456 ARTS AND CRAFTS OF GUIANA INDIANS [ETH, ANN. 38 
561. A curious form of flute is used by the Carib and Warrau 
older men, though its origin in the Moruca River district is gener- 
ally ascribed to the former, who call it kuamma, after the particular 
bamboo out of which it is manufactured. The Warrau name it 
kamuatta for similar reasons, but they can specify the instrument as 
a whole as a “ blower” or wannisemo-i. The bamboo is of a com- 
paratively thicker species than that from which the harri-harri 
(sec. 560) is derived, the article itself being further distinguishable 
by being constructed of only one segment. More than this, the 
mouthpiece is in the form of a more or less longitudinal slit, and 
on the opposite side of the cylinder is a large semiconcave venthole, 
the size of which is varied by the raising or lowering of the outer 
portion of the performer’s right hand, which is placed over it (fig. 
Fig. 235.—Method of blowing the Wannisemo-i flute. 
235). The proximal end of the instrument is closed, but that of the 
distal open and truncated. Whether ever employed for musical pur- 
poses it is now difficult to say. It is certainly at present used for sig- 
naling from the waterside upon near approach to a settlement. In 
either case it is not an easy thing to blow with the proper modulation, 
dependent upon the delicate adjustment of the hand just referred to. 
The Oyana have a flute with somewhat similar mouthpiece, and a 
quill inserted at proximal extremity (GOE, pl. vn, fig. 12). 
562. A clay flute of somewhat peculiar shape, decorated with an 
incised yellow-filled pattern (pl. 163 C), is used both for musical and 
signaling purposes on the Rio Tiquie (KG, 1, 259). 
563. The Taruma, Waiwai, and Parikuta flageolet type of musical 
instrument, cut from a cane or bamboo segment, and decorated 
in various patterns by scarifying with a glowing-hot vine rope—not 
painted like their flutes—are of two shapes according as the distal 
