TUPELO (North American Indian name), Nyssa. A genus of trees of the natural order Cornace.e, natives of North America, chiefly of the southern parts of the States. Nyssa multillora, which attains a height of 60 to 70 feet, is often called black gum tree (q.v.). Nyssa aquatica, referred IT some botanists to Nyssa uniflora, by others to Nyssa is the large tupelo, a lofty and beautiful tree, remarkable for the extraordinary enlargement of the base of the trunk, which is sometimes 8 to 9 feet in diameter, while at no great height the diameter diminishes to 15 or 20 inches. The fruit (drupe) resembles a small olive, and was preserved in the same way by the French settlers in America.
TUPf, titj-pe' (allies, or village), or TUPI NAMBA. An ancient tribe from which the wide spread stock (q.v.) takes its name, and whose language is the basis of the lingua gcrul or Indian trade language of the Amazon region. At the period of the first Portuguese occupation of Brazil, about 1550, they were one of the most populous and powerful tribes of the country, occupying the territory about the mouth of the Amazon and extending far southward along the coast. Being broken and driven back by the
whites, they retired from the coast region into the interior, the bands taking different names. In 1640 sonic of them were still settled, under their own name. along the Lower Amazon from Parfl up to the entrance of the Sladeira. They cultivated corn and manioc, but lived chiefly by limiting and fishing. Their religion was a simple animism, with but little ceremonial. Those yet remaining in the same vicinity are now called, improperly, Tapuya (q.v.). They are all civil ized, quiet, and intelligent. Physically, they are strong and compactly built, and supply the bulk of the crews for the Amazon River trade.