Page:Iracéma, the honey-lips (1886).djvu/74

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IRAÇÉMA.

guest arrive, but joy soon fled from his warlike brow when Martim said—

"The white warrior is going to leave thy cabin, Great Chief."

"Then there is something wanting to him in the cabin of Jacaúna?"

"Thy guest hath wanted nothing. He was happy here; but the voice of his heart sends him to another place."

"Then leave, and take all that is needful for the journey. May Tupan fortify my brother, and bring him back again to the cabin of Jacaúna, that he may celebrate his wellcoming."

Poty arrived hearing that the sea-warrior was going, he said—

"Thy brother will accompany thee."

"Will not Poty՚s warriors need their chief?"

"Unless my brother desires that they go with Poty, Jacaúna will lead them to victory."

"The cabin of Poty will be deserted and sad."

"The heart of the white brave՚s brother would be still more desert and sad without him."

The sea-warrior left the banks of the River of the Herons, and marched towards the land where the sun sets. His wife and friend followed his steps. They went beyond the fertile forest range, where the abundant fruits breed a swarm of flies, from which it takes the name of Meruoca.[1]

They crossed the little streams which discharge their waters into the River of the Herons, and they sighted on the far horizon a high mountain-range. The day expired; a black cloud seemed to be advancing from the sea. It was the Urubús,[2] that feast on the dead which the ocean throws up on the beach, and return with the night to their nests.

  1. ↑ Meru-oca means "the Fly՚s House." It is a Serra close to Sobral, fertile in all that is useful as food.
  2. ↑ Urubú, the Brazilian turkey-buzzard.
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