4292 ARTS AND CRAFTS OF GUIANA INDIANS [ ELH, AMN. 38 
off and clean up all the blood and with an ink manufactured from 
a fruit that they call jagua they fill up those incisions which, 
after healing, retain the vivid (representation of) a mustache for 
life (G, 1, 129). On the upper Yary, Cayenne, a fishbone soaked 
in the juice of the genipa was employed (Cr, 112). In the Pomeroon 
area the Arawak and Warrau are said to have used the spines of the 
“pimpler” palm (Astrocaryum) with the juice of the fruit of the 
kuruwatti (sec. 28). The present-day Makusi, Patamona, and Taure- 
pang women use for coloring matter either rotten plantain skin or 
soot from the pot, mixed with honey. 
511. Independently of any pigment, body anointing seems to have 
been practiced more or less generally throughout the Guianas. The 
substances most commonly used were carapa and turtle-egg oil, though 
occasionally copaiba gum was brought into requisition. Carapa is 
especially employed for the hair, though in the settled districts its 
place is being rapidly taken by coconut oil. The Orinoco Indians 
were accustomed to anoint with turtle oil twice daily throughout the 
year (G, 1, 293), while it was the Maopityan (SR, 1, 472), as well as 
members of his own party (ScG, 251), that Schomburgk found 
anointing themselves with the copaiba. 
512. With very few exceptions all the nations of these countries, 
says Gumilla with reference to the Orinoco, anoint themselves with 
oil and annatto from the top of the head to the tips of the toes. 
Mothers, when they smear themselves, do it for their children, even 
those at the breast, at least twice a day, morning and evening. They 
next, with infinite trouble, anoint their husbands. On special occa- 
sions (e. g., a general drunk) there is additionally a large variety of 
sketches in different colors. Every time the husband returns from 
fishing or from the completion of some business his wife or daugh- 
ter smears his feet afresh. It is only with extreme repugnance that 
either a youth or an adult will come out-of-doors unless anointed 
(G, 1, 123). Through the use of such unguents, a shine is given to 
the whole body, morning and afternoon. Not only does it serve in- 
stead of clothing, but as a protection against mosquitoes. It also 
mitigates the heat of the sun’s rays (G, 1, 130). [On the other hand, 
the Carijona of the Yapura told Crévaux that they anointed them- 
selves with oil and annatto in order to keep warm (Cr, 366).] The 
unguent certainly helps to prevent attacks of “béte-rouge” and 
probably chigoes. The oil employed with the annatto is that of the 
carapa, though among the Makusi there may be mixed up with the 
paint the resins of the humiria and amyris, which give a special 
scent to these Indians (SR, 1, 365). When a general “ wash” of 
the annatto is wanted, the Carijona pour crab oil over the palms 
of their hands, with which they rub the “cake ”—the form in which 
