from 500 to 1,500 kg., allowing from 2 kg. to 4 kg. per partici- 
pant. Families are engaged from six to ten weeks in its pro- 
duction. To produce this amount of sago from Manicaria 
would be almost impossible in terms of time and labor. The 
Warao insist, however, that Manicaria sago is acceptable to 
the Supernaturals and that it can be offered to them in pro- 
pitiation. 
A decisive factor in making palm starch acceptable to the 
gods is that, in its fresh state, it is practically odorless. Odors 
play an important role in communicating with the Super- 
naturals who accept as pleasing only the smell of tobacco 
smoke and that of carana (Protium heptaphyllum). Both 
types of sago available to the Warao fulfill this condition, but, 
besides relative abundance, Mauritia outdoes Manicaria 
on one other important score — it is colorless. When fresh, 
Mauritia sago is as white as plaster of Paris; whereas Mani- 
caria starch is beige to light brown. White is the color of 
predilection of the directional world gods who supposedly 
feel much less attracted by the color of Manicaria starch, 
which turns a dark brown several days after production. 
The color makes it much more appropriate for the Mani- 
caria to serve a secondary god, that of the dark Underworld. 
This spirit is known as Kanishabarao and is believed to dwell 
below the earth in company with his people, right next to 
the abode of Ya ahuba, the Temiche Master Snake. 
All palms, major trees, and most animals depend for their 
existence upon a master snake. The snake of Manicaria is a 
night spirit, appearing on earth only around midnight, when 
it comes to move softly the beautiful leaves of the palm. 
Thus, Manicaria pertains to the midnight sun as Mauritia 
belongs to the gods of the zenith and the world mountains 
at the cardinal and intercardinal points of the universe (Wil- 
bert 1973). 
This aspect recalls the day and/or night association of 
palms in other cultures. As Schultes (1974:7) pointed out, 
similar beliefs prevail among the Kuripako of Colombia in 
connection with Leopoldinia Piassaba. Fiber gatherers “are 
often bitten by poisonous snakes that infest the thick clumps 
[ 322 | 
