CHAPTER VII.

THE WILD INDIANS OF TROPICAL AMERICA.

The wild Forest Tribes--Their Physical Conformation and Moral Characteristics--Their Powers of Endurance not inferior to those of other Races--Their stoical indifference--Their Means of Subsistence--Fishing--Hunting--The Wourali Poison-- Ornaments--Painting--Tattooing--Religion--The Moon, a Land of Abundance--The Botuto--The Piaches--The Savage Hordes of Brazil and Guiana--The Ottomacas--Dirt-eaters--Their Vindictive Ferocity and War Stratagems--The extinct Tribe of the Atures--A Parrot the last Speaker of their Language-- Their Burial-cavern--The Uaupes Indians--Their large Huts-- Horrid Custom of Disinterment--The Macus--The Purupurus--The ‘Palheta’--The Mandrucus--Singular resemblance of some of the Customs of the American Indians to those of Remote Nations--The Caribs--The Botocudos--Monstrous distension of the Ears and Under-lip--Their Bow and Arrow--Their Migrations--Bush-rope Bridge--Botocudo Funeral--‘Tanchon,’ the Evil Spirit 62