KARSTEN] BLOOD REVENGE, WAR, AND VICTORY FEASTS 67 



banana leaf a number of wooden pins have been laid, provided from 

 the twigs of a special wild tree Avhich the Jibaros call shuya and 

 which produces a sweet black fruit similar to grapes. On another 

 banana leaf there have been laid some leaves of another forest tree 

 called apai. The slayer, whose hand is held by the priest, takes one 

 of the shuya pins and slowly and carefully places it inside the pot — 

 about in the middle of it — in a horizontal position. His wife and 

 daughter, whose hands are likewise held by the priest, also put one 

 pin each in the pot beside the first one. Another man completes the 

 work, putting without ceremony some other similar pins into the pot 

 until such have been laid along its Avhole breadth, with a distance of 

 about half an inch between each. Now the slayer, with the aid of 

 the priest, takes an apai leaf and cautiously places it across the shuya 

 pins. The wife and the daughter do the same, each laying down 

 one apai leaf in the pot at the side of the first one. Several more 

 apal leaves are laid down, until the shuya pins are completely cov- 

 ered with them. Lastly, these leaves are perforated all over with a 

 wooden pin, so that the whole thing becomes like a sieve. 



The masticated manioc substance is now laid in the pot upon the 

 leaves. The slayer and his wife and daughter again begin the work, 

 each of them laying down, with the aid of the priest, a small quantity 

 of the substance. The pot is wholly filled with it, and the mouth is 

 covered at first with some apai leaves and then with some large 

 kachtni leaves, the whole thing being lastly carefully tied over with 

 lianas. The slayer, with the aid of the priest, now places the pot 

 upon the shelter mentioned before, where it is left for two days and 

 two nights. During this time the essence in the masticated manioc 

 substance will be distilled and drop into the lower empty part of the 

 pot. This essence is the manioc wine. 



In the afternoon, at about 4 o'clock, two swine and som^ chickens 

 are slaughtered to provide food for the guests during the two follow- 

 ing days. The proper ceremonial slaughter does not take place until 

 the penultimate day of the feast. The flesh of the swine now killed, 

 however, can not be cooked until midnight, or about 1 o'clock on the 

 following morning, and will be eaten early on the following day. 



When darkness sets in, or about 6 o'clock, the general feast dance 

 begins, which is called hantsemdta. All take part in it, both hosts 

 and guests, men and Avomen; first of all, however, the latter. The 

 slayer himself goes around and invites the guests to take part in the 

 dance, speaking separately to each of them. The dance is conducted 

 by an elderly Indian who previously gives tobacco water to the 

 women. All who are going to take part in it are dressed in the 

 proper way. The women, as usual, wear their rattles of snail shells 

 around the waist. Some of the men put on additional ornaments for 



