292 
,THE Mii.ro ISDIASS. 
Orinoco pass the cataract, which were bound for the 
harvest of turtles' eggs, and eight boats laden with mer- 
chandize. 
About eleven on the morning of the 17th of April we 
reached our boat. Father Zea caused to be embarked, with 
our instruments, the small store of provisions he had been 
able to procure for the voyage, on which he was to accom- 
pany us; these provisions consisted of a few bunches ox 
plantains, some cassava, and fowls. Leaving the emiar- 
cadero, we immediately passed the mouth of the CataniapO; 
a small river, the banks of which are inhabited by the 
Macos, or Piaroas, who belong to the great family oi the 
Salive nations. 
Besides the Piaroas of Cataniapo, who pierce their ears, 
and wear as ear-ornaments the teeth of caymans and p eC " 
caries, three other tribes of Macos are known : one, on tb 0 
Yentuari, above the Rio Mariata; the second, on tb 0 
Padamo, north of the mountains of Maraguaca; and. tb® 
third, near the Guaharibos, towards the sources of tb® 
Orinoco, above the Rio Gchette. This last tribe bears tb 0 
name of Macos-Macos. I collected the following words fr® 1 ® 
a young Maco of the banks ot the Cataniapo, whom 
met near the embarcadero, and who wore in his ears, instea 
«f a tusk of the peccary, a large wooden cylinder.* 
Plantain, Paruru (in Tamanac also, paruru ) . 
Cassava, Elenle (in Maco, caliig). 
Maize, Niarne. 
The sun, Jama (in Salive, mume-seke-cocco). 
The moon, Jama (in Salive, vexio). 
Water, Ahia (in Salive, cagua) . 
One, Nianti. 
Two, Tajus. 
' Three, Percotahuja. 
Four, Imontegroa. f . 
The young man could not reckon as far as five, which ® 
tainlv is no proof that the word five does not exist m { 
Maco tongue. I know not whether this tongue be a h al g 
of the Salive, as is pretty generally asserted; for id*® 
{ tfr 0 
• This custom is observed among the Cabres, the Maypures, an etc b 
Pevas of the Amazon. These la9t, described by La Condamine, 5 
their ears by weights of a considerable size. 
