BOTH] THE BODY AND ITS ASSOCIATED SPIKITS 161 



after death: they neither dream not talk about it (RoP, 484-485). 

 The Arawaks maintain that the spirits of "evil" people wander 

 continually around an uninhabited desolate, barren place, while 

 those of the " gwni" occupy the air above their former huts and 

 settlements, but tlie conceptions of the^e Indians as to "good" and 

 "bad" are not identical with modern European views. For instance, 

 if an Arawak by any action of his proves himself a coward or faint- 

 hearted, or succumbs too frequently to excesses in drink, he is called 

 malco-hurohwa ['one who forgets'], a man without sense, wliile one 

 who shows a blameless dispositicm and has remained a stranger to 

 continual intoxication, is named a Tcalia-hurokwa, or brave man 

 (ScR, II, 497): tiio spirits of two such people will be separated on the 

 lines just mdicated. It must not be forgotten, however, that these 

 Arawaks, of all the Guiana Indians, have been longest in contact 

 with civilizing influences, and that this idea of a future existence 

 dependent on present conduct may be but a borrowed one. Speaking 

 generally, the trend of opinion among the so-called imsophisticated 

 Indians is tluit certain of the spirits of people departed hasten to 

 a place where they will have all they want, and meet their friends 

 who have gone before. The prevalent neglect of the South American 

 natives of the sick and the want of love in deahng with them can 

 become intelligible, in Scliomburgk's opinion (ScR, n, 318), only on 

 the assumption of their belief in some such religious tradition as this. 

 82. Cortam Vonozuelan Indians bohcvod that the spirit retu'es 

 to certain lakes and is swallowed by monstrous serpents, which trans- 

 port it to a paradise where its time is occupied in constant dancing 

 and drinking (FD, 52). The Otomacs tlcclare that peoples' souJs 

 all speed toward the West to a place wliere without trouble or toil 

 they live at ease, but before they reach it, they are met by a big bird 

 called Tigtitig, wluch seizes upon and swallows them, unless they 

 valorously fight it (ScR, ii, .318). Humboldt (ii, 249) speaks of this 

 fabulous bird as Tikitiki and makes it responsible for the deform- 

 ities of new-iioin children (Sect. 279). In the pro\'ince of Cumana 

 are several lofty mountams, the liighest of which is Tumeriquiri. 



In this mountain is situated the cavern of Guacliaro. which is so celebrated among 

 the Indians. It is very extensive, and serves as a habitation to an immense number of 

 noctm-nal birds, especially a new species of the Caprimulgus, Linn., from the fat of 

 which is procured the oil of Guacharo. Its situation is commanding, and ornamented 

 by the most luxuriant vegetation. From this cavern issues a river of considerable 

 size, and in the interior is heard the doleful cry of the birds which the Indians attribute 

 to the souls of the deceased, which according to them, must of necessity pass through 

 this place in order to enter the other world. This privilege they immediately obtain 

 when their conduct has been irreproachable throughout life. In the contrary case 

 they are confined for a longer or shorter time in the cavern, according to the magnitude 

 of their offences. It is this dark and dreary abode that forces from them those groans 

 and lamentations which are heard without. The Indians are so fully persuaded of 

 the truth of this tradition, . . . that immediately on the death of any of their relations 

 15961°— 30 ETH— 15 11 



