Although they have fixed residences, and cultivate some vegetables, with feijao, and three sorts of Indian corn, white, violet, and another, which the Paulistas denominate peruruca, they wander about a part of the year in pursuit of game and wild fruits.
Their houses are of considerable length, and are formed by two ranges of an equal number of poles, the flexibility of which admits of their junction at the centre, and being intertwined with twigs, constitute a simple structure, which is finished by the guaricanga (a species of palm tree) as its ultimate covering, with a narrow entrance at one extremity. Fires are made in file along the middle of the building, the inhabitants sleeping upon the ground with their feet extended towards them, and many families constituting the inmates of one dwelling.
Their instruments of agriculture are rudely constructed of wood, with tools of stones; and they make certain vessels for the fermentation of inebriating beverages, which they frequently partake of to excess.
They domesticate some indigenous animals, such as the quaty and cotia; and of European quadrupeds only the dog for hunting. They prefer the flesh of the horse and mule to that of the ox. On all occasions where any friendly intercourse obtains between them and the Paulistas, they appear to regard iron alone as an article of any value. Their natural ferocity has prevented the Portuguese from extending themselves or cultivation to the westward.
Amongst other numerous species of birds, remarkable for their size, plumage, and rarity, are the emu ostrich, colhereira, caroe, tabuyaya, tayuyu, jacu, mutun, macuco partridge, tucano, parrot, araponga, guraputepoca, the troquaze dove, rola, heron, inhuma, white urubu, soco, wild goose, &c.
The Paulistas (inhabitants of St. Paulo) are at present esteemed the best people of the state, although various accounts would warrant the belief of their being formerly of a very different character; but these representations must be received with caution. It is evident that their valour and enterprise have, on many occasions, been very conspicuous. Vosgien, the most moderate of all the writers against them, says, that the city of St. Paulo was a species of republic, independent of the Portuguese, and formed of bands from different nations, the whole ill regulated, and consisting of freebooters and thieves, who paid a tribute of gold to the King of Portugal, till they were subjugated by that crown. This is in opposition to the Portuguese authorities, who affirm that they were always faithful subjects of Portugal, from the foundation of the capitania.
From the period of Philip II. becoming possessed of Portugal, and having, in consequence, some controul over its colonies, till the day of acclamation, which restored the crown to John IV. the Paulistas did not deem themselves under the jurisdiction of the Castilian court, but opposed the Spaniards who were in possession of the rich lands to the south and west of the Paraguay; and had begun to approximate to the centre of the continent with their establishments. This induced the Paulistas to enter upon a secret expedition in 1631, in order to interrupt their progress. Having traversed, with eight hundred men, the certâms, or interior, the rivers Parannapanema and Tibagy, they fell upon Villa Rica, and Ciudad Real. The town of Xerez, situated near the heads of the river Mondego, experienced the same misfortune; also thirty-two aldeias that constituted three small provinces.
The Paulistas, although they did not designate the domestic Indians by the appellation of captives, or slaves, but by that of administrados, disposed of them as such, giving them to their creditors in payment of debts, and by way of dowry on occasions of marriage.
The Jesuits, who possessed or had the controul over a great number of Indians, and under whose power they received the denomination of administrados, without any consequences of slavery being attached to the term, declaimed against the abuses practised by the Paulistas, and demonstrated to them the impropriety of usurping a right to dispose of the liberty of the Indian.
The Paulistas, who were opulent, and owed all their wealth to the arms of their numerous administrados, determined to expel the Jesuits, in order that the truths which they promulgated should not militate against their interest.