
They are an agricultural people, having a permanent 
abode, and cultivating mandiocca {Jatrojjha MardJiot), 
sugar-cane {SaccJiarum qfficinarum), sweet potatoes {Con- 
volvulus Batatas), carra, or yam {Bioscorea sp.), pupunha 
palms {Guilielma specioso), cociira (a fruit like grapes), 
pine-apples {Ananassa sativo), maize {Zea Ma^s), urucu 
or arnotto {Bixa Orellana), plantains and bananas {Musa 
sp.), abios {Lucuma Caimito), cashews {Anacardium occi- 
dentale), ingas {Injja sp.), peppers {Capsicum sp.), tobacco 
{Nicotiana Tahacum), and plants for dyes and cordage. 
All, even in the most remote districts, have now iron 
axes and knives, though the stone axes which they for- 
merly used are still to be found among them. The men 
cut down the trees and brush-wood, which, after they 
have lain some months to dry, are burnt ; and the man- 
diocca is then planted by the women, together with little 
patches of cane, sweet potatoes, and various fruits. The 
women also dig up the mandiocca, and prepare from it 
the bread which is their main subsistence. The roots 
are brought home from the field in large baskets called 
aturas, made of a climber, and only manufactured by 
these tribes; they are then washed and peeled, this last 
operation being generally performed with the teeth, after 
which they are grated on large wooden graters, about 
three feet long and a foot wide, rather concave, and 
covered all over with small sharp pieces of quartz, set 
in in a regular diagonal pattern. These graters are an 
article of trade in all the Upper Amazon, as they are 
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