226 ANIMISM AND FOLK-LOBE OF GUIANA INDIANS [eth. anx. 30 



to carry. Each bird carried his load home on liis l)ack, and ever since has been 

 marked by the hues of the section of the serpent's skin that he carried happened to 

 bear — pan-ots green, macaws scarlet and gold, and so on. But Cormorant as his share 

 got only the snake's head with its .somber tints: however, he remained content with 

 this. 



16?A. Hunting is no Part of Woman's Work (W) 



While going to her held one morning an old woman found a Deer fast asleep on 

 his back in the pathway. Returning to the liouse, she got a piece of an old knife and 

 began sharpening it. All the grandchildren were making remarks at her, as: e. g., 

 "Look! What is the old woman sharpening the knife for? She's going hunting." 

 "What do you say?" She sneeringly retorted: "Yes. I am going hunting. You 

 are all too lazy to go, but I am not. You arc not fit even to hunt, but I am. I found 

 some dead meat this morning, all spoiling, and I intend bringing it home." So 

 saying, she went about her business, taking a little granddaughter to keep her company 

 and give help. When they arrived at the spot where the Deer was still lying on his 

 back, she approached the beast and commenced jagging her knife under his chin 

 straight down his neck, and so right in the middle line of his body. The knife was 

 blunt, however, and the old woman's arm weak, with the result that at first she did 

 hardly more than scratch the skin. But when she tried to make an incision lower 

 down-^[\-idet pulchrum veterem caprum esse, qui titillatus in tanta delicata parte 

 corporis eius], awoke with a surprised start, kicked the old woman to one side, and 

 sprang off into the bush. "Damn you!" she cried, as she threw the blunt knife 

 after him. 



Wlien they got home, the little girl told her parents exactly what had happened 

 to her grandmother, and how they did laugh at her! It was her first and last attempt 

 to go hunting and do man's work. 



163B. How THE Tapir Punished the Indian (W) 



Wliile traveling through the forest one day an Indian came across a party of men 

 seated, eating something that smelt very savory. Now, instead of waiting to be asked 

 to partake of the cheer, our traveler roughly inquired of them what it was that they 

 were smacking their lips over. They told him that it was bush-cow [tapir] liver, 

 and that if he wanted some he would have to hunt it himself. On further questioning, 

 they told him exactly wliere he would find a bush-cow sleeping, and advised him 

 that the best and quickest way to get the li\-er was [manum cum cultro in ano inserere 

 atque exscindere], and the silly old fool believed them. Proceeding to the spot 

 indicated and finding the beast asleep [inseruit cultrum in ano] — but, with the tapir 

 now wide awake, he found it impossible to release his arm. On rushed the animal 

 through thicket, bush, and forest, dragging the miserable himter behind him. So 

 they traveled night and day, only to be released when they found themselves on a 

 sheet of water. Here the tapir relieved himself, thus freeing his would-be captor. 

 By the time the man reached home all the skin had peeled off his arm, and when his 

 folk asked him what had caused the trouble, he told them, and they laughed at him. 

 He had been punished for his want of manners. 



163C. The Turtle and the Aruresso Bird ' (W) 



A woman had a daughter with whom Turtle and Aruresso were anxious to go court- 

 ing, and, not knowing wliich to choose for son-in-law, she bade each cut a field. 

 Though the Bird left at daybreak. Turtle would be up and away long before, and 



' This bird is the korasiri of IheArawak, well know-n for its habit of making a"playing-grouiid": it is 

 said to whistle three different times morning and afternoon. 



