In this pioneering ethnographic work, the author describes the indigenous people and cultures of Brazil's interior regions in the second half of the 19th century. The book provides detailed descriptions of social structures, customs, beliefs and daily life of various tribes and their interactions with the surrounding world. The author's mix of science and literary style and his support for indigenous rights have contributed to the book's enduring influence and recognition as a classic of Brazilian literature.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it.

This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.

Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.