178 ARTS AND CRAFTS OF GUIANA INDIANS [ETH, ANN. 38 
only 4 miles from Golden Hill. They are known as sappa, which is 
probably Creolese for trapper. They are used for catching bush rat, 
labba, and acouri. It is fixed either along the run or in the spaces 
purposely left open in the artificially made bush fences. It consists 
of a heavy plank weighted with a stone, etc., one extremity of which 
hangs ina loop hung up from one end of a catch-stick resting on the 
crossbar fixed on two vertical forks. The plank is cut out of the spur 
of some large tree, and may be replaced by a heavy log, but in this 
case its lower surface must be squared down so as to have a sharp 
edge where it rests on the bait stick. The farther end of the plank 
rests against a peg so as to prevent it from slipping. The other end 
of the catch-stick is held down by the bait-stick, upon which the 
sharp edge presses. As the animal nibbles the yam, potato, ete., 
attached to the bait-stick, this latter slips from off the catch, with the 
result that the plank being released falls and crushes the animal 
beneath. 
162. With the object of winning success in the chase, the hunter 
will submit to various purposely inflicted inconveniences and suffer- 
ing (i. e., he voluntarily undergoes certain ordeals). Some of these 
have been discussed elsewhere (WER, v1, secs. 227-231), while others, 
such as nose-stringing, are given with more detail in the present vol- 
ume (sec. 63). Ihave still, however, to add a few notes concerning ant 
biting. For this purpose the insects are held in a convenient position 
by inserting them in the meshwork of at least two types of frame. 
At Wakrapo village, about two days’ march behind Toka, on the 
Rupununi, Charlie, the house master, a Makusi, gave me a triangular 
itiriti frame (pl. 42 A) of a hexagonal pattern, which he told me he 
put to use on himself by fixing certain biting ants in the interstices, 
so that when pressed on his arm and breast they might bite him. 
The shape of the framework, he told me, represented the breastbone 
of a deer, the game which he especially sought to hunt. The com- 
moner type of frame among the Makusi and other closely related 
tribes thus used to secure luck in hunting (WER, v1, sec. 230) is 
made of numerous itiriti strips tied together like a roll-up mat (pl. 
42 B). Such ant frames must not be confused with those employed 
for purposes of chastisement (sec. 739), nor with the more compli- 
cated and more highly finished article used in the eastern Guianas 
at the puberty and marriage ceremonies (WER, vr, secs. 269, 276). 
But, besides the master, his hunting dog may be subjected to a form 
of purification by different ordeals, quite as painful as those under- 
gone by himself (WER, v1, sec. 232). Caterpillars, such as the hairy 
Gastropacha, were roasted and then rubbed in the nose of the hunt- 
ing dogs before proceeding on the chase, the Indians believing that 
by doing this they will possess a keener scent (App, 1, 415). Even 
