236 ARTS AND CRAFTS OF GUIANA INDIANS [BTH, ANN. 38 
274. Indians have no fixed hours for their meals. They eat when 
they are hungry, and drink when they are thirsty (FE, 80), which 
would account for their usually eating the moment they awake 
(HiA, 29), and at evening when they return from hunting (BA, 325). 
So among the Guinau, their chief meal is in the morning and eve- 
ning, consisting of a pot of fish or meat; or, for want of them, of a 
sauce made of the leaves and fruits of the capsicum. This is first set 
before the head of the family, who shares it with the men and guests. 
The women afterwards take what is left (ScF, 225). Stedman speaks 
of the Indians tying ropes round their naked bodies when their ab- 
domens are shrunk with hunger (St, 1, 281). Among the Galibi, 
those that are married dine everyone apart, and those that are un- 
married eat all together; and all the women, maids, and little chil- 
dren go to another side of the hut to eat (GB, 28). This would 
seem to be the rule almost everywhere, the two sexes having their 
backs turned to one another. No Indian wife eats with her hus- 
band (St, 1,398). Whatever friendship an Indian may have for his 
wife she never has the satisfaction. of eating with him. She waits on 
him, on the contrary, and then goes to eat with her children (FE, 80). 
On the other hand, it is recorded of the Nourague and Acoqua, of 
Cayenne, that they do quite otherwise, for the husband eats with his 
wife, or wives, and children, with admirable agreement and union 
(GB, 28). I have seen the same thing among the Taurepang (Are- 
kuna) at Roraima. It is usual not to speak or drink during meals. 
275. Hands are washed before and after meals. To dry the hands 
and mouth one will find in the houses on the upper Yary a sort of 
duster (torchon), made of bark (Cr, 118). The Island Carib were 
also noted for their cleanliness in eating and in cooking. They 
always wash their hands carefully before eating, and even in their 
cooking they touch nothing of what they are going to eat except with 
clean hands (RO, 497). The meal is usually placed upon a mat laid 
on the ground. The hand often plays the part of a mat or, rather, a 
plate. Thus, the Oyambi, after the manner of all Indians, do not, like 
us, tear the meat with their teeth, but tear it with their fingers, and 
carry it to the mouth in little pieces. The left hand serves them 
for a plate. With the right hand they take the bit of cassava between 
the third and little fingers, and the meat between the thumb and fore- 
finger. They economize labor in only employing one hand to put 
meat and bread into their mouths (Cr, 206). 
276. Hilhouse has stated that the Carib are very indiscriminate 
in the use of animal food. Nothing comes amiss to them. “ Tigers,” 
cats, rats, frogs, toads, lizards, and insects are equally welcome with 
fish and game. If they show any predilection, it is in favor of fish 
(HiC, 237). The Island Carib, however, seem to have specially 
