Sir R. Schomburgk 07i (he Natives of Guiana. 369 



They believe also in a future state, or that the soul wan- 

 ders forth from the grave, in which they accordingly inter 

 the clothes and the bows and arrows of the deceased, in order 

 that they may be ready for the use of their owner when he 

 stands in need of them. 



If we substitute for the word Samoiedes, " Guiana abori- 

 gines,'' we have a statement of their religious belief. The 

 Maciisis name their good spirit Makunaima, the evil one 

 Immawari ; of the latter there are legions. The soul, which 

 leaves the body when man dies, is called Tecketong. 



The religious rites of the Yakutes are similar to those of 

 the Samoiedes ; both tribes have priests or Biuhns, who are 

 reputed mediators between men and the gods, and connect 

 magical performances with their incantations. 



The Piatzas or Piais of the Guiana Indians exercise simi- 

 lar functions, and constitute a powerful priesthood. The 

 Piatzas, when performing their superstitious customs, use 

 rattles and bells ; others, chiefly the Caribs and Wapisianas, 

 avail themselves of drums. A similar custom prevails among 

 the Yakutes and Samoiedes. There is another custom of 

 the ancient Yakutes, which is followed by the Warraus and 

 other Indian tribes in Guiana in a somewhat similar manner, 

 namely, the custom of burying alive or killing the oldest ser- 

 vants or favourites of a prince at his funeral, which, however, 

 is now abolished. At the funeral of one of their chieftains 

 or principal men, the Warraus place the favourite huntings 

 dog of the deceased, alive, with his former master, into the 

 grave ; or, as is now more frequently the case, the dog is 

 killed and buried with him. 



When the Yakutes meet with a fine tree, they presently 

 hang up all manner of nick-nacks about it ; a custom which is 

 followed generally by the Indians of Guiana. 



The pyramidal huts of the Indians in the interior of Guiana, 

 chiefly the Macusis, Wapisianas, and Tarumas, are remark- 

 able for their size, and the walls are sometimes made of clay, 

 sometimes of bark of trees, covered with palm-leaves, which 

 are rendered impervious to the rain, by clay being thrown 

 upon them. 



In the winter the Yakutes inhabit jurte or yourds, which 



