Karstbn] blood revenge, WAR, AND VICTORY FEASTS 7 



The Canelos Indians, who in part are of the same race as the 

 Jibaros, at the making of the shield observe the following rules: 

 The rough work is carried out in four days. The Indian works 

 every day from early morning until noon. During the whole fore- 

 noon, until the work is finished for that day, the Indian fasts and 

 does not eat or drink anything. As soon as the work is finished at 

 noon he drinks chicha (manioc beer), and in the afternoon he may 

 also eat other kinds of food. While working upon the shield he ob- 

 serves the rule not to speak to anybody, but keeps strict silence. 

 Nor does he, during the four days and nights, cohabit with his wife. 

 If he infringes these rules the shield will get humpy or burst, or 

 be attacked by moth. 



As soon as the shield is made it is often painted on the outside 

 with the black dye obtained from the genipa fruit, called sua by 

 the Jibaros. The patterns represent spirits {ivakdni supai), gia.nt 

 snakes {pangi, anidru7i), butterflies (wamhishku), and other ani- 

 mals. These patterns are supposed to inspire the enemy with fear 

 and to give strength and courage to the warrior himself. 



The Jibaros use shields of two kinds. Some are very large and 

 somewhat heavy and are used only for defense within the house. 

 The shield rests against the ground or against a round seat of the 

 kind the Jibaros use, and the warrior with his lance tries to defend 

 himself against the enemy penetrating into the house. Other kinds 

 of shields are smaller and lighter and are carried by the Indians on 

 war expeditions. 



The Jibaros never use blowpipes and poisoned arrows in their 

 wars, but only for hunting. They believe that if they kill a man 

 with a poisoned arrow that poison will no longer do for killing an 

 animal or bird of the forest. Besides, it seems that the poisoned 

 arrows are not regarded as a sufficiently effective weapon to fight 

 men with. The Indian, when killing his enemy, desires to inflict 

 as large wounds and to shed as much blood as possible, a fact that 

 explains his predilection for the lance as a weapon of war. 



CHIEFS AND WAES 



Among the Jibaros (pis. 3, 4) each family father is theoretically 

 absolute ruler over his house people, and in times of peace there is 

 no recognized common chief even within the tribe, and still less any 

 exercising authority over several tribes. The Jibaros have not even 

 a proper name for a chief. The word capitu, which is sometimes 

 used, is borrowed from the Spanish and is used principally to de- 

 note a white man of importance. It is only in times of war that a 

 chieftainship exists; that is to say, during those great wars of ex- 

 termination which are carried out against other Jibaro tribes. Such 



