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of Fire,[1] the enemies of Tupan. Already the Emboabas[2] have stood upon the Jaguaribe river. Soon they will be in the prairies of the Tabajáras, and with them the Potyuáras. Shail we—Lords of the Villages —do like the dove, who hides in her nest while the serpent curls himself along the branches?"
The excited chief brandishes his tomahawk,[3] and hurls it into the middle of the circle. Bending down his forehead, he hid his eyes, ruddy with rage. "Irapúam has spoken," at length he said.
The youngest of the warriors advances.
"The Sparrow-hawk hovers in the air. When the Nhambú[4] rises, he falls from the clouds and tears out his victim՚s heart. The young Tabajára warrior, son of the Serra, is like the sparrow-hawk."
The Poçema[5] of war thunders and re-echoes. The young warrior lifted up the tomahawk, and in his turn brandished it. Whirled rapidly and menacingly in the air, the chief՚s weapon passed from hand to hand.
The venerable Andíra, brother of the Pagé, let it fall, and stamped upon the ground with his foot, still firm and active.
The Tabajáras are struck by this unusual action. A vote of peace from such a tried and impetuous warrior! The old hero, who grew to bloodshed as he grew in years—the ferocious Andíra—is it he who lets fall the tomahawk, herald of the coming struggle?
Uncertain and silent, all gave ear.
Andíra, the old Andíra, has drank more blood in
- ↑ Guerreiros de fogo, "warriors of fire," the Portuguese.
- ↑ Emboabos, a name given to the Portuguese, and afterwards to all strangers, on account of their trousers. Its literal meaning is a fowl with feathers down its legs, and alludes to the European practice of wearing nether garments.
- ↑ Tacapé, tomahawk.
- ↑ Nhambú, the Brazilian partridge.
- ↑ Poçema, the great noise made by the savages on solemn occasions—war or triumph. It consisted of clapping their hands and beating palms, accompanied by war-cries or shouts.