428 ARTS AND CRAFTS OF GUIANA INDIANS [ETH, ANN. 38 
made of pieces of bamboo, mentioned by Bates as securing in a knot 
behind the tresses of the Mandurucu women on the lower Amazon 
(HWB, 243) should not be included in this category]. Of what 
may be described as ornamental combs, though undoubtedly used 
as occasion requires for the riddance of lice or for the actual comb- 
ing of the hair, two distinct types are met with, though both have 
this in common, that they are formed of palm splinters clamped 
between the two halves of split canes, the so-called “bars.” The one 
belongs to the “one-bar double” group of Schmidt’s classification 
(PS, 1085), and is seen on the Uaupes and other tributaries of the 
upper Rio Negro, where the bar is covered with a fine plaitwork 
of different designs (pl. 136 B). It is ornamented with feathers 
and is peculiar in that it is always worn, but by men only (ARW, 
193, 343). The other (Cr, 250) belongs to the “two-bar single ” 
group (pl. 186 C), and is found in the southern and eastern areas 
of the Guianas, e. g., among the Porokoto [Purigoto], Maopityan, 
Trio, and Roucouyenne. 
518. Head coverings, dresses, and decorations.—Brett speaks of 
the Warrau males wearing very tall sharp-pointed caps, a natural pro- 
duction, the spathe of the truli palm (Br, 76). The spathe is soaked 
in water and then distended to the required size (CC, 49). Hum- 
boldt mentions these pointed caps at Esmeralda (AVH, my, 454). 
They were also worn by Arawak men and boys in the Pomeroon 
area, but whether for protection, ornament, or other purposes it is 
difficult to decide. Similar difficulties meet us in appreciating what 
was actually intended in the way of construction or use in the fol- 
lowing passages: The “ Pamicari” or hat of wickerwork made by 
the Mayangong [Maiongkong]| Indians, Essequibo River (CC, 52) ; 
they [Akawai] put the captain’s cap upon his head, intimating that 
they would yield obedience to him (BE, 202) ; the chief or headman 
[at a Makusi village on the Cotinga] wore a hat with a wide rim 
made of young palm leaves (BB, 275). All that it seems we can 
legitimately conclude from the last two extracts is that the chief’s 
head covering was in a way distinguished from that of the others. 
Brett speaks of a Warrau wearing a cap made from the skin of an 
ocelot with the tail appending behind (Br, 170). I have seen simi- 
lar cap and tail made from the hide of a howler monkey used at 
the Parishara dance (sec. 593). Special wicker hats may be used 
at special dances, as in the Uaupes River area (KG, m1, 167-168). 
On the Orinoco, Gumilla mentions perukes (peluca) made of par- 
ticular feathers and very delicate colors used by men when working 
on the plantations or on a voyage. Not only are they very gaudy 
ornaments, but they give protection from the sun and rain showers 
(G, 1, 124). Elsewhere in the Guianas, in public ceremonial, “on 
