Chapter VII: The Wild Indians of Tropical America

The wild Forest Tribes--Their Physical Conformation and Moral
Characteristics--Their Powers of Endurance not inferior to
those of other Races--Their stoical indifference--Their Means
of Subsistence--Fishing--Hunting--The Wourali Poison--
Ornaments--Painting--Tattooing--Religion--The Moon, a Land
of Abundance--The Botuto--The Piaches--The Savage Hordes
of Brazil and Guiana--The Ottomacas--Dirt-eaters--Their
Vindictive Ferocity and War Stratagems--The extinct Tribe of
the Atures--A Parrot the last Speaker of their Language--
Their Burial-cavern--The Uaupes Indians--Their large Huts--
Horrid Custom of Disinterment--The Macus--The Purupurus--The
‘Palheta’--The Mandrucus--Singular resemblance of some of the
Customs of the American Indians to those of Remote Nations--The
Caribs--The Botocudos--Monstrous distension of the Ears and
Under-lip--Their Bow and Arrow--Their Migrations--Bush-rope
Bridge--Botocudo Funeral--‘Tanchon,’ the Evil Spirit 62

CHAPTER VIII.

THE MEXICAN PLATEAUS, AND THE SLOPES OF SIKKIM.

Geological Formation of Mexico--The _Tierra Caliente_--The
_Tierra Templada_--The _Tierra Fria_.

The Sylvan Wonders of Sikkim--Changes of the Forest on ascending--
The Torrid Zone of Vegetation--The Temperate Zone--The
Coniferous Belt--Limits of Arboreal Vegetation--Animal Life 79

CHAPTER IX.

THE KALAHARI AND THE BUSHMEN.

Reasons why Droughts are prevalent in South Africa--Vegetation
admirably suited to the Character of the Country--Number of
Tuberous Roots--The Caffre Water-Melon--The Mesembryanthemums--
The Animal Life of the Kalahari--The Bushmen, a Nomadic Race
of Hunters--Their Skill in Hunting--Their Food--Acuteness of
their Sight and Hearing--Their Intelligence and Perseverance--
Their Weapons and Marauding Expeditions--Their Voracity--Their
Love of Liberty--The Bakalahari--Their Love for Agriculture--
Their Ingenuity in procuring Water--Trade in Skins--Their
timidity 85

CHAPTER X.

THE SAHARA.

Its uncertain Limits--Caravan Routes--Ephemeral Streams--Oases--
Inundations--Luxuriant Vegetation of the Oases contrasted with
the surrounding Desert--Harsh contrasts of Light and Shade--
Sublimity of the Desert--Feelings of the Traveller while
crossing the Desert--Its charms and terrors--Sand-Spouts--The
Simoom--The ‘Sea of the Devil’--The Gazelle--Its chase--The
Porcupine--Fluctuation of Animal Life according to the Seasons--
The Tibbos and the Tuaregs--Their contempt of the sedentary
Berbers 93

CHAPTER XI.

THE BEDOUINS OF ARABIA.

The Deserts of Arabia--Sedentary Arabs and Bedouins--Physical
Characteristics of the Bedouins--Remarkable acuteness of their
Senses--Their Manners--Their intense Patriotism and Contempt
of the dwellers in Cities--The Song of Maysunah--Their Wars--
Their Character softened by the Influence of Woman--Their
chivalrous Sentiments--The Arab horse--The Camel--Freedom
of the Arabs from a Foreign and a Domestic Yoke--The Bedouin
Robber--His Hospitality--Mode of Encamping--Death Feuds--
Blood-money--Amusements--Throwing the Jereed--Dances--
Poetry--Story-telling--Language--The Bedouin and the North
American Indian 104