154 ARTS AND CRAFTS OF GUIANA INDIANS [ETH, ANN. 38 
straight (fig. 42 A, B); the inner is strongly convex. The bow 
tapers with this section from the center to the ends, which are ab- 
ruptly truncated to terminate in two tips with a circular section. 
In the Oyana implement (GOE, pl. v, fig. 2) the outer surface is 
slightly convex, while the inner is strongly convex (47), whereas 
along the upper Rio Negro, e. g., the Icana-Caiary district, the bows 
are more or less concave on the inner and strongly convex (C’) on 
the outer side (KG, 1, 104). 
126. The time taken to make a bow will vary from a few days to 
several months, apparently all depending upon the timber employed. 
For instance, the material used by the Warrau and Arawak is soaked 
two days and straightway cut into shape. On the other hand, the 
Wapishana, in the case of letter-wood, I believe, will take much 
time, trouble, and patience in the manufacture of their weapons. 
After the tree is felled it is left for some months in the shade. It is 
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Fic. 42.—Bows; details of construction. 
then split, covered with beeswax, and kept under the house roof, 
the reason given being that by this means the air does not get in 
and dry the wood too quickly, which would render it liable to crack. 
The bow is now roughly shaped by rubbing it back and forth across 
the edge of a large piece of sharp quartz, and finally smoothing it 
down with shell, stone, tooth, leaf, etc. (JO). Bows may be glossed 
(sec. 794). 
127. In those cases where the outer surface of the bow is straight 
or concave the whole unused portion of the bowstring (fig. 42 D, E) 
usually lies along it. The latter may be sufficiently long to allow 
of its being run almost the whole length of the bow and back again, 
in addition to being wound round it in three or four places. The 
looped end of the string is attached by a single (F) or double (G) 
loop. On making inquiry to confirm my preconceived opinion that 
