Their Arms consist of Bowes made of hard Wood, Strung with twisted Cotton Thred; their Arrows they make of the Cane Tacaara, made very sharp at the end, or headed with some Beasts sharp Tooth, or pointed with the Bones of the Fish Iperu. Some of the Tapuiyans use great Darts, and long Clubs of black Wood, broad before, and full of sharp Spikes; the Handles being wound about with Cotton Strings call’d Jatirana, under which hangs a Tuft of the Bird Arara’s Feathers, as also about the middle. Their Trumpets, call’d Canguenca, are the Shin-bones of Men, though they have others also made of great Shells and Canes. They us’d to be continually at War one with another, which they wag’d neither for Lands nor Riches, but either to make themselves eminent, and to be accounted valiant Soldiers, or most especially for the sake of Man’s-flesh to feed upon, which they love beyond all things in the World, wherefore they fatten all their Prisoners for the slaughter. Their Battels are always cruel, for they fight very desperately. Emanuel de Moraes relates, That he saw a Brasilian fight with three Armed Portugueses, who slew him not till after he had wounded them all three.
The Languages of the Brasilians.
The Languages of the Brasilians are several, each Countrey speaking a peculiar Tongue, but so different that they cannot understand one another. The Tabuyans are divided into above eighty Tribes, each speaking a peculiar Language, which have no resemblance one with another; nevertheless they have a general Language which is understood by most of them. The Jesuit Joseph Anchieta publishing a Brasilian Dictionary in Conimbrica, Anno 1595. shewed that the fore-mention’d Language wants the Letters f, l, s, z, r, and hath no double Consonants in any word, except mb, nd, ng, so that the sound of the word falls generally on the last Vowel. The fore-mention’d Moraes well experienc’d in the Brasilian Tongue, writ an Alphabet of all the most familiar words thereof us’d in common Discourse, of which it will not be unnecessary to give this following Extract:
- A.
- Aba, a Man, also Hair.
- Acu, the Left-hand.
- Acuabeimae, Sweet.
- Amaberaba, Lightning.
- Amacuminga, Thunder.
- Amandiba, Hail.
- Anama, a near Relation.
- Anga, the Soul.
- Angabara, Lean.
- Angaipata, Angry, or Wicked.
- Angaturama, Thankful, or Acceptable.
- Apara, a Crown.
- Apecum, the Tongue.
- Apicaba, a Stool.
- Ara, the Time, Skye, or Day.
- Ara-ibi coquime, Noon.
- Araya, Grandmother.
- Atapuana, Light.
- Atapuatia, Swift.
- Atucupe, the Back.
- Atyba, the Shoulder.
- Ay cig, a Mother.
- Ayura, the Neck.
- B.
- Boya, a Slave.
- C.
- Cama, a Sucking-Breast.
- Canga, a Leg.
- Caraibebe, apiabebe, an Angle.
- Caruca, the Evening.
- Capii, Grass.
- Capii goacu, Straw.
- Catu, Dainty.
- Cay, an Ape.
- Ceba, a Loaf.
- Cibera, the Buttocks.
- Cemiracoaobae, a Widower.
- Ceo, a Breast.
- Ceteeimibae, a Ghost.
- Cig cygra, an Aunt.
- Coaraci, a Son.
- Cobra, a Serpent.
- Coemitanga, the Dawn.
- Coriba, Rejoyce.
- Coya, Twins.
- Cunha, a Wife.
- Cunhaiba, a Bride.
- Cunumigoacu, a Youth.
- Cunumi, a Boy.
- E.
- Ecatuaba, the right Hand.
- Eyruba, a Bee.
- G.
- Giba, an Arm.
- Guaibino, an old Woman.
- Guirarupia, an Egg.
- I.
- Jaci, the Moon, or Month.
- Jacitata, a Star.
- Iba, a Tree.
- Ibiaia, the Heavens.
- Ibatinga and Ibitinga, a Witch.
- Ibateba, High.
- Ibi, the Earth.
- Ibitira, a Mountain.
