502 ARTS AND CRAFTS OF GUIANA INDIANS [ETH. ANN. 38 
“There are certain opening positions and movements which are 
common to many figures: 
626. Position 1 (fig. 245) —* Place the string over the thumbs and 
little fingers of both hands so that on each hand the string passes 
from the ulnar side of the hand around the back of the little finger, 
pate ett I Ae 
Fic. 245.—Position 1. 
then between the little and ring fingers and across the palm; then 
between the index and thumb and around the back of the thumb to 
the radial side of the hand. When the hands are drawn apart the 
result is a single ulnar little-finger string on each hand, with a string 
lying across the palm... . 
627. Position 1, opening A (fig. 246).—‘ Place string on hands in 
position 1. With the back of the index of the right hand take up 
‘ 
y ~ 
Fic. 246.—Position 1. Opening A. 
from proximal side (or from below) the left palmar string and 
return. ... With the back of the index of the left hand take up 
from proximal side (or from below) the right palmar string, and 
return, keeping the index within the right index loop all the time, 
so that the strings now joining the loop on the left index lie within 
the right index loop. The figure now consists of six loops on the 
thumb, index, and little finger of the two hands.” (Haddon and 
Rivers.—Rept. Camb. Anthrop. Expn. to Torres Straits, Vol. TV.) 
1Tt is essential to remember that the exact course of this manipulation should always 
be followed, i. e., to begin the movement with the back of the index of the right hand, and 
so avoid subsequent errors. For instance, in the Taruma trap (sec. 655) if the manipula- 
tion required to obtain position 1, opening A, is commenced with the back of the index of 
the left hand, the figure obtainable is not the one illustrated.—W. E. R. 
