413. The Arnucanians of Chili are the most powerful
and warlike of all the Indian nations in the southern

?art of the continent, resembling the North American
ndians in their character, and particularly in their
fondness for eloquence.
They are more intelligent and cultivated than any
other tribe of natives. Their government seems to
be administered as regularly as in civilized nations.
414. The Abipones are an independent nation residing
on the banks of the River La Plata. They have a bold
and warlike disposition ; but they are much less cul-
tivated and interesting than the Araucanians.
415. Amazonia is a convenient name for the vast wil-
derness^ which forms the interior of Brazil, Peru, Guiana,
and Colombia, lying on the Amazon and Orinoco Rivers.
It is nominally included in these governments, but is
really possesseii by numberless tribes of Indians, whose
character is scarcely known, and whose territory is al-
most unexplored. The climate is very hot and the soil
extremely fertile.
416. Some of the natives are very ferocious ; and there
are tribes bordering on the European settlements, who
watch and hunt for the whites and Negroes, in order to
feast upon their flesh. Others exhibit a mild, inoffensive
character.
TRAVELS ON THE MAP. 181

417- The Otomacs, and some other tribes on the Ori-
noco, ftre in the habit of swallowing balls of clay^ to
appease their hunger^ when other food is scarce ; and
they always lay up a store of these for the season of
floods, when they cannot procure fish.
418. The Guaraunoes are a social^ hospitable tribe,
who inhabit the islands in the delta of the Orinoco, and
act as pilots. During the floods, they lodge in dwellings
suspended from the trees.
