Chapter XR' 

 OMENS, CHAR^rS, TALIS^L\NS 



Omens, tokens, auguries, etc., dependent on — human beings {220-2tl); quadrupeds 

 {222); birds {;22S'y, insects (224-225)\ plants (226). Ordeals, Preparatory Charms, for 

 the Chase, with: Inoisions. mutilations, nose-stringing {227); frogs, toads (228-229); 

 caterpillars and ants (230)". perhaps have a physiological basis {2S1). Hunting-dogs 

 have to undergo similar ordeals (232). Attraction charms, Binas (1) for hunting: 

 Plants, used on hunter (2SS), or on liis dog (234), originally obtained from a snake (235). 

 Animals used on the himter and on his dog (2S6); (2) for sexual purposes: Plants 

 (237); animals (238). Talismans, Repellent (and so Protective or Defensive) Charms: 

 Plan) (2.S9), animal, tooth (240), blood and red paint (240A), stone (241). 



220. Omens, tokens, augurie,s, etc., are known to the Arawaks as 

 adihuahu, to the Warraus as a»ijatai-aJtd. Lucky indeed are those 

 children who are born with a caul (sliibo-adddliu) , because they are 

 gomg to see spirits (Yawahu) and .so become more clever. If the 

 husband is away fishing or hunting, and any little child of his, boy 

 or girl, takes up a pot, and puts it on the fire pretending to cook some- 

 thing (leaves, etc.), the mothe. can rest assured that their father is 

 bringing something home with him. If a healthy person is suddenly 

 overcome by a sleej>y feehng, or if during sleep he happens to spit, 

 this means that he is about to be visited by some one (Arawaks). 

 During sneezing and yawning, the spirit temporarily leaves the body 

 through nose and mouth (KG, ii, 1.52). To point the finger at a 

 fellow creature (Sect. 263) is to ofl'er him as serious an afi'ront as it 

 would be to step over him when Ijnng on the gi-ound; in the latter 

 case, the recumbent person would rightly say, "You can cross me 

 when I am dead. I am not dead yet!" (Arawaks). Our old chief- 

 tain, says Schomburgk, had during the morning sprained liis foot, 

 while jumping from rock to rock, an accident to which he paid little 

 attention, but which showed he was unable to proceed on the journey 

 toNappi: this accident was taken as a bad omen by both the Makusis 

 and Arekunas who, wnth the exception of those who were bound to 

 us by agreement, all turned back to their settlement on the following 

 morning (ScR, ii, 291). If the occupants of a settlement [Pomeroon 

 Caribs] wish to assure the victory for their warriors on the march, 

 and want to assure themselves at the same time of the issue of the 

 battle, perhaps already fought, they place two boys on a bench and 

 whip them without mercy, especially over the shoulders. If the boys 

 bear the pain without shedding a tear or uttering a groan, victory is 

 certain. One of the boys is then placed in a hammock, from which 

 he has to shoot at a target fixed to one of the roofs: as many arrows 



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