594 
changes neceflary in this mode of life. For 
this reafon, they do not efteem fruitfulnefs 
in their women, who frequently ufe means to 
procure abortion, or drink fome medicated 
potions that render them barren; and, if 
all thefe preventives prove ineffectual, 
they cruelly drown many of their new- 
born children. 
The Indian women, who inhabit the 
fhadowy banks of the Napo, which flows 
into tne Amazon River, {till paint them- 
felves in tne fame manner as in the time 
of Orellana and Marannon, with whom 
they fought feveral bloody battles. Hence 
probably originated the name of that ri- 
ver, and the erroneous opinion, which fo 
generally gained belief, that its banks 
were exclufively occupied by a nation of 
warlike Amazons. Perhaps the: firft in- 
vaders came hither at the feafon of the 
year when the men ftray for a_ confi- 
derable time into the interior of the 
country, for the. purpofe of hunting and 
filing, fo that the defence of their habita- 
tions was left to the women. 
The following tribes, inhabiting the 
Montanna Real, have been esumerated 
and deferihed by Father Narcifo. 
The Camuchiros are a. humane and 
friendly tribe; but, at the fame time, of 
a ferious and cautious difpofition. ‘They 
inhabit the country at the mouth of the 
Napo, and dwell in large houfes, as de- 
{cribed above. bey ave very expert in 
the ufe of the bow and arrow, and of the 
blowing-tube. 
The Lizguas inhabit the banks of th 
Pebas. hey go quite naked, and de- 
" Yive their fubfittence chiefly from hunting 
and aAfhing, without, however, entirely 
neglé&ting agriculture. They live in a 
more focia! manner than mofi of the other, 
tribes, and dwell in a kind of tents. 
The Omaguas are fetiled on the banks 
of the Yapura, which likewife flows into 
the Marannon. The women go quite 
naked. The men adorn themifelves with 
the moft beautiful ‘eathers of the various 
{pecies of birds found in cheir woods. 
“They navigate the vivers in large vefiels, 
in ihe management of which they are very 
dexterous. The language of the Oma- 
guas is extremely harfh and dilagreeable, 
en account of the gutturals with which it 
abounds. 
Oa the fame river dwell the Guaguas, 
er Maguares, a very favage tribe. They 
fat human flefh; and the greateft orne- 
ment of their warriors is a fert of collar 
formed of the hearts of their flaughtered 
focs. . Wash thefe trophies of their prow- 
eis and crygliy, and amid horrid exclama- 
tions of trymmphant exultation, the vics 
ee :% ee tees 
Taterefting Defcription of the Montanna Real. 
[Dees ay 
tors return home from battle. No food 
-is fo pleafing to their palate as human 
flefh, which they falt, and dry in the fun. 
They have fixed habitations, but, from 
time to time, make long predatory ex- 
curfions. Thefe Indians, being accuf- 
tomed, from their earlieft years, to com- 
prefs their waift with a very tight ban- 
dage, acquire a flenderneis of fhape fimi- 
lar to that of the greyhound, and a {wift- 
nefs that almoft turpafles belief. They 
ufe the javelin with uncommon dexteri- 
ty. , 
The Szfibos, or Supebos, dwell near the 
river Pifquique. They are the immediate 
neighbours of the Panos. Many of them 
are diftinguifhed.by the white colour of 
their counienances, Their drefs confifts 
of a kind of long robe or tunick. Con- 
jurors, magicians, and- prophets, are held 
in high eftimation among them. The Si- 
pibos, as well as the Maynas, are good 
judges of the figns which foretell the 
changes of wind and weather; and this 
knowledge proves very ferviceable to 
them in navigating the broad rivers of 
their country. : 
On the banks of the Potumayo dwells 
the warlike tribe, named Yuri, who are 
celebrated among their neighbours for 
their ikill in preparing deadly poifons, 
with which they carry on a confiderable 
trafic. They prove the ftrength of the — 
poifon onthe Iniipichu (Sun-bird, Paxa- 
vo del Sol) a bird remarkably tenacious of 
life. The Yuri, notwithilanding their 
courage and bravery, are at prefent almoft 
exterminated. ‘They, too, adorn them- . 
felves with the feathers of the beautiful 
birds, with which their forefis abound. 
The Iguites inbabit the extenfive plains 
on the River Nanay. ‘Their principal 
weapon is a fort of javelin, which they 
ule with great dexterity. In the prepara- 
tion of their favourite drink (chicha) they 
excel the other Indians: by the acdirion 
cf the buds of a tree, which the Spa- 
niards call Diablo huarca, it acquires an 
intoxicating quality, like the opium of the 
Eaftern nations, and, like it, excites plea- 
fing and voluptuous fenfations. | The 
Yuri are the only tribe which werfhip re- 
prefentations of birds and quadrupeds 
made with their own hands. 
The Cafibos live on the banks of the 
Pachitea, where it is increafed by the in- 
flnx of the laige river Mayro. ‘They are 
cannibals, and the irreconcileable foes of 
the inhaditanis of the Pampa del Sacra- 
mento. As they fubfit chiefly on human 
ficfh, man-hunting and homicide is their 
principal employment. When a fufficient 
supply of human flefh cannot be obtained, 
they 
