380 Sir R. Schomburgk on the Natives of Guiana. 



Yams, bananas, and Indian corn, form the other articles of 

 food which they cultivate in their fields. They are particu- 

 larly fond of the half-ripe ears of the Indian corn, which they 

 parch ; this custom equally prevails in Egypt. In the morn- 

 ing the women rise first, and, after having taken the custom- 

 ary bath, they prepare their husband's breakfast. The In- 

 dian eats little at one time, but he eats often ; the general 

 hours are sunrise, ten, noon, three, and sunset. The chief 

 meals are breakfast and supper. 



The Indians prepare different beverages of divers fruits 

 and Indian corn ; but the favourite drink is paiwori, which is 

 prepared from cassada bread. The bread is for that purpose 

 made thicker, and is carbonized on its surface ; it is then 

 broken into pieces, and, after boiling water has been poured 

 over it, the women begin to turn it about with their hands* 

 the large lumps being taken out and chewed, and then put 

 into the pot again. This process, they say, increases the 

 fermentation of the decoction, and renders it intoxicating. 

 Cassiri, which is a fermented liquor from the sweet potato 

 or yam, is made in a similar way. 



The preparation of this beverage for a drinking feast will 

 occupy the women several days. A large trough, in the form 

 of a canoe, is an indispensable piece of furniture in a chief's 

 hut. Although it may contain from a hundred to a hundred 

 and twenty gallons, I have seen it emptied in the course of 

 the day by forty or fifty individuals. 



The scenes incident to a feast of this description do not 

 present much variety. The invitations having been given 

 several days before, the young men of the village from whence 

 the invitation emanated, repair the preceding night to the 

 neighbouring settlements to repeat the summons. The guests 

 assemble the next day, their faces and figures being much 

 painted and decorated with feathers, necklaces of monkey 

 and peccari teeth, and seeds. The dancers arrange them- 

 selves round the trough which contains the intoxicating 

 drink, with their bodies bent forwards ; the one who follows 

 the leader has a calabash in his right hand, and in the left a 

 maraca or rattle ; the others seize upon any object which 



