HOTH] THE SPIRITS OF THE BUSH 197 



of the Ceromonios, etc.. blow upon a small flute, in imitation of a 

 monkej^'s voice, which regulated the movement. Reaching there, 

 the others made a circle round him, when a second signal on the flute 

 warned them aU to lay tlieir instruments on the ground, and bend 

 themselves down, until he had murmured some uninteUigible words. 

 At a third signal they picked up their instruments, straightened 

 themselves, and were now allowed to pipe away (ScR, i, 153). With 

 the Makusis, a deafening universal shout , like dogs howling, constitutes 

 on every occasion the introduction and finale of their combined 

 games and dances wherewith to expel the evil spirits from the neigh- 

 borhood (ScR, II, 194). A somewhat similar course was followed on 

 the Orinoco at the wedding festi\rities of the Guayquiries and Mapojes. 

 As soon as day breakg, there comes from the bush close at hand a 

 dancing party with flutes and kettledrums, which circuits backward 

 and forward round the houses of the brides, whence presently there 

 (-merges an old woman with a plate of food, wliich she presents to 

 one of the dancers; they then all return at toj) speed to the bush, 

 where, scattering the plate and food, one of them wiU shout, "Here! 

 you devil of a dog {perro demonio)] Take this food, and don't come 

 and upset our fun!" (G, i, 160). To prevent the Bush Spirits com- 

 ing into the house, a hunter, on his return from the chase, will shout 

 out the name Sliimarabu-nkaradani (Sect. 96) before entering (Sect. 

 124)- Other methods may be adopted for withstancUng the venge- 

 ance of the Spirits of those animals which the hunter has just 

 returned from slaughtering (Sect. 243). An alligator skull stuck up 

 in a Carib house will prevent the Yurokon entering it (Sect. 251). 



130. So also, when traveling in the bush, forest, and other j)laces, 

 where all these Spirits are lurking, one should never be without a 

 companion, and it is always advisable to satisfy' oneself as to the 

 cause and origin of any unusual sound. "The Indian always prefers 

 to travel in large numbers: his dread of evil spirits is so gi'eat, that he 

 will subject himself to great inconvenience rather than travel alone" 

 (ScG, 262). "It is a duty to one's self to turn and look about 

 when a stick falls from a tree, or when a crackling of twigs is heard: 

 for there walk together always a bad and a good spirit (Sect. 84) — 

 the one wishing to injure, the other to protect living people. At 

 sight of any one in the forest or on the river, the evil spirit is ready to 

 harm: but the good spirit says, 'Stay! he may be a friend of mine. 

 Let us see if he will show his face when I call.' He then breaks a 

 twig or a branch. The person is saved from harm if he looks 

 around, but is in danger of being hurt if he wiU not look." (Da, 262.) 

 '\Mienever Indians — Warraus and others — traveling in the bush hear 

 any unusual cry or uncanny noise, they will sing out, "Show who 

 you are, or ebe bring something to eat!" or some similar expression 

 (Sects. 116, 130). If a Spirit is met on the road, the Caribs know 

 how to divert its attention (Sect. 109) mth a string puzzle. 



