974 ARTS AND CRAFTS OF GUIANA INDIANS [ETH. ANN. 38 
(higher) specimens remain attached below, a pair on either side with 
the length of the article. In the lower stools the limbs on either side 
may be separated—a difference evidently depending upon stability. 
Some of these symmetrical benches are over a foot in height, but 
others are met with among the Akawai of the Pomeroon and among 
the Patamona that are not more than 3 inches; but even in these 
cases traces of the four limbs are well defined. Bearing in mind these 
variations in size, it will be readily conceded that there can be little 
basis for the statement that the desirable object of these low seats or 
benches is to raise the hams of the Indian, when sitting, out of the 
reach of chigoes. Whatever the height of the stool it could not 
prevent the feet and toes from being bitten. The benches belonging 
to the medicine men, certainly the Arawak ones of the Pomeroon, 
were specially decorated, and represented either the macaw, the alli- 
gator, or the “tiger,” or two of these combined (WER, vr, sec. 288). 
With the Makusi of the Rupununi, Schomburgk noted that the 
wooden stools were used almost entirely by women (SR, 1, 359) ; but 
the statement is misleading. During one of the Arawak initiation 
ceremonies the young girl has to keep her seat on an alligator or 
“tiger” bench (WER, v1, sec. 273). These wooden seats are known 
as halla (Arawak), nohe (Warrau), tabai (Wapishana), mo-ré 
(Makusi), ete., as muli or mule to the Surinam (St, 1, 388) and 
Cayenne Creoles (PBA,188). The Island Carib had little seats made 
of one piece, of a red or yellow wood, and as smooth as marble (RO, 
490). Unfortunately, further particulars are wanting. 
329. There are one or two interesting points connected with these 
symmetrical benches—notably, the causes that have given rise to the 
symmetry, to the shape, and to the animal representations. These will 
be better appreciated from the following brief survey of the more 
primitive forms (each one complete in itself) as I have observed 
them in present-day use among Makusi, Patamona, Akawai, Wapi- 
shana, Warrau, and Arawak. The simplest form of such a bench is 
a section of tree log with a flattened undersurface (fig. 81 A) to lend 
stability. Another simple form is the more or less squared log (I, J). 
But to shift a heavy block of either description even a few feet re- 
quires the exertion of a certain amount of strength, to minimize 
which it is hollowed to a varying degree (B, C, K). This is the 
reason furnished me by the Indians themselves. It is much easier to 
excavate and pick out the timber lengthwise with the grain than 
transversely across it. The symmetry of two halves dividing the 
bench in its length, and the primitive shape of two wings attached to 
a top piece more or less definitely defined is thus accounted for. 
Weight without proportionate loss of strength can be still further 
reduced by cutting away at the sides, bases, or center of the wings. 
