372 Sir R. Schomburgk on the Natives of Guiana, 



From these general remarks, I turn to an enumeration 

 of the tribes, and some of the most striking characteristics of 

 the Indians who inhabit those parts of Guiana which I have 

 visited. 



It is difficult, if not impossible, to form a close approxima- 

 tion to truth in calculating the number of aborigines within 

 the boundaries of British Guiana. Our imperfect knowledge 

 of the country and still more their wandering life increase 

 this difficulty. In 1840 I estimated the tribes who inhabit 

 the British territory at seven thousand. I fear much that 

 since that period they have materially decreased. Smallpoi^ 

 was introduced among the Macusis, Wapisianas, and Atorais 

 in 1842, and has brought many to an untimely grave, so that 

 I think scarcely six thousand are left, in a territory whicli 

 comprises about 100,000 square miles. 



The different tribes who inhabit Guiana consist of — - 



Arawaaks. Atorais or Atorias. 



"Warraus. Tarumas. 



Caribs or Caribisi, Woyavais, 



Accawais or Waccawaios. Maopityans, 



Macusis, Pianaghotto, 



Arecunas. Prios, 



Wapisianas. 

 The Arawaaks and Warraus live in the coast regions, and 

 their small settlements extend scarcely one hundred miles 

 inland. They number about three thousand. The Caribs 

 inhabit the lower Mazaruni and Cuyuni. The settlements 

 at the Guidaru have been abandoned, and the population, 

 once the lords of the soil, does not at present exceed three 

 hundred. 



The Accawais or Waccawaios inhabit the upper Demerara, 

 the Mazaruni, and Pataro. The two subtribes, the Waicas 

 and Soerikongs, inhabit, the former the regions between the 

 river Cuyuni and the Barima, the latter the upper river Ma- 

 zaruni, and unitedly amount to six hundred. The Macusis 

 live in the open country or savannahs of the Bupununi Pa- 

 rima, and the mountain chains Packaraima and Canuku. 



Those who inhabit the British territory amount probably 

 to twelve hundred ; the whole tribe is probably not less than 



