ror] HUTS AND HOUSES 269 
used in lengths, however, the leaves may undergo preparatory treat- 
ment on a special vaulted scaffolding (pl. 65 A), to which they are 
fixed in horizontal rows to dry. 
323. EHuterpe edulis Mart., manicol palm; used by splitting the 
leaf longitudinally and tying the two halves with opposite ends 
together so as to act as a runner. The pinnules form a sort of lat- 
ticework, as with the turu leaf (fig. 79 B, a). The whole roof, espe- 
cially in the smaller square houses of the Arawak, may thus be built 
of (doubled) row upon row of manicol. Carib houses may be built 
with alternate rows of manicol and dallibanna (sec. 321), or even 
itiriti leaves. The latter are fixed in position by bending the petiole 
over the lath and piercing it through the blade. There is, 
however, another way in which the manicol leaves may be em- 
ployed: after being split as before, but corresponding ends placed in 
apposition, they are plaited along one side of the midrib, a pinnule 
(“stock” of the local residents) being taken from each half leaf, 
and the two then bent over and allowed to hang down behind. 
Sometimes two stocks are taken from one leaf and one from another, 
this all depending upon the interspacing of the stocks, i. e., how far 
apart they are. When a number of pairs have been plaited they 
are tied vertically onto the laths like truli leaves (sec. 819). 
This kind of thatch will last four or five years. On the upper 
Demerara River, with Arawak and Akawai. I have also seen it now 
and again on the side walls of certain Makusi and other houses. 
Manicol leaf, other things being equal, is better than kokerit, owing 
to the pinnules being closer. 
324. Enocarpus bacaba Mart., turu palm: Usually a horizontal 
row of manicol palm is alternated with a row of turu. The reason for 
this is that by itself manicol would not last any great length of time, 
whereas by itself turu is too thin, or, rather, the pinnules are too 
narrow, and so would admit of the rain dripping through. More 
than this, both manicol and turu require that they be thatched within 
24 hours and only during that portion of the month when the moon 
rises in the early morning, between 2 and 4 a. m., because when the 
moon rises in the early evening the crickets would be present and 
eat the leaves within five or six days. On the other hand, these in- 
sects will not attack them after they have dried for a couple of weeks 
after being fixed in position. As already mentioned, turu can also be 
employed alternately with dallibanna (sec. 321). In Arawak and cer- 
tain Makusi houses, where no other materials are easily procurable, 
small, broad leaves of a common aroid (Anthuriwm acaule) are used, 
strung together, many on a stick (IT,209). I have observed the same 
leaf, apparently, on two occasions in the Makusi country. At an In- 
dian settlement near Savonette, Berbice, Pinckard has stated that 
