50 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [bull. 79 



Two or three weeks before the feast the youn<jer men are sent to 

 hunt in the forest and to fish in the small rivers. These hunting 

 and fishing expeditions before a feast are considered very important, 

 for a good supply of game and fish must be procured for the guests. 

 Generally these expeditions last for 15 days. The game and fish 

 are always brought home in a dried condition. 



The fishing is carried out by varvasco poison {Jacquinia armil- 

 hwls)^ called timo by the Jibaros. With this poison the water is 

 poisoned in a certain part of the small river chosen for the purpose, 

 the river being previously barred with sticks and stones. 



Two weeks before the feast some heads of green bananas are hung 

 up on the ceiling of the house, in order that they may get j'ellow 

 and ripen. Ripe bananas {tsamd) form one of the dishes oifered 

 to the guests at the feast. 



The last work which has to be performed by the men consists in 

 weaving a dozen large baskets {changtna)^ used by the women at 

 the feast for carrying home the great quantity of manioc, camote, 

 and other fruits needed for the daily common banquet. The work 

 is done by the younger male members of the family, as well as by 

 their friends from other houses. The slayer himself goes around to 

 the houses inviting the younger men, his most intimate friends, to 

 help at the work. The youths at first go out into tlie forest in order 

 to collect the liana used for basket weaving, called cdpi^ and there- 

 after assemble in the house of the feast giver, where the work takes 

 place. It lasts for two or three days. AVhen it is finished the slayer 

 expresses his tlianks to the young men for their help, addressing 

 each of them separately with a few words and at the same time in- 

 viting them to the feast. 



During these days the victor has been engaged in inviting other 

 people also to the feast, going around alone from house to house. 

 The invitation is always made in a ceremonial way, the slayer ad- 

 dressing the person concerned in a sort of speech and speaking in 

 a loud voice. While thus wandering about in the houses, the slayer 

 does not carry his lance, but only a staff, in observance of the rules 

 prescribed for him with regard to the wearing^ of arms. 



A few days previous to the arrival of other guests, two old per- 

 sons arrive in the house who will play important roles at the feast. 

 One is an old man and warrior, who himself has killed some ene- 

 mies and celebrated at least one tsantsa feast. This man is called 

 whuea, and may be said to act as priest at the feast, all ceremonies 

 being carried out with his assistance. In most cases he is the same 

 person who conducted the ceremonies^at the feasts nwnhuiTnartinyu 

 and suamartinyu. 



The other person is an old woman, called oJidha^ who at the feast 

 will conduct all ceremonies performed by the women, especially the 



