KARSTEN] BLOOD REVENGE, WAR, AND VICTORY FEASTS 17 



established not only that death has been caused by witchcraft but 

 also who the wizard is, it is incumbent on his nearest male relations, 

 and first of all on his sons, to take revenge on the supposed assassin. 

 At the deathbed of the father they make a solemn promise to fullill 

 this duty. Often the sons alone carry out the sanguinary business. 

 In case the sorcerer has many defenders they conjoin the brothers 

 or other male relatives of the deceased. Sometimes the conspirators 

 also ask the advice of the chief of the tribe, but the latter generally 

 does not take part in such a private feud unless he has some per- 

 sonal interest in it. 



Those preparing for the feud never omit to first consult the 

 spirits, who will let them knoAv whether in the planned attack they 

 will be successful or not. This divination, as already mentioned, is 

 carried out through drinking the narcotic niaikoa. The Indian for 

 this purpose retires to the forest, where he remains for three days 

 and three nights, fasting strictly and sleeping in a small " dream- 

 ing ranch" {aydjiulm). If the dreams are good, among other 

 spirits the demons, known under the name of aruta7na^ appear to 

 the warrior, speaking to him and telling him whether he will be 

 able to kill the enemy or wdiether he will perhaps be killed himself. 

 " That sorcerer who has bewitched your father you will conquer and 

 kill." Or they say : " If you make war against that sorcerer now, 

 you will not succeed in killing him, but you will be killed yourself." 

 In the latter case the avenger desists from his plan, at least for the 

 present. Again, if the answer is favorable, he with his followers 

 make the last preparations for the attack. 



Such an attack is sometimes planned and carried out in greatest 

 secrecy. Sometimes, and more frequently, the victim is threatened 

 beforehand, the avenger letting him know what fate is awaiting him. 

 He may then saA'^e himself by quickly flying to another part of the 

 country. But it also happens that he sends his enemies the follow- 

 ing menacing challenge : " I have been told that you intend to assault 

 and kill me. All right; you may come if you have valor. I do not 

 fear you, and I am ready to receive you." Such a resolute behavior 

 may cause the enemy to desist from the planned attack or to post- 

 pone it to another more opportune time. Among the Jibaros there 

 also exists the following custom, through which the Indians try to 

 inspire the enemy they want to kill with fear. Of a piece of manioc 

 a likeness of a human head in miniature is formed, which is sup- 

 posed to represent the enemy threatened. This head is put on the 

 top of a stick, and the stick is fixed in the ground in the neighbor- 

 hood of the enemy's house. This procedure is supposed to have 

 some power of promoting the plans of the avenger. 



The conspirators prepare for the assault first by performing that 

 war dance or exercise with the lance which is called enerna or anehnfui 



