114 ARTS AND CRAFTS OF GUIANA INDIANS [ETH. ANN. 38 
unit of the one series in between an interspace of the other, with the 
result that, what just previous to the crossing was the upper layer is 
now the lower, and vice versa (C). The two ends of the fiber twine are 
next pulled through from opposite sides, the crossing of the two layers 
repeated, the twine again pulled through, and so on, until a sufficient 
length of band shall have been completed (D). Starting from the 
stick end, each double loop of twine is tightened in turn by pulling 
upon it at the sides, as with a shoe lace, for instance, and their ends 
finally tied. After removal from between the sticks, the extremities 
of the shreds are rolled up with additional threads and plaited. 
62. Another form of strap, also of mauritia twine, met with among 
the Makusi, is of similar construction as regards the split stick, ete., 
but differs in the absence of a cross twine, the two layers of shreds, 
starting at the central sticks, being plaited into one another (pl. 13 B). 
63. Bina strmgs (WER, v1, 277) of mauritia fiber are always 
used in pairs, a short, thin, and a comparatively long, thick, tapering 
one. The latter is soaked in the particular bina required, placed 
in a small calabash cup, and left there all night. In addition to 
the bina it may have various ants, bee stings, ete., stuck here and 
there into its meshes. In the early morning the shorter string is 
passed up one or the other nostril, and by means of the forefinger 
hooked out from the back of the throat through the mouth, one end 
being left hanging out of the nostril (pl. 14.A). The end passing out 
of the mouth is now securely tied to the fine tapering extremity 
of the thicker cord, which is next pulled through the mouth, back 
of the throat, and so out again at the nostril. The following extract 
from my field note book (June 20, 1914) may prove of interest here: 
“Robert, at the Makusi village of Maripai, uses a certain bright green 
arboreal frog, known as kopé, for a bina. When fresh, he rubs the 
slimy material from off the animal’s back onto his chest, which he 
has especially incised for the purpose. When smoke dried, he soaks 
it in water contained in a little gourbi (calabash cup), and after 
moistening the bina string with the same water, pulls it through 
his nose,’’ as indicated above. 
64. ‘Silk grass,” kuraua, twine. —The manufacture of the Bromelia 
or silk grass, the pita of the Orinoco, the kuraua of the Creoles, ete., is 
effected as follows (fig. 27 A): A leaf (J) is fixed in a loop cord (c) 
attached to a strong crossbeam, the loop being at about the same 
distance from the ground as the operator’s head. The leaf itself is 
suspended, not at its middle, but with its thicker basal (proximal) end 
the longer. Its distal extremity is next attached under and over (B) 
onto a stiff round stick (s) and gripped in position between the right 
fore and middle fingers, and between both hands. Asharp pull down- 
wardismade. ‘This tears about 6 or 7 inches of outer cortex from off 
the inner fibrous structures around which the torn shreds hang and 
below which the proximal portion of the leaf remains free (C). This 
