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IRAÇÉMA.

"Jatobá, thou that sawest my brother Poty come into the world: the stranger embraces thee!"

"May the lightning wither thee, O tree of the warrior Poty! when his brother abandons him."

Then the chief spoke as follows:—

"Then Jacaúna was not yet a warrior. Jatobá, our greatest Chief, was leading the Pytiguáras to victory. As soon as the full waters began to run, he marched straight for the Serra. Arriving here, he sent for the whole Taba, that it might be nearer the enemy, to vanquish them again. The same moon which saw their arrival shone upon the hammock in which Sahy, his wife, gave him one more warrior of his blood. The moonlight played amongst the leafage of the Jatobá, and the smile upon the lips of the great and wise Chief who had taken its name and might."

Iracema approached.

The turtle-dove,[1] feeding in the sands, leaves its mate, who flits restlessly from branch to branch, and coos that the absent one may reply. Thus the forest girl wandered in search of her prop, softly humming a gentle, tender song.

Martim received her with his soul in his eyes, and leading his wife on the side of his heart, and his friend on the side of his strength, returned to the Ranch[2] of the Pytiguáras.

CHAPTER XX.

The moon waxed rounder. Three suns had passed since Martim and Iraçéma had been in the lands of the Pytiguáras, Lords of the banks of the rivers

  1. ↑ In the original Rôla.
  2. ↑ Rancho is a shed made of mud and sticks, and thatched with Sapé leaves or roofed with tiles.
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