that of Father Joseph Gumilla, a Jesuit missionary in the 1700s to 
groups along and near the Orinoco between the Meta and Apure 
Rivers. Gumilla confines himself to procedures and omits men- 
tion of special body-painting for barbasco expeditions —a signif- 
icant detail which is described by his fellow-missionary, Father 
Juan Rivero. 
Attributing choice of designs to individual caprice, Rivero 
states that they use their finest paints — black, yellow, red, 
white — to apply circles around their eyes, spots on their 
cheeks, lines down their noses, and their entire bodies red (19). 
Both Gumilla and Rivero most probably refer to the Achagua, 
among whom were their mission Indians. 
Gumilla(7) describes fishing by both men and women. Of the 
first, he writes: ‘They. . . fishin small rivers and brooks to vary 
their diet or for amusement. They grow two kinds of roots for 
this purpose, one called ‘cuna’ . . . similar to turnips except for 
the smell and taste; each is harmful to the fish, crushed in the 
water; it is enough for them to smell it and they are intoxicated 
and stupefied in such a way that the Indians can go about putting 
them into their baskets with their bare hands. . . . The other root 
with which they fish is called ‘barbasco’ and is of the same color 
and shape as the stock of a grapevine, and also has the strength 
of cuna. This is a very diverting kind of fishing, and ordinarily 
very merry for the Indians; because to this one, as it jumps out of 
the water, a fish gives a slap in the face or to another a tap in the 
ribs: the rest. . . make fun of this; then the same thing happens 
to them, which makes them laugh.”’ 
The second kind of fishing described by Gumilla was done by 
women and children: ‘‘Very easy, and odd, is the way the Indian 
women fish with cuna. They grind cooked maize and set aside a 
ball of that dough. With the rest, they grind one or two cuna 
roots . . . They go to the nearest river or stream and throw in the 
dough which is not poisoned; a great number of sardinas, 
codoyes, and other medium-sized fish gather around the dainty. 
When they have them enjoying the tidbits, they take the other 
dough which is poisoned with cuna, and their children go into the 
water. . . below the pool, each with his basket. . . they throw in 
little balls . . . and when the fish swallow them, they become 
intoxicated and motionless... . The current carries them 
downstream and the youngsters collect them with much noise 
and shouting. It is certainly an unusual way to fish, and aside 
from its usefulness, is an amusement.’’ 
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