- Ibitu, the Wind.
- Icapi, the Dew.
- Ig, Water.
- Iguaba, a Cap.
- Ipeca, a Goose.
- Igue, the Side.
- Ita, Iron, or a Stone.
- Itacira, a Spade.
- Itapigua, a Nail.
- Juba, Yellow.
- M.
- Maupiara, the Gall.
- Mbabeaubora, Sick.
- Mbiu, Meat.
- Mbo, a Hand.
- Membeca, Softly.
- Menearaa, a Wedding.
- Micu, a Toe.
- Mita, the Heel.
- Mocu, an Eel.
- Mormotara, Angry.
- Muapendaba, a Joint.
- N.
- Nbia, the Heart.
- O.
- Opacatumba, the World.
- P.
- Potia, the Breast.
- Paranga, Fair.
- Porerobiara, Faithful.
- Porucuicobora, Poor.
- Potivi, a Duck.
- Poxi, Ugly.
- Pi, a Foot.
- Pia, the Liver.
- Pira, Fish, or a Skin.
- Piquiira, Younger in years.
- Pitanga, a Child.
- Pua, a Finger.
- Pua-guacu, a Thumb.
- Purva, the Navel.
- Puou, Long.
- Putuma, the Night.
- R.
- Roig, Cold.
- T.
- Tagica, a Vein.
- Tagui, Blood.
- Tagira, or Membira, a Daughter. The first of these words is us’d by the Fathers, and the other by the Mothers.
- Taira, Children, or a Son.
- Tamua, a Grandfather.
- Tata, Fire.
- Tecoacu, Luck.
- Tecoateima, Covetousness.
- Temerico, Man or Woman.
- Tendiba, a Chin.
- Tendi, Spittle.
- Tendipia, a Knee.
- Tecobecatu, Wholsom.
- Tema, a Shin-bone.
- Tete, a Body.
- Tiaya, Sweet.
- Tibira, Younger: for so the Brothers call one another, but the Sisters name their younger Brothers Quibira, and Brothers their younger Sisters Teindira.
- Tigue, the Belly.
- Tique perg, the Guts.
- Tinga, White.
- Tipiba, Melancholly.
- Tiquera, eldest Sister.
- Tiquiera, eldest Brother.
- Tuba, Parents.
- Tutira, Father’s Brother.
- Tubei-ima, an Hospital Boy.
- Tuibaem, an old Man.
- Tupana, God.
- Ty, Piss.
- Tyuris, the Bladder.
- U.
- Uba, the Hip.
- Unhapuapem, a Nail.
- Y.
- Yja, a Fountain.
- Ymeneoba, a Widow.
- Yyaobuamba, Naked.
The Words for Action, are these following:
- A.
- Abi, Erring.
- Abiqui, Coming.
- Acanhem, I die.
- Acoy, Covering.
- Aei, Missing.
- Ami, Squeezing.
- Amotareima, Hating.
- Anduba, Opinion.
- Anguipaba, Sinning.
- Abba mandeba, To put on.
- Apina, Shaving.
- Apition, Binding.
- Aroca, a Lesson.
- Ayaima, Feigning.
- B.
- Beraba, Shining.
- C.
- Coanga, Measuring, Proving, or Speaking.
- Cacaba, Passing by.
- Cae, Curing.
- Capucaya, Calling, or To be vex’d.
- Carom, Hoping.
- Caruca, Pissing.
- Cauccuba, Loving.
- Cecaraya, Forgetting.
- Cema, Going out.
- Cenduba, Hearing.
- Cenoya, Naming.
- Cepiaca, Seeing, Punishment.
- Cerura, Carrying.
- Cetuna, Smelling.
- Ceyara, Relating.
- Cica, Ploughing.
- Cipya, Making wet.
- Ciquye, Fearing.
- Co, Going.
- Cobaitim, Meeting.
- Coquendaboya, Opening.
- Cuaba, Knowing.
- Cupira, Performing.
- Cuu, Defending.
- E.
