336 ANIMISM AND FOLK-LORE OF GUIANA INDIANS [etii. ann. 30 



crane to remain where he was, while he would viBit the tobacco field; he was small, 

 could fly swiftly, and no one would see him stealing the tobacco seed. \Miile carrying 

 out his design, the watch-woman tried to shoot him, but he was too smart for her, and 

 darting quickly from flower to flower, soon collected as much seed as he required, and 

 returned to the crane. "Friend, " said he, "let us get home now, " and suiting the 

 action to the word the little creature started ahead, and now with the wind behind him, 

 reached home first without mishap. Here he delivered the seed to the crane's master, 

 and the latter handed it to his brother, telling him to plant it. When planted it grew 

 very quickly, and when the leaves were fully grown, the brother showed him how to 

 cure the tobacco. The brother also sent him to search for bark to suit the leaf [i. e. to 

 make the cigarette], and he brought the winnam6ru, which was just what was required. 

 He next sent him for the hebu-mataro [rattle] and he brought gourds of all sizes, but at 

 last he returned with a calabash that he had picked from off the east side of the tree; 

 this was the very thing. The bereaved father thereupon started "singing" with the 

 rattle, and his son and the other two lads came in answer; they were three Spirits now, 

 and all three addressing him as father, asked for tobacco, with which he supplied them. 

 It is these same three Tobacco Spirits, Kurusiwari, Matura-wari, and Kdwai-wari, who 

 always answer when called by the piai's rattle, and as a matter of fact it was the poor 

 bereaved father who came to be the first piai, all through his great grief at losing his 

 child, and longing so much to see him once more.' 



296A. KOMATARI, THE FiRST MeDICINE-MAN (W) 



Komatari wanted some tobacco, but as there was none about, he searched for it. 

 He had heard of its growing on an island out at sea, so he went down to the shore, where 

 he came across a house with a man inside. Approaching him, Komatari said: "I am 

 poor, and want tobacco. I hear you have it growing on an island. Could you get 

 me some plants? " Wiiile thus engaged in conversation, the hummingbird came along, 

 and said, "Hullo! What are you two talking about? " "Tobacco: we want tobacco," 

 they replied. "Oh, is that all?" the little bird said; "why, I'll go and fetch some 

 for you. I shall be making a start before the morning, and you can expect me back 

 just as the sun begins to turn that way " [pointing in a direction which would indicate 

 about an hour after midday]. The hummingbird kept his word, and returned as 

 promised, but when the house-master saw what he had brought back, he said, "Why, 

 that is no tobacco leaf: it is only the tobacco flower," and, turning to Komatari, he 

 said, "I will go myself." The house-master started next morning for the same island, 

 telling Komatari to expect him back as soon as the hummingbird, that is, shortly 

 after midday. But as a matter of fact, he never returned until the following morning. 

 The cause of the delay was that so many people were watching the tobacco that he 

 had to wait for nightfall before he could steal the leaves. However, giving Komatari 

 some of the seed, he told him to go down to the waterside, where he would find his 

 corial, and if he looked inside he would see two or three tobacco leaves, which he 

 might take. Komatari did as directed, but instead of two or three leaves he found 

 the whole corial full of them. He helped himseli to as many as would fill a quake, 

 and went home. Before taking his departiu'e, however, the house-master said; "I 

 have a name, but will not mention it: when you know all about Piai [i. e. ' Medicine'] 

 you will be able to find it out for yoirrself." At last Komatari reached home, and 

 naturally all his friends came to pay him a visit, to get some of the tobacco; but he 

 was shrewd, kept the tobacco imder the roof [i. e. hanging tip to dry in the ordinary 

 manner] in charge of the marabuntas [wasps], left home very early of a morning, and 

 only returned late, so as not to be at home when anybody called. But at last a visitor 



1 For further account of the relationship between hummingbirds and tobacco, see Sect. SoO. 



