ROTH] MISCELLANEOUS BELIEFS 367 



337. I am afraid that the existence of a Warracaba tiger, Uke many 

 another quaint conceit, must be consigned to the obUvion of super- 

 stition. The beUef is of somewhat local origin and of comparatively 

 recent date, no references being met with in all the old literature avail- 

 able. It is verj' probably aldn to the many other mythical ''tigers" 

 with which the Indian folk-lore is so replete: for example, the Kanaima 

 (Sect. 330) of the natives generally, the Tobe-horoanna (Sects. I44, 

 146, 1^8) of the Warraus particularh'-, for which it fulfills a somewhat 

 similar purpose. On the other hand, it is possible that the myth 

 has its origin in certain indigenous wild dogs which hunt in packs. 

 On the Quitaro River, some Wapisiana Indians stated that the jour- 

 ney to the Ataraipu Rock and back would liave to bo accomplished 

 in one day, as it would be imi)ossil)le to spend a niglit near the rock, 

 on account of a pack of Warracaba tigei-s that hiliabited the district 

 (Bro, 149). Tlie most vivid description of the creature comes from 

 the pen of Barrington Brown (Bro, 72, 73, 74) when on the Mazaruni: 



I eagerly inquired what were Warracaba tigers, and was hastily informed that they 

 were small and exceedingly ferocious tigers, that they hunted in packs, and were not 

 frightened by camp-fires or anything except the barking of dogs. To water they have 

 a special aversion, and will never cross a stream which is too wide for them to jump. 

 . . . As we stopped, a shrill scream rent the night air. . . Tliis was answered by 

 another cry coming from the depths of the forest, the interval between them being 

 filled by low growls and tnmipcling sounds which smote most disagreeably on the ear. 

 . . . The call of these animals resembles that of the Warracaba or Trumpet-bird 

 (P Sophia crepitans) . . . and hence they have obtained the name of Warracaba tigers. 

 The Ackawoise Indians call them " Y'agamisheri," and say that they vary in size aa 

 well as in color. As many as a hundred are said to have been seen in one pack. . . . 

 They are said to frequent the mountains, but when pressed by hunger . . . they 

 descend to the lowlands. 



Schomburgk states that this tiger is so named after the peculiar 

 coloring of the breast, which is exactly like the feathers of the trum- 

 peter l)ird (ScR, II, 85) . 



338. Speaking of "tigers" generally, it is almost traditional among 

 the Indians that each of the various kinds of tigers and tiger-cats 

 hunts one Idnd of animal in particular, the call of which it can imitate. 

 The Arawaks have a saying, Ilamdro Icamungha turuwati (lit. "every- 

 thing has tiger"), as a reminder of the fact that we should be cir- 

 cumspect, and on our guard, there always being some enemy about. 

 It is a general belief among the Indians and the white inhabitants 

 of Brazil that the on^a (jaguar) has the power of fascination (ARW, 

 317). 



339. The tapir lias between its eyebrows a bone so strong as to 

 enable it to break down the undergrowtli in the forests; with this 

 means of defence it can protect itself from a tiger by crushing the 

 latter against the rugged tunber, and so tearing it to pieces (G, i, 

 265). The same animal, the Rio Negro Indians say, "has a peculiar 



