So IN THE GUIANA FOREST. 



looks after the cassava bread and pepper-pot, 

 and assists the others in reminding her husband 

 of his duties. No matter that they have to go 

 without meat for a few days, the child's spirit 

 must be preserved from harm. In this, as in 

 many other things, the Indian wife gets on better 

 than her more civilised sister. She knows her 

 own duties and does them, never expecting any 

 indulgence or assistance from her husband. He 

 does not trespass on her domain, nor she on his, 

 and consequently they rarely, if ever, have any 

 disputes. The great drawback to all this, from 

 one point of view, is the lack of sympathy. This 

 feeling is one of those which is not only wanting 

 in the Indian, but also in other uncultivated races. 

 It is obviously the product of the higher evolution. 

 When the child is two or three days' old his 

 mother goes to work in the cassava field, carrying 

 him at her breast, in his little hammock. The 

 little one hardly ever cries, nor does he give nearly 

 so much trouble as the European baby. Even 

 when sick, that cross and fretful disposition so 

 conspicuous elsewhere is almost unknown. When 

 dangerously ill the Piaiman is called in, who 

 commences by charging the father with some 

 neglect of duty as the cause. He had gone 

 hunting too soon and shot the child's spirit, or 



