novi] GAMES, SPORTS, AND AMUSEMENTS 481 
left arms round their left hand neighbor's waist, swaying their 
bodies to and fro, Occasionally the women would run in, and in- 
serting themselves between the men, join in the dance, The effect 
was heightened by a monotonous chant sung in unison (Br, 320), 
In another series of dances of the Surinam Carib, and presumably 
likewise carried out without apparatus, there were imitations of the 
courtship of birds and animals, Specially remarkable was that of the 
turtle danced to an accompaniment of kicks, the chief performers 
creeping round just like two sea turtle canoodling one another, An 
other strange dance represented the courtship of the savanna deer, 
where a Woman ran in circles round aman, Such a dance, performed 
by two people, was much appreciated, because every Indian, being 
well acquainted with the life history of the different denizens 
of the forest, could judge of the exact rendering (PION, 1, 173), 
One observer says that the Indian dances, properly speaking, are 
only marches in which they strike with their feet (IMM, 89) ; another 
in describing the Camo dances of the Otomae talks of a movement 
in three circles with hands joined—men in the first ring, the women 
behind, and the small fry in between (G, 1, 173). 
595. Certain dances, though allowed to be viewed by a female andi 
ence, must not be indulged in by them. Says Humboldt: “ We saw 
the Indians dance. The monotony of their dancing ig increased by 
the women not daring to take part in it” (AVIL, 1, 448). Previous 
notice is given in the Kashadwakoli (Ar, male genitals), an obscene 
dance, to afford strangers and modest girls the opportunity of re- 
tiring. All who remain are supposed to be willing to enjoy the 
freedom and licentious gestures indulged in during this indecorous 
dance (Da, 278). On the other hand, in the mari-mari the women 
seem to constitute an essential feature, the method of single or double 
ranks, advancing, retiring or wheeling, and the manner of holding 
partners being very like that of the bush-hog dance just mentioned, 
This mari-mari, which I have seen performed by both Arawak and 
Warrau, is a name of which I have not been able to find the mean- 
ing. Though the dance and figure is always the same, different 
words are used as occasion requires, either between man and man, 
woman and man, or woman and woman, the subject matter being 
usually some piece of chaff or raillery. 
596. While dancing, songs are always chanted, occasionally under 
the direction of a master of ceremonies. Certainly in the dances 
now dealt with—those performed without special apparatus, decora- 
tion, etc., on ordinary occasions of general festivity—the words of 
the song are characterized by their simplicity: “ We are here, sing- 
ing; we are here, dancing; to-morrow morning we will have a bath; 
