OF THE AMAZON. 
511 
canoe and agricultural work, and are the most skilful of 
all in the use of the gravatana, or blow- pipe. 
In the same neighbourhood are Miranhas, who are 
cannibals ; and the Ximanas and Cauxanas, who kill all 
their first-born children : in fact, between the Upper 
Amazon, the Guaviare, and the Andes, there is a region 
as large as England, whose inhabitants are entirely un- 
civilized and unknown. 
On the south side of the Amazon also, between the 
Madeira and the Uaycali, and extending to the Andes 
of Peru and Bolivia, is a still larger tract of unknown 
virgin forest, uninhabited by a single civilized man : here 
reside numerous nations of the native American race, 
known only by the reports of the border tribes, who 
form the communication between them and the traders 
of the great rivers. 
One of the best-known and most regularly visited 
rivers of this great tract is the Purus, whose mouth is a 
short distance above the Rio Negro, but whose sources 
a three months’ voyage does not reach. Of the Indians 
found on the banks of this river I have been able to get 
some information. 
Pive tribes are met with by the traders : — • 
1. Muras, from the mouth to sixteen days’ voyage up. 
2. Purupurus, from thence to about thirty days’ voy- 
age up. 
3. Catauxis, in the district of , the Purupurus, but in 
the igaripes and lakes inland. 
4. Jamamaris, inland on the west bank. 
5. Jubiris, on the river-banks above the Purupurus. 
The Muras are rather a tall race, have a good deal of 
