The general term for orchid in Cayap6o is pi-aria, *‘the 
plant which grows on wood,’ thus distinguishing orchids 
from other blossoming plants (pi-dj6-rara), As a con- 
traceptive agent, Rodriguezia secunda is known also as 
a me-hra-het-dja. 
The ozher plant, the Simaba, is more widely known 
to the Cayap6 as a contraceptive agent. It is taken orally. 
Several informants, both men and women, have reported 
its efhcacy. Although I have never seen it done, shav- 
ings from the root of the Simaba plant are infused in hot 
water, like a ‘‘tea’’, which is given to women to drink 
and to rub over their bodies. 
The effects of this remedy are said to be anti-menstrual 
as well as contraceptive. In recognition of its multiple 
properties, Cayapo designate the Simaba by several 
names. .We-hra-het-dja reters to the contraceptive aspect, 
whereas huhrut-hané, or “*tapir sickness-medicine’” (hané 
is a word which can mean a sickness as well as its cure) 
denotes its anti-menstrual character. The Cayapo do not 
look upon menstruation as anormal organic function but 
rather as adisease. As one woman explained, after solicit- 
ing medicine from me, ‘‘A long time ago the tapir 
pierced my liver and now I bleed every month.*” In fact, 
menstruation does seem to be quite irregular, for many 
women pass months without a period. I was told that, 
if a woman takes the root infusion at the onset of her 
menstrual period, her bleeding will stop by sundown of 
the tollowing day, and she will not conceive for one 
month, calculated by the waning and waxing of the 
moon. 
Cayapo know the Simaba also as a fish poisoning agent, 
tep-hané (‘‘fish medicine’’). The root is beaten into the 
water to stun, not kill, the fish which come floating to the 
surface where they may be shot easily by Cayapo using 
bow and arrow, or simply caught up by hand. Simaba 
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