378 Sir R. Schomburgk on the Natives of Guiana, 



fasting. There are many instances where they have paid for 

 the ordeal with their lives. The Arawaaks and Warraus 

 celebrate this period with a feast and dance, at which the 

 young girl appears, ornamented with beads, and the white 

 down of birds, the latter of which, by means of a gummy 

 substance, is fixed to her head, shoulders, and legs. 



Marriage is not accompanied by any religious rite. Al- 

 though it is customary to hold a courtship, the parents not 

 unfrequently arrange matters for their children in their in- 

 fancy ; in which case, the young man is bound to assist the 

 family of his wife till she arrives at womanhood. In the in- 

 termediate time, he is very particular in his attention to her, 

 presents her with beads, and brings her the best of what he 

 has been able to procure at the chase. At the time of mar- 

 riage, he leads her where he pleases, and establishes his 

 own household. 



When the marriage takes place, the husband clears a suf- 

 ficient space of ground for raising provisions. When cleared, 

 it is made over to the care of the woman, who, from that 

 time, has the whole management of it. 



The generality of husbands have only one wife, but poly- 

 gamy is allowed and practised by all those who possess the 

 means. I recollect an Arawaak chief in the river Berbice, 

 who had five, the youngest of whom was a handsome girl of 

 only thirteen years of age. The first generally pretends to 

 superiority in domestic affairs over the rest ; but it is fre- 

 quently necessary for the husband to exercise his authority 

 in order to restore tranquillity in his harem. 



On the husband's return from hunting or fishing, his wife 

 prepares his meal, which usually consists of flesh or game ; 

 the latter is frequently boiled in the blood of the animal, and 

 well seasoned with capsicums or cayenne pepper. The male 

 part of the family all eat together, and, if the weather per- 

 mit, before the door, in the open air. Squatted on the 

 ground, the Indian dips his cassada bread into the pot which 

 contains the food, and helps himself with his fingers to that 

 piece of meat for which he has the greatest fancy. Their 

 meals last but a short time, and every one rises as soon as 

 he has done. The females do not eat with the men, but wait 



