Page:Iracéma, the honey-lips (1886).djvu/21

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IRAÇÉMA.
7

The virgin advancing, pointed to the stranger and said :—

"He came, father."

"He came well. Tupan sent this guest to the wigwam of Araken."

And thus saying the Pagé passed the calumet[1] to the stranger, and they both entered the wigwam.

The youth took the principal hammock, which was suspended in the centre of the habitation. Iraçéma lighted the fire of hospitality, and brought out food to satisfy hunger and thirst. She produced the spoils of the chase, farinha-water, wild-fruits, honeycombs, wine of the Cajú[2] and the pine-apple.

The virgin then went to the nearest spring of fresh water, and returned with the full Igaçába,[3] to wash the stranger՚s hands and face. When the warrior had eaten, the venerable Pagé extinguished the Caximbo and spoke for the first time.

"Thou camest?"[4]

"I came," replied the unknown.

"Thou camest well. The stranger is master in the wigwam of Araken. The Tabájaras have a thousand warriors to defend him, and women without number to serve him. Let him speak, and all will obey him."

"Pagé! I thank thee for thy hospitality. As soon

as the sun shall be born, I leave thy wigwam and thy

  1. ↑ Calumet, original caximbo, the pipe of hospitality.
  2. ↑ Cajú, the cashew of India—a tree with a fruit like an apple : it is singular because, unlike other fruit, its nut is out-
    side at the top, as if a schoolboy had stuck it in for fun. This must not be confounded with the Cajá, which is another Brazilian fruit like a yellow plum.
  3. ↑ Igaçába, a large earthen pot or jar for wine or any other liquor.
  4. ↑ Vieste (?) Vim. The salutation of hospitality was—

    Tupy.

    Ere wubê.

    Pa-aiotu.

    Auge-be.

    Brazilian.

    Tu vieste.

    Vim, sim.

    Bemdito.

    English.

    Thou camest.

    I came, yes.

    Be blessed.

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