OF THE AMAZON. 
497 
The boys undergo a somewhat similar ordeal, but not 
so severe; which initiates them into manhood, and al- 
lows them to see the Jurupari music, which will be pre- 
sently described. 
Tattooing is very little practised by these Indians ; 
they all however have a row of circular punctures along 
the arm, and one tribe, the Tucanos, are distinguished 
from the rest by three vertical blue lines on the chin ; 
and they also pierce the lower lip, through which they 
hang three little threads of white beads. All the tribes 
bore their ears, and wear in them little pieces of grass, 
ornamented with feathers. The Cobeus alone expand the 
hole to so large a size, that a bottle-cork could be in- 
serted : they ordinarily wear a plug of wood in it, but, 
on festas, insert a little bunch of arrows. 
The men generally have but one wife, but there is no 
special limit, and many have two or three, and some of 
the chiefs more ; the elder one is never turned away, 
but remains the mistress of the house. They have no par- 
ticular ceremony at their marriages, except that of always 
carrying away the girl by force, or making a show of 
doing so, even when she and her parents are quite willing. 
They do not often marry with relations, or even neigh- 
bours, — preferring those from a distance, or even from 
other tribes. When a young man wishes to have the 
daughter of another Indian, his father sends a message 
to say he will come with his son and relations to visit 
him. The girl’s father guesses what it is for, and, if he 
is agreeable, makes preparations for a grand festival : it 
lasts perhaps two or three days, when the bridegroom’s 
party suddenly seize the bride, and hurry her off to their 
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