570 ARTS AND CRAFTS OF GUIANA INDIANS [BTH, ANN. 38 
cluded with the starved individuals having to empty a calabashful of 
a strong decoction of peppers without pulling a face. If this were 
successfully accomplished, he would be slung in a hammock filled 
with ants and the sides bound closely round him, so that the tor- 
mentors might not escape, and there he would have to remain for 
hours without a murmur. Passing these ordeals successfully, he 
would be recognized as master with joyful cheering. His will was 
then that of the whole company (SR, n, 430). 
745. Though it is probable that the chieftainship would occasion- 
ally be wrested from its possessor by violence, etc., there certainly 
do not appear to be any reliable records handed down to us of its 
occurrence. Schomburgk, in connection with the Warrau, speaks 
of the possibility of an individual assuming the reins of power upon 
the death of a chief, contingent on his courage and ability to hold 
his own as against the family of the deceased (SR, 1, 169). 
746. But independently of any birthright a man might, under cer- 
tain circumstances, be appointed captain, etc., by election, so to 
speak, after submitting himself to various mortifications of the flesh 
to show his fitness for the post and passing the ordeals successfully. 
A very interesting and what I believe to be the earliest account of 
an election of a captain among Arawak is Van Berkel’s description 
of what he saw on the Berbice River, somewhere between 1670 and 
1675. There was a quantity of pernou,a kind of drink whereof every- 
body on this occasion may imbibe as much as he pleases. The drink 
is distributed by one of the prettiest young girls... . About mid- 
day, while the girls and women were still busy satisfying the re- 
quirements of the guests, there appeared the Indian who was to 
be raised to the dignity of captain. He was led by three captains, 
who with curious gestures kept up his courage, and being come into 
the middle of the house, he remained standing, holding his arms 
above his head. In the meantime the said three captains got ready, 
each having in his hand a maquary, which is a kind of plaited whip 
about 5 feet long, thick below and tapering above. Here they took it 
in turn to lash the poor Indian so brutally about the body that 
hardly any flesh remained from armpit to belly, all being torn to 
shreds in a terrible fashion. One could hear the cracking of the 
whips from outside the house, and yet he did not betray the slightest 
sign of suffering. Shortly after, when he was now as good as flayed, 
he was laid upon a wooden staging called berbecot by the Indians, 
and covered with leaves. Under this staging a small fire was kindled 
which gave forth more smoke than flame. Meanwhile a few leaves 
were raised now and then, to see if there was any danger of his faint- 
ing, which after a short time being noticed, they took him off the 
berbecot, poured over his face a bucketful of water, and now that 
