Page:The naturalist on the River Amazons 1863 v2.djvu/148

 single families, whilst the separate hordes of Mundurucús generally live together, each in one large dwelling. The Cuparí horde do not form an exception in this respect, as they also lived together in one of these large huts until very recently. The Mauhés are undistinguishable in physical appearance from their neighbours, being of middle size, with broad muscular chests, and well-shaped limbs and hands. But the individuals of both tribes can be readily distinguished from the Múras; less, however, by the structure and proportions of the body than by the expression of their countenances, which is mild and open instead of brutal, surly and mistrustful, as in those savages. They are invariably friendly to the whites; as I have already mentioned, they use the Paricá snuff, a habit quite unknown to the Mundurucús. They are the only tribe who manufacture Guaraná, a hard substance made of the pounded seeds of a climbing plant (Paullinia sorbilis), which they sell in large quantities to traders, it being used throughout the whole of the interior provinces of Brazil, grated and mixed in water, as a remedy in diarrhœa and intermittent fevers. The Mundurucús have a tradition that they and the Mauhés originally formed one tribe; the two peoples were formerly bitter enemies, but are now, and have been for many years, at peace with each other. Many centuries must have elapsed since the date of their first separation, to have produced the great differences now existing in language and customs between the two tribes. I fancy the so-called tradition is only a myth, but it doubtless conveys the truth. The points of resemblance between all the tribes inhabiting the region