90 ARTS AND CRAFTS OF GUIANA INDIANS (ETH. ANN. 38 
predilection for rubbing it into the hair over the forehead. They 
and the Warrau are said to mix it for use with Bignonia pigment 
and Protium heptophyllum gum. 
Bellucia Aubletii Naud (=Blakea trinerva).—The mespil of the 
Creoles. Itarra is the Arawak name both of the tree and of the red 
dye obtained from it. The older the tree, and the more freshly used, 
the better is the stain. The outer bark having been removed, and its 
cortical portion sliced off, it is scraped with a knife, the moist shav- 
ings thus produced being pressed together between the fingers and 
thumb and then rubbed upon the article to be dyed. At first it is 
somewhat sticky, but soon dries and increases in depth of color 
during the process. This paint is used on paddles, the insides of 
calabashes, etc., and with the action of water becomes much darker. 
Coussapoa latifolia Aubl.—A red paint is obtained from the bark 
and from the seeds, but it is not good as a dye, as it does not last long. 
The Arawak call it maba-bunakara. 
Genipa americana.—The launa or lana tree. This is the tapuriba 
(AK, 185) or tapowripa of the Surinam Indians (St, 1, 384), the 
tabuseba of the Carib (ScO, 258), and very probably the jagua of the 
Orinoco (G, 1, 201). This is another of the very many economic 
plants cultivated by the Indians. For example, the trees which are 
now found growing on the banks of the upper Manawarin (Moruca 
River) are said to have been brought there by the Carib from the 
Corentyn. The internal substance of the fruit being bruised and 
macerated in water affords the paint so delightful to the Indians 
and which in color nearly resembles indigo. With this they orna- 
ment their bodies by drawing a variety of figures... These figures, 
when thus drawn on the skin, are indelible for a term of 9 or 10 days 
by any art hitherto discovered. When that time has elapsed they 
usually begin to disappear, and are soon after invisible (BA, 75). 
Henriettea succosa DC.—The sakuapéra of the Arawak and Warrau. 
??Homalium sp.—The buri-badda, “‘bat’s finger,’”’ of the Arawak, 
the sa-amahusi of the Warrau. A reddish milk flows when the vine 
is cut, but it is not a good dye as it does not last. 
Maparakuni erythroxrylum.—Schomburgk speaks of a red dye 
derived from this plant (ScD, 99). 
Pterocarpus guianensis Aubl.—On the Essequibo they showed me, 
says St. Clair, some of the arrisaura berries, with the juice of which 
I have frequently seen their faces, thighs, and arms stained in fan- 
tastical figures of a beautiful clear blue color. The native Indians 
take great pleasure in adorning themselves with this juice upon any 
particular occurrence in their tribe, such as a marriage, the election 
of a new chief, or going to make war (StC, u, 109). The Barama 
River Carib call the plant karasaru. They obtain it from the Cuyuni 
River. 
