themselves down, and slept soundly on a bed of plantain leaves, spread on a sand bank, with their cloaks for bed clothes, and bunches of grass for pillows! They returned safely in the morning, down the river, favoured by the ebbing tide.
Such of the natives as had been seen, having hitherto fled when our people approached them, the Commander resolved to try what could be done by appearing to take no notice of them. This scheme succeeded so well, that when four natives made their appearance on the 10th, two of them approached the ship in a canoe; and at length, invited by friendly signs, came alongside. Presents of cloth, nails, beads, and paper, were received by them with indifference, as they knew not their use; but when a small fish was thrown them, they expressed the greatest joy imaginable, and paddled off to bring their companions, with whom they quickly returned. Some more presents were given them, and they all landed, and were prevailed on to lay aside their lances, and sit down beside Tupia and his friends. They continued here until dinner time, but declined an invitation to dinner. morning, three of them returned, bringing with them another, whom they introduced by his name, Yaparico. This man not only had his ears pierced, but a piece of bird's bone thrust through the cartilage that divides the nostrils, and projecting about three inches on each side. This grotesque ornament of the natives, the sailors jocularly called their sprit-sail yard. The rest also had holes in their ears, as well as in the cartilage of the nose; but at this time the holes were empty. They also wore bracelets of plaited hair on their arms; and some were afterwards seen with necklaces of shells.
