158 ARTS AND CRAFTS OF GUIANA INDIANS [BTH. ANN. 38 
strong kuraua twine attached at its extremities to two stumpy turtle 
bones (fig. 44). Winding the central portion of the string a few 
times around the arrow shaft, pressure is exerted by holding one bone 
between the big and first toes and pulling the other in the right 
hand at the same time that the ee hand keeps rolling the shaft 
uniformly backward and 
forward (fig. 45). This 
completed and the pro- 
jecting portion of unnec- 
essary nock cut away, the 
¢ compressed portion of 
Fic. 46.—Cotton decoration of proximal extremity the shaft is overcast with 
of arrow aha fine cotton thread, often 
in a “turk’s head,” or more or less ornamental patterns, apparently 
varying with the fancy of the individual (fig. 46), and as much 
of the projecting nock as is not required is then removed. To 
obtain the correct length of shaft its free end is made to rest 
more or less horizontally upon the left forefinger, but under the 
thumb, where it is flicked downward and inward with the right 
Fig. 47.—Gauging the proper length of the arrow shaft. 
forefinger (fig. 47). The remainder of the shaft will visibly shake 
or vibrate, but less and less according as the length is shortened by 
cutting away a couple of inches or so at a time. When finally there 
is no shaking following upon the flick, the proper length has been 
obtained. The insertion of the wooden peg to form the arrowhead 
is now carried out on practically identical lines as that of the nock, 
and this end of the shaft more or less decorated with cotton thread, 
