130 SAIITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS [vol. 45 



angles and parallel lines, their size diminishing and the orna- 

 mentation ending a short distance from the tail, which is flattened 

 and not decorated. On the belly there are well carved, smoothly 

 polished scales. This wooden serpent is probably one of those to 

 which early writers refer, and was no doubt highly venerated by its 

 former owners. The object might also possibly have been used in 

 more modern voodoo rites and ceremonies, but as designs upon it 

 are characteristic of those occurring on prehistoric artifacts from 

 the island, there is every likelihood of its ancient character. 



Regurgitating Sticks. — In describing Antillean ceremonies, early 

 Spanish writers casually state that, in approaching the idols the 

 priests were accustomed to thrust sticks down their throats to induce 

 vomiting, in order that their bodies might be purified before certain 

 rites were performed. This custom, which occurs also in other 

 primitive religions, is mentioned by Gomara, Benzoni, and others, 

 and is illustrated in several early works ; the known descriptions and 

 figures of these regurgitating sticks, however, are not detailed 

 enough to convey an idea of their form. In Sehor Imbert's collection 

 there are five wooden sticks, consisting of decorated shafts with 

 handles, which were found with the wooden idol already mentioned, 

 hence are believed to have been used in the regurgitation rite. Their 

 shafts are slightly curved, and are flattened and smoothly rounded 

 at their edges, so that they bear a general resemblance to curved 

 paper-knives. 



One of the sticks has the handle carved in the form of a kneeling 

 figure, with globular head and with eyes represented by sunken pits 

 in which, the finder claimed, there were nuggets of gold when he 

 obtained the specimen. The fore-legs of the figure, as is customary 

 in such carvings, are placed close to the side of the head. The part 

 of the shaft just below the handle is decorated with incised grooves, 

 ferrules, and other designs. 



Another specimen, more elaborate than the first, has a handle 

 carved into an image, the ribs and backbone of which are well in- 

 dicated. The arms are represented in front of the body, and each 

 hand carries an object different from the other. The feet are more 

 like bird-claws, but the legs have incised lines representing the 

 bands or garters with which the Caribs are said to have girt their 

 limbs to increase the size of their calves. The shaft just below the 

 handle is ferruled, and the incised lines at this point show a break, 

 called the " life line," such as occurs in pottery decorations, idols, 

 and stone pestles. Another of these sticks has a terminal figure with 

 a perforated elevation at the back of the head. Legs are absent, but 



