Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-09-18
FATE OF A BRAZILIAN TR@E.
Tho story of High Priests Prophecy and
Its FuIflment.


Its Fulfilment.
AGO ri,Iape near the source of the Oya-
w the stream over which Brazil and
French Guiana are dismtlng' says LIE
Journal DIES Voyages, an old man OF the
Co;concbiane tribe of Indians lives, the
on1v nerson of this tribe thereabout, and
he tells the story of his people1 tate. Inc
tribe was once great, he said, pu6 LOT TWO
generations it has been without country.
His people once had country on the Tu-
mac Humac mountains called Parlt0u,
and for allies the Ouayauas, the Oupotr-
ouis. and the EmeriI1ous. His people were
strong, but the evil spirits (yolocks) cast
them down. A numerous people from the
east came against his people and thor al
lies. The great priest of his people abode
three days without food in the house or
diyinations and came out looking Us II ten
vears had passed over his head. He report
cd that the yolocks had decreea death to
the people Then the braves Joined their
allies and the war went on.
The invading people were not brave, but
they came in swarms, until the allies were
wearied with slaughter. Many years
passed and many young warriors pe.ished'
while the women cried out that their low
ers were dead. The first to make this out
cry was Anita who had lost her, lover IN
the mountains of Paritou Then the high
priest cried that this language deserved
death and Anita was strangLed by the old
women.
Then tho high priest at length declared
that the fates had prophesied Alright, ana
it was time for the people to take light
through the forest.
"They shall eat no more cassava or tapl-
oca," he said, "they shall no moro drink
cadeiri, they shall no more know the man
ioca. They shall go through the forest
known only to the tiger and the tapir.
1t was in tho moon of Ayamouri, and
the people ate only grains and Gtacao. They
started and reached the banks of the Oya-
pok, tho long river. They PASSED over the
rocks of d great falls and reached the great
river Yingarari They followed it toward
the south.
Three months after they had left the
forest of Paritou they came upon high
mountain whence flowed another Oyapok.
This Oyapok, they learned, was called
Agamionare. The high priest said that
the people should retire heTp to die. So
they settled there and upon the banks of
another river, tho Ouroualtou, and the
women hoped that the warriors would love
them again and the fields would be plant
ed But tho high priest said:
"Plant, drink, dance. BE beautiful,
young women; be handsome, young war
riors, but do not burn the pilncnto. It's
useless, for the giant Couroup (the small
pox) comes to lead you to the funereal
butcher"
The giant Cournup was without pity.
He struck and stuck again. Mothers
fed their children and children their
mothers. The villages We're full Of the
dead, full of uneaten cassava. The cinders
of the hearth were not relighted. Nearly
all of the Caicouchianes died. That was
long ago. Today there remain not more
than 90 Caicouchianes dispersed among
the Oyampis. The Caicouchianes are
dead, slain by war ana Couroup, because
the fatcs willed it. Fate IS neither just
nor unjust, but it is often sad.