RoTH] BASKETRY AND PLAIT WORK 139 
thus often observed to be chronically damaged. The outer strand is 
finished ready for use by scraping its edges, not its surface, firmly and 
slowly over a knife blade (E) until the required width is produced, 
and in its finished state is called itiriti dabusha (1. e., scraped, 
cleaned) (WER, 11). 
102. The preliminary treatment of the mamuri is a much simpler 
process. Suitable lengths of the aerial stems having been cut, they 
are soaked in water for as long as three weeks. At the end of this 
period the outer bark is scraped off with a knife and the stem split, 
according to its size, into two, three, or four portions, which are 
plano-convex in section (fig. 36 F). The remaining innermost por- 
tions of the stem can also be split again for use, but such strips are 
not so strong as those first removed (WER, 11). 
103. The preparation of the awarra and akko-yuro leaf for plait- 
ing purposes is practically identical and may be described as follows: 
The unopened leaf is cut off and the septa pulled away from above 
down one by one. Each septum is stuck in its long axis at about the 
middle with a knife blade, which is then run up to the apex, the basal 
part of the septum being split by separating with the hands. The 
strands so formed shrink considerably, and hence can only be satis- 
factorily worked in the early morning while the atmosphere is still 
damp. If plaited when too dry they slip one from the other. For 
similar reasons the unopened leaf, once removed from the tree, can be 
kept for only a few days, and then in the cool shade. Each strand is, 
of course, not of uniform width, but diminishes from butt (proximal) 
to apex (distal). Used for making fans, ete. 
104. Very much after the same treatment as the mamuri, a suitable 
length of kamwarri vine is cut, its “ pimplers” removed, and if not 
to be used forthwith is kept in water to prevent it becoming too 
hard to manipulate. The outer bark is scraped off and the stem split 
into convenient sizes; but of each piece so split only the outermost 
layer is preserved, scraped, and cleaned, usually by pulling it over 
and across the thigh under the edge of a knife blade firmly pressed 
into position. 
105. As to the form of weaving followed in Guiana basketry and 
plaitwork, the following varieties are met with, about half of them 
defined as nearly as possible along the lines given in the Handbook 
of American Indians, Part I, page 133. 
106. Checker—*‘ The warp and weft pass over and under one an- 
other singly, and are indistinguishable” [as a rule; but in the sides 
of the Makusi baskets (sec. 430), the rims of certain Arawak trays 
(sec. 405), and in a few other cases they are distinguishable]. In the 
square mats of the Aiary (sec. 395), certain pegalls (sec. 430) of 
