268 ANIMISM AXD FOLK-LORE OF GUIANA INDIANS I kth. anx, SO 



215. Conversely, the rain can be stopijed. Xear Mora Village, on 

 the upper Rupununi, there was a hill close by on which, the Indian 

 said, a "Spirit at the approach of the end of the rainy season, made a 

 noise like the report of a gun to stop the rain" (Bro, 138). "We 

 passed an old man," says Brett (Br, 169), "fishing in a canoe on the 

 ManaAvarin. The clouds threatened rain, and when he perceived it, 

 he began to use extraordinary gesticulations, flourisliing liis arms, 

 and shouting liis incantations to drive it away. It soon cleared up, 

 and the old sorcerer rejoiced at his success, as he deemed it." So 

 again, Dance (p. 234), on the Potaro: "A cloud was gathering \vind- 

 ward, and tlireatened rain. The Indian who had the front paddle 

 in my woodskin commenced to blow away the threatening rain cloud. 

 This he attempted to do by blowing into his fist and dashing his 

 hand upward toward the cloud." Schomburgk describes a similar 

 manoeuver executed by a Warrau (ScR, i, 186). On the Poraeroon, 

 should rain fall at a time when it is particularly not desired, as when 

 traveling in an exposed corial, one of the occupants will address the 

 "Boss" Sphit of the Rain somewhat as follows: "Pass on. We don't 

 want you here. Clear out to the head of the river where you are 

 wanted," at the same time pointing with his finger toward the direc- 

 tion he wishes it to take. Another of the occupants wUl as often as 

 not then get up in the boat on all fours and, pointmg liis posterior in 

 the du'ection of the Rain, will address it with an obscene remark. The 

 Being thus addressed is Uni-shidu, so called by the Arawaks from Uni, 

 the Raiu, and Shidu, a term applied to any chief or boss. As first 

 recorded by Bancroft (312), it is noteworthy that if it rains at the time, 

 the medicine-man will postpone his incantations. 



316. The Arawaks speak of the Rainbow as Yawani (Dldelphys 

 sp.), the reddish ''olor of its fur bearing some fancied resemblance 

 to the coloration of the bow. These same people (certainly in the 

 Pomeroon District) hold that white people arc coming fi"om the direc- 

 tion where they see a rainbow: On inquiry, I learn that the con- 

 nection between this natural phenomenon and the European lies in 

 the high arched forehead of the latter. The Island Caribs more or 

 less personified it as Joulouca [ ?another form of the word Yurokon, 

 Sect. 94], the Rainbow Spirit, which "lives on fish, hzards, pigeons, 

 and humming birds, and is covered with fine feathers of all colors, 

 especially on the head. He is the rain-bow wliich we see: the clouds 

 prevent us from seeing the rest of the body. He makes the Carib ill 

 when it finds notliing to eat above. If tliis fine Iris ajjpears when 

 they are at sea, they take it as a good omen of a prosperous journey. 

 Wlien it a]ipears to them while they are on land, they hide in their 

 homes and think that it is a strange and masterless spirit which seeks 

 to kiU somebody " (BBR, 231). 



