Innumerable snails are seen in their shells in the woods, plains, and
the borders of lakes, but are eaten by no human being in Paraguay. Empty
snail-shells, burnt to ashes in the fire, are used by the Guaranies for
whitening walls, when stones for making lime are not to be found. From
the white shells of certain snails, the Vilelas make little round beads,
perforated in the middle, which they sell to the other Indians. The
Abipones hang round their necks great heavy strings of these beads, and
both men and women think the more they are loaded the finer they are. On
the shores of the river Uruguay, there is an odd kind of snail, larger
than a man's fist, which the Indians roast in its shell, and devour with
avidity. I do not recollect any thing worth mentioning, in regard to
shells and shell-fish, if there are any wretched ones to be found here.