42 



PICTOGKAPHS OK THE NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS. 



figures aiejual such simple combinations of lines which would occur independently 



to the rock-engravers and to the body-painters as to all other untaught designers. 



Fiii. 2. — Deep carvings in Guiana. 



The same author (pp. 308, 309) gives the following account of the 

 superstitious reverence entertained for the petroglyphs by the living 

 Indians of Guiana: 



Every time a sculptured rock or striking mountain or stone is seeu, Indians inert 

 the ill-will of the spirits of such places by rubbing red peppers (Capsicum) each in li is 

 or her own eyes. For instance, ou reaching the Timehri rock on the Corentyn River. 

 I at (Hue began to sketch the figures sculptured thereon. Looking up the next mo- 

 ment I saw the Indians — men, women and children — who accompanied me all grouped 

 round the rock-picture, busily engaged in this painful operation of pepper-rubbing, 

 The extreme pain of this operation when performed thoroughly by the Indians I 

 can faintly realize from my own feelings when I have occasionally rubbed my eyes 

 with lingers which had receutly handled red-peppers ; and from the fact that, though 



