258 ANIMISM AND FOLK-LORE OF GUIANA INDIANS [eth. anx. :!0 



him not to leave them. The young men, of 15 to 20 years of age, 

 stand in two rows apart while certain old men roughly thrash them 

 in turn with wliips. Finally, the women, in a sea of tears hewail 

 the Moon's projected departure and fatal absence. The idea would 

 seem to be that the Moon has enemies whom, through fear, lie is 

 anxious to avoid, and he is therefore desirous of giving the benefit 

 of his Ught to other nations. It is only the promises of these Indian 

 warriors to fight in his favor which allay his fears, and hence there is 

 no necessity for him really to take himself off. As soon as the 

 Guayanas (G, ii, 278) recognize an ecUpse of the moon, they take np 

 the implements used in cultivating their fields. With much talk 

 and gesticulation, some cut the undergrowth, others clear it, and 

 others again dig up the ground, all of them loudly proclaiming that the 

 Moon has cause for being annoyed, and particularly good reason for 

 forsaking them, considering that they had never made a field for him. 

 They accordingly beg him not to go, because they are now providing 

 him with a field, in wliich they propose planting maize, cassava, and 

 plantains. With these promises and entreaties they continue at 

 their task, working on it with vigor so long as the ecUpse lasts; and, 

 as soon as it is over, they return to their houses overjoyed. But 

 there is no more working on the field in the Moon's behalf until the 

 next eclipse takes place! Among the Otomacs (G, ii, 279), when the 

 event occurs, the husbands aimlessly take up their weapons, skip 

 about, and yell beyond measure, stretch the arrow on the bow in 

 sign of anger, and ask, beg, and implore the Moon not to die. While 

 they continue in their gi'ief, the Moon goes on diminishing and lan- 

 guishing. Recognizing from this that their actions are not under- 

 stood, they run back to their houses, where they bitterly reproach 

 their wives for not grieving over and bewaihng the Moon's sickness. 

 The latter make not the slightest sign that they understand what is 

 expected of them, and answer never a word. The men then cliange 

 their tactics and start begging and beseeching their wives to cry 

 and weep, so that the Moon may revive and not die. Still the 

 women act as if they do not iniderstand what is besought of them. 

 So the men give them presents — glass-beads, monkey-tooth neck- 

 laces, jewelry, and the like. The women now understand in truth, 

 and saying many prayers soon make the Moon shine as bright and 

 clear as before — for doing which they earn their husbands' gratitude. 

 According to their idea it is the female voices that move the Moon 

 to take compassion on them, and save them from extinction. 



203. Tlie Uaupcs River (Rio Negro) Indians beheve that at an 

 eclipse, Jurupari (Sect. 101) is kilhng the Moon; they make all the 

 noise they can to frighten him away (ARW, 348). So again, the 

 Island Caribs say that Maboya (Sect. 84) is eating the Moon on such 

 an occasion: thev dance all night, and rattle their calabashes with 



