510 
ON THE ABORIGINES 
scanty supply of iron, and obtain fire by friction. It 
is said also that they differ from most other tribes in 
making no intoxicating drinks. Their language is full 
of harsh and aspirated sounds, and is somewhat allied to 
those of the Tucanos and Cobeus among the Uaupes. 
In the lower part of the Japura reside the Uaenam- 
beus,” or Humming-bird Indians. I met with some of 
them in the Rio Negro, and obtained some information 
as to their customs and language. In most particulars 
they much resemble the last-mentioned tribe, particu- 
larly in their circular houses, their food, and mode of 
life. Like them they weave the fibres of the Tucum 
palm -leaf {Astrocarymn vulyare) to make their hammocks, 
whereas the Uaupes and Isanna Indians always use the 
leaf of the Miriti {Mauritia flewuosa). They are distin- 
guished from other tribes by a small blue mark on the 
upper lips. They have from one to four wives, and the 
women always wear a small apron of bark. 
Closely allied to these, are the Juris of the Solimoes, 
between the Iga and Japura. A number of them have 
migrated to the Rio Negro, and become settled and 
partly civilized there. They are remarkable for a custom 
of tattooing in a circle (not in a square, as in a plate in 
Dr. Prichard’s work,) round the mouth, so as exactly 
to resemble the little black-mouthed squirrel-monkeys 
( Callithria) sciureus ) ; from this cause they are often 
called the Juripixunas (Black Juris), or by the Brazi- 
lians Bocapreitos” (Black-mouths). Prom this, strange 
errors have arisen : we find in some maps the note 
''Juries, curly-haired Negroes,” whereas they are pure 
straight-haired Indians. They are good servants for 
