The Indianapolis leader. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1879-1890, 1882-04-15

tired of sending or bringing home many o
the curious barks and roots used by the In
dians. j get no thanks for them and an
always told that it will not pay to expor
them. l have noticed that these forests art
full of valuable timber which could bt
hoated down the river to Manaos on RATS
built of the light Varzae wo DIS, at q small
outlay. As yet there is but little timber *
ported from the Amazon valley. The En-
glish steamers between Liverpool and Man.
aos frequently take some twenty thirty ce.
der logs at Serps, on :he Amazon, but the
heavy, dark grained woods have not. so far
as know, ever been exported. l find grow
ing in these forests those curit us orchids. cat
esetams, not appreciated by growers at home
because they do not bear large or SNOWY fow-
err, but know of no class of orchids that pro.
duce such singular flowers or emit such
strange perfumes This orchid is known to
the inhabitants as pacova paulista-pacova
(banans), form the shape of the psendo
bulb; paulista (Paul), from the old custom
of naming flowers after saints A Crude, or
mucilage, is made from the bulb and used
hy the Indians.
Emerging from the forest we soon reach
the Pataws, and see before US the low Ma
loca Of the Muras Indians. We were
greeted by chorous of dogs, native Indian
dogs, covered with sores, lean, NANCY and
half starved. The men we're not at home,
and the house was tenanted only by several
women and numerous children, the filthiest
looking people l ever saw. Everything be-
spoke laziness and poverty. The women
are of medium height, but strongly built,
with muscles in their arms that would
shame blacksmith. They speak dialect
peculiar to their tribe. but / understand
many speak Siriguajeral and Portuguese
The men are great fishermen, spending
most of their time on the lake, though few
work in the rnbber forests of the interior.
This tribe formerly occupied not only the
banks of the lake but the low forests near
the mouth of the Negro, oposite the City of
Msnsos. Wallace speaks of them as being
lazy and indoIent If all reports are true
the tribe is fast becoming extinct; there are
now but three houses on or near the lake
and none in the low forests near the Nero
The numerous old abandoned fields which
are found near Msnacapura show that this
region was inhabited years ago by other
tribes than the Muras. The remnant of thi
tribe, however have gone deeper into the
forests, and have built their malocas-low
dark houses-in all the most impenetrable
woods. During Our stay never once saw
smile upon the face of the women; they
talked but little, and always in low tone
with frequent GESTURES. We watched the
women busy in making q mingon (soup)
out OF green pacovas, or bananas. They
tore of the skin with their teeth, grated the
banana and threw it into q large earthen
pot full of water, and stirred the bananas
with stick, which they occasionally used
to strike prowling dog. We were
served with this mixture in little
wooden cups, and while slipping the unpal-
atable dish wondered if banana soup made
those muscles. All fruit is generally made
into drink or mingon, and no matter what
Indian tribes you are among, you are COM
PEELED to live upoL these mingons. Some
are palatable, but the majority are simply
disgusting, many being seasoned with the
larv@ OF insects. The sun was low down,
almost touching the tree-topa, when we
reached the canoe, and the dark clouds on
the norizion told US that we were to pay
for this bright day by violent night storm.
Once in the canoe the Indians took of their
shirts and put them under the "toldy," or
palm cabin; then, grasping their broad pad.
dies, pushed into the stream. how We did
shoot down that Igarape, the water fairly
boiling around our canoe. We were anxious
to reach the lake. for the Igarspe was mar
row and there was danger from falling
branches or trees. The sky was now intense
ly black, the air full Of flying leaves, and
often we heard the crash of falling trees in
the forest. "MOre FORCE" | shouted, and
the men dipped their paddles in the water.
Another roll of thunder and down came
the rain. Soon we shot into the lake, where
our canoe tossed up and down. and we r
no little rish of being upset. A bright light
on the shore was seen, towards which l
steered. We pulled the canoe ashore, climbed
the muddy bank TO the house and shouted,
"Are we weloome7' We waited q moment.
the door was opened and we were invited to
ENTER With God" (entre con Deos). We
asked shelter for the night, which was
granted, and while our host, young In.
dian, slung our hammock and his wife,
pretty Indian girl, made the coffee, we in
spected the dwelling. The floor was clean;
clean hammocks swung from poles; every
thing was neat and in order. ! dwell upon
this because have never found an Indian
hut SO clean. On the wall was drying q
large jaguar skin, the largest i ever saw.
After bowl of hot coffee asked the In
dian to tell US how he killed the tiger
wish your readers could have Seen that young
Indian as he stood, gun in hand, and told his
story with many gesture; his wife sitting
quietly by sewing, but with proud look in
her eyes, while over all danced the Are.
light. "You know the large creek below
my house, Patron" he said. cit was there
killed the oncs. While padding up this
stream in search of palm fruit l heard q
noise as If seme one was beating the water
with pole listened and heard nothing
but the wind in the trees. Again resumed
my paddle. Again heard the plash of the
water. padded to shore, and, taking my
gun, ,crept up the bank in the direction Of the
noise, At intervals the noise would stop,
only to be renewed more violently. After
short distance saw, lying full length on
log in the weter, an onca, or jaQuar, en-
gagged in fishing; calling the fish by beating
the water with his tail. There are many
fruit-eating fsh In the Amazon waters, and
it is known to us that the jaguar fre.
queatly initiates the splashing OF palm
fruit by striking the water with his tail.
no king the Hsh, as they rise. with their long
claws In fishing for piranhs we always
beat the water with our poles and then
throw in the lines). He was very big,
Patron, but ! crept nearer" "Did he get
any fshf" said /. "Nehum" (not one), said
our host. "snd he seemed angry about it.
The old tiger looked awful cross, and saw
he was tired of fishing, for he slowly arose
from the log. quickly dropped q ball on
top of the shot, and fred. BE sprsng into
the air and fell into the water morte dead
l Hshed him out with my harpoon. That's
all, my white man." The Indian took his
seat. rolled q bark cigarette, then said;
"Patron, there are many kinds of oncas;
they are afraid, they are towards, but be.