576 ARTS AND CRAFTS OF GUIANA INDIANS [ETH, ANN. 38 
or are driven out of the village. The punishment, which is uniformly 
inflicted with a moussy, or club, is not infrequently fatal (HiC, 235). 
The Saliva are said to have followed similar practices (sec. 738). 
Among the Guamo it was one of the duties of the captain to slash 
his flesh and with the blood so obtained to besmear the breasts of all 
those under his command who were sick (G, 1, 164). 
753. Some interesting accounts have been left us as to the occur- 
rences taking place of a morning in the early days on the Orinoco 
and in Cayenne. At sunrise the Otomac of the Orinoco repair to 
the doors of their captain, and he determines which of them have to 
take to the canoes for fish and turtle and which to hunt for bush hog, 
according to the state of the season. Then he assigns others to de 
what work offers in the field, because each captaincy shares in com- 
mon and divides both the labor and its fruits among the whole, the 
same arrangement holding good with their fish, turtle, cayman, and 
whatever else they obtain for food. As soon as the fishermen and the 
field laborers take their departure, the others devote themselves to 
play and merrymaking, these taking the places, on the following 
morning, of those who are out working to-day. They then devote 
themselves to playing ball on a ground set apart for the purpose in 
the neighborhood of the village (G, 1,168). The tushaua among the 
Uaupes River Indians has only a limited authority, principally in 
war, in making festivals, in repairing the malocca and keeping the 
village clean, and in planting the mandioca fields. He also treats 
with the traders and supplies them with men to pursue their jour- 
neys (ARW, 347). As in other tribes, every settlement among the 
Makusi has its headman. He has to fix the days for general holidays, 
for the dances, etc., gives the orders for food and drink to be set 
before the guests, and calls together in consultation the occupants of 
the settlement when the general welfare and interest demands it. 
He never gives his orders in a dictatorial sense, but in such a man- 
ner as, “ Would it not perhaps be better for this or that to be done? ” 
In battle, however, he is absolute commander. Every Indian on his 
return from hunting or fishing sends him a portion of his catch 
as a present (SR, um, 321). The authority of the chief among the 
Arekuna appeared to be greater than among the Makusi. Kaikerang, 
the chief, spoke always in the first person plural (SR, um, 239). In 
connection with the Passé Indians of the upper Amazon, Bates makes 
some very apt remarks concerning all absence of any assumption of 
dictatorial powers. “These chieftains [tushauas] appear able,” he 
says, “to command the services of their subjects, since they furnish 
men to the Brazilian authorities when requested; but none of them, 
even those of the most advanced tribes, appear to make use of this 
authority for the accumulation of property, the service being ex- 
