CULTURE OF PEOPLE OF SOUTHEASTERN PANAMA 51 



In singling out certain characteristics of type and details of tech- 

 nique without correlating them with the use to which the object is 

 to be put, a distorted interpretation of culture relationship may be 

 arrived at. The crutch paddle of South America has been so singled 

 out by Graebner and others, and a southeastern Asiatic influence 

 intimated on the strength of the similarity of hand grip in south- 

 eastern Asiatic paddles. Not only must the object be considered in 

 all the phases of its utilization, but in its relationship to all other 

 objects employed in the culture area under consideration. The length 

 of the paddle used undergoes a wide variation, reaching a length of 

 2!/2 meters in central Brazil among the Guato, where many other 

 sizes are also in use by children, the length of the paddle being 

 determined by the age and size of the child. When used by adults 

 the length of the paddle is generally determined by the posture 

 assumed, whether sitting or standing. Another factor determining 

 the shape of the paddle is the type of boat used, also the condition 

 of the stream navigated. If, as is the case on the Atrato River, 

 there is much plant growth on the surface of the water, the Indian 

 sitting or standing at the front of the boat must use the paddle at 

 times as a knife to cut or to remove the impediment ; the sharp point 

 at the (distal) end serves as an extension to push against stones 

 and other obstructions on a shallow bottom. To characterize those 

 paddles that have no grip or crutchlike extension at the proximal 

 end of the handle as a primitive type, and those possessing such grip 

 or crutch as advanced or borrowed forms, is to ignore the fact that 

 the former are used for different purposes and in a different manner 

 than are the latter. 



The San Bias Indians can go into the forest and secure all the 

 materials necessary to construct a cayuca, including sails and rope. 

 Such a boat is usually a dugout made of cedar wood and is made large 

 enough to carry a load of more than 1,000 coconuts to the market 

 at Colon. The keel is not very deep but extends the entire length 

 of the cayuca, so as to enable the Indian sailor to hold it closer to 

 the wind on a tack. The bow and stern are high. Little holes are 

 made in the bottom of the boat in building, so as to determine the 

 thickness of the bottom. These holes, except the hole at the bow, 

 are plugged up when the boat is ready for use. In making a land- 

 ing the boat is backed to the shore and to facilitate pulling it up 

 the bank, the plug at the bow is removed, so that the rain water 

 may run out. Another advantage in backing the boat to the shore 

 when landing is that when ready to put out to sea the bow is always 

 pointed seaward. Steering is done by means of an ordinary boat 

 paddle. 



