An Account of the Abipones, an Equestrian People of Paraguay, (1 of 3)Dobrizhoffer, Martin
History
An Account of the Abipones, an Equestrian People of Paraguay, (1 of 3)
Dobrizhoffer, Martin
Abipon Indians; Jesuits -- Missions; Paraguay -- Description and travel -- Early works to 1800
Ducks, clothed with black and white feathers, are extremely numerous,
and pass the day in the water, and the night in trees close by it. They
are most easily and frequently shot out of the water. Their young, when
removed to towns, seldom become tame. Other ducks, which the Abipones
call roakabì, have feathers of various colours, and beautifully red
feet. Small ducks, called by the Abipones ruililiè, flit about together
at night, making a loud hissing, and are believed by the Abipones to be
spirits of the dead. The most remarkable are certain middle-sized ducks,
of a beautiful rose colour from the head to the tail, but their natural
ill smell annoys the nostrils of all who approach them, as much as the
beauty of their plumage delights beholders. Under the beautiful feathers
of their wings and the rest of their body, (of which not only the plume,
but the quill, which we use to write with, is tinged with a deep red
colour,) is concealed skin, bone, and a very scanty portion of most
stinking flesh. They are slenderer than geese's quills, and are used by
the Abipones to adorn and crown their heads.
STORKS.
Paraguay is not destitute of river-fowl, very like European herons and
storks.
THE HARIA.
The haria, which is about the size of a stork, boldly attacks serpents,
pierces them with its bill and eats them. It soon grows tame in the
houses of the Spaniards, and is very useful in gardens by killing
noxious insects. I was often moved to laughter by another river-fowl,
which, when it stretches out its neck, exceeds a tall man in height, and
a lamb in the size of its body. This bird is entirely white, and has
very long feet. It stands for many hours motionless, as if meditating,
in the water; but I confess that I have forgotten its name.
WATER-CROWS.
In the river Parana, and elsewhere, numerous water-crows are seen. Their
young are devoured with avidity by the savages, though they all detest
the thought of eating birds, hens, or chicken. It would take a long time
to mention all the various kinds of water-fowl which swarm in the larger
rivers and subsist wholly on fish.
SWALLOWS.
Before I proceed from birds to fishes, I think proper to subjoin a few
remarks upon common hens and swallows, the latter of which no ways
differ from those of Europe in appearance, voice, and habits. Although
Paraguay is free from snow, yet as the south wind renders the air rather
cold in winter, the swallows migrate like those of Europe to other
places about the beginning of autumn, and pass the winter in some
unknown retreats, but return at the commencement of spring.
BRAZILIAN FOWLS.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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