236 ANIMISM AND FOLK-LORE OF GUIANA INDIANS [eth. ans. 30 



a basket" (ScF, 221). Mount Soroiieng, the "swallows' nest," an 

 object of much dread to the superstitious, is another good mstance 

 (BW, 177). The Takwiari offset of the Twasinkie Mountams, Esse- 

 quibo, derives its Carib name from a remaikablo pile of large granite 

 bowlders so placed as to resemble a water-jar, called Comuti by the 

 Ai-awak Indians, and bj^ this name they are more commonly known 

 (ScR, I, 328). Ayangcanna Mountain can be seen in the distance 

 from the upper Mazaruni, forming a most singular picture. The 

 word means ''lice-searchers," this disagreeable name being bestowed 

 on account of a row of huge pointed rocks on the crest, which are 

 sharply defmed against the sky, and to the Indian eye resemble a 

 row of women seated one behind the other, searching each other's 

 head for vermin, a custom very prevalent among all Guiana tribes 

 (Bro, 390). It must be admitted that such fancied resemblances are 

 not always too clear to European eyes. Clear or not, however, once 

 the resemblance admitted, then follow the explanation and the 

 "padding," the pointing of the so-called moral to adorn the tale. 

 Waj^aca-piapa Mountain, northwest of Roraima, is the ''felled tree" 

 which, as the Indians saj", the Spirit Makonaima cut down during 

 his journey through these parts. On the Mazaruni, near Masanassa 

 village, relates Boddam-Whetham : "We passed a peculiar lock in 

 the middle of the river somewhat resembling a human figure: the 

 Indians thought it was a river-god watching for pacu" (BW, 179). 

 On some granite blocks, above the Waraputa Rapids, Essequibo 

 River, "I found," says Schomburgk, "two impressions of a man's 

 foot, as if he had sprung from one rock to the other. The imprint 

 of each foot, even to that of tlie five toes, was really striking. The 

 Indians told us that these were the tracks which the Great Spirit had 

 left behind when he took his de])arture along this route from among 

 their forefathers with whom he used to live" (ScR, i, 326). 



In passing the Carowuring [branch of the upper Mazaruni] the guide informed us 

 that when high it is na\'igable for canoes for lialf a day's journey up, to the foot of a 

 high fall, at which there is a large sand-beach, marked with mysterious footprints 

 resembling those made by the human foot. The sand also is thrown up as if children 

 had been playing there. If the Indians who visit the spot trample down these heaps, 

 and go away for a short time, on their return they find them there again as before. 

 The Indians believe that wild men live near the spot, but have never succeeded in 

 seeing them. [Bro, 385.] 



The torrential streams which so suddenly gush down from the 

 heights of Roraima are but tlie sorrowful tears of the Mother of Pia 

 and Makonaima — she who had been left behind on top of this moun- 

 tain by the former (Da, 342). At least that is what the Makusis 

 affirm. Some people say that over the tops of Roraima and Kukenani 

 are spread seas filled with all kuids of fish, especially dolphins, and 

 continually circled by gigantic white eagles, which act as perpetual 

 watchmen (ScR, ii, 265). 



