CULTURE OF PEOPLE OF SOUTHEASTERN PANAMA 79 



is painted a chrome yellow (Cat. No. 327469, U.S.N.M., pi. 20, 

 No. 1). 



Bird figure carvings. — A bird figure painted green topping an 

 unusually light colored soft wood staff, 92 cm. (35.7 in.) in length is 

 employed by the Tule in a manner similar to that just described 

 (Cat. No. 327471, U.S.N.M., pi. 20, No. 2). Another policeman's 

 staff, of dark semihardwood, 96 cm. (37.5 in.) in length is elaborately 

 carved. Three animal figures resembling dogs, but probably re- 

 presenting some other animal, are carved at the head of the staff, 

 two of them in a recumbent position on a double grooved plat- 

 form and at the side of a column or extension of the body of the 

 staff which supports a duplicate platform several centimeters higher 

 up. On this platform rests the third animal figure, likewise in 

 a recumbent position. This figure is painted black; the figures on 

 the lower platform are painted one black and the other yellow. The 

 lower platform is also painted chrome yellow, while the upper is 

 in green, with the intervening columnar surface in green and black. 

 A coiled band of green encircles the staff from the handle carving 

 downward., a distance of 21 cm. This painted coiled band 

 represents a snake (Cat, No. 327468, U.S.N.M., pi. 20, No. 3). 



Another " tsuwarivgana," (Tule), with an animal figurine at the 

 head, probably a jaguar representation was intended if one is to 

 judge by the black, crescent-shaped painted blotches covering its 

 surface. Then, again, to read into Tule culture the idea of a watch- 

 dog associated with the police or guardian of order is to imply an 

 acculturation which probably has not transpired (Cat. No. 327470, 

 U.S.N. M., pi. 20, No. 4). The animal carving is painted a creamy 

 white, the pedestal on which the jaguar figure reclines, a dark green 

 at the sides and blue on the top surface. A floral design resembling 

 a whorl of four leaves, or, again, a flying bird with outstretched 

 wings, is carved in low relief on the lateral surfaces of the pedestal. 

 Similar whorls occur frequently in the painted decorative patterns 

 of the Choco as well, but not in the form of wood carvings. 



The combination ^of bird and human figure carvings on one staff 

 head is unique (Cat. No. 327464, U.S.N.M., pi. 20, No. 5). A medi- 

 cine man's staff or dance wand, " kava turgana " (Tule), carved from 

 one block of palm wood, is 106.5 cm. (41 in.) in length. Embodied 

 in the carved handle are the symbols of the doctor as represented by 

 the male human figurine, and of command, as represented by a bird 

 figure perched on top of the human figurine's head. The human 

 figurine is a carving in typical Tule style and represents a man 

 12.5 cm. (4.9 in.) in length, holding in his right hand an underr- 

 ated staff. The staff is of equal diameter in section throughout its 

 length. The European garb of the figurine is painted white except 

 the coat and hat brim, which are in black. A strand of small red 