- Ecatu, To be able.
- G.
- Genonheca, Praying.
- Goameenga, Biting.
- Guapua, Sitting.
- Guata, Walking.
- Gueena, Vomiting.
- I.
- Jababa, To run away.
- Jecoacuba, To remember.
- Jenumuna, Spitting.
- Jerure, Demanding.
- Igtaba, Swimming.
- Igu, Drinking.
- M.
- Maenduara, Thinking.
- Mano, Dying.
- Maramonbanga, Warring.
- Mayaoca, Dividing.
- Mba-eraca, Buying.
- Mbacu, Eating.
- Meenga, Delivering.
- Menbirara, Barring.
- Moaibaba, Bewitching, or Preventing.
- Mongueba, Putting out.
- Moanga, Thinking.
- Moaquima, Making wet.
- Mobibua, Sowing.
- Moete, Praising, or Honoring.
- Moendi, Setting on fire.
- Mogiba, Boyling.
- Mogyco, Polishing.
- Momiya, Moving.
- Momita, Lodging.
- Monberaba, Bruising.
- Monbeu, Delivering of a Message.
- Monbuca, To bore through.
- Monbuja, Boring.
- Mondoca, To cut, take away, or cleave asunder.
- Mondoroca, Breaking.
- Monguy, Grinding.
- Monguya, Making loose.
- Monhanga, Doing.
- Moperua, Being cold.
- Mopotaya, Buttoning.
- Moriba, Consenting.
- Moropiana, Changing.
- Moeyeceara, Mixing.
- N.
- Nheangeru, Sighing.
- Nheenga, Speaking.
- Nhemboe, Learning.
- Nhengara, Singing.
- P.
- Paepua, Answering.
- Paraboca, Chusing.
- Paronduba, Enquiring.
- Pea, Abstaining.
- Pitu, Remaining.
- Pitanga rempi, To cast off.
- Pitera, Kissing.
- Pitibo, Helping.
- Aittiba, Anointing.
- Poacema, Mourning.
- Pobana, Spinning.
- Pocuaba, To use.
- Pocaucuba, Dreaming.
- Porabiqui, Working.
- Porara, Lying.
- Potareima, Refusing.
- Potara, Desiring.
- Puama, Rising.
- Puaya, Commanding.
- Puca, Laughing.
- Pura, Using.
- Q.
- Quera, Sleeping.
- Querara, Waking.
- R.
- Raba, Untying.
- Qereco, Having.
- Rura, Coming.
- T.
- Tara, Catching.
- Tecobe, Living.
- Tiguioca, Bleeding.
- Tiu, Disgracing.
- Tima, Ploughing, Warring, or Burying.
- Y.
- Yaceo, Crying.
- Yeaoboca, Pulling off.
- Yeupira, Climbing.
- Yuca, Killing.
These are of the most usual words of the general Language in Brasile, besides which every distinct Tribe or Division of People hath its peculiar Tongue, as hath been said, of which the chiefest and most eminent are the Tupinambu, Tabaiaras, Potigi-iguaras, Marhuites, Waimoores, Tomonimenos, Waitaquazes, Wainasses, Topinaques, Pories, Molopaques, Motaias, Biheros, Wainawasons, Tamoies, Tocomans, and the Cariogs; of all which the Tupinambu are the most comely, especially their Women, which (according to the testimony of the aforesaid Emanuel Moraes, an Eye-witness) may stand in competition with the European Beauties. These Women accompany their Husbands when they go into the Wars, and carry their Provisions, especially store of Tobacco. In the Lips both of the Men and Women hang little Stones. The Men take as many Wives as they please; and amongst the generality of the fore-mention’d Nations, there is scarce any sign of Religion to be discern’d.
The Tobaras and Potigi-iguaras.
The Tobaras are accounted the best Horsemen; but in Singing and Discourse, the Potigi-iguaras exceed all the other Brasilians: They place twenty or thirty Singers in a Row, which observing Time, Sing the Transactions of their Predecessors with good Voices.
The Waimoores.