584 ARTS AND CRAFTS OF GUIANA INDIANS [ETH. ANN. 38 
other warriors are also decorated differently (sec. 761) to what they 
are in time of peace (SR, 1m, 322). Among the Surinam Indians, 
in their open encounters, which happened very seldom, the bows and 
barbed arrows were their principal weapons of offense. With these 
they often killed at a distance of 60 paces (St, 1,401). Depons has 
mentioned that the Carib who inhabited the banks of the Orinoco 
alone openly attacked their enemies. Hence they enjoyed a reputa- 
tion which made them the terror of all the surrounding tribes (FD, 
49-50). 
763. But this statement would not seem to tally in its entirety with 
the following description of these same people as recorded by 
Gumilla, the usual method of attack being apparently by night sur- 
prises. The fleets of the Carib proceed up (the Orinoco), he says, 
and in turn buy from friendly nations whom they have reduced 
to submission as many captives as they can get hold of in their bat- 
tles no less barbarous and unjust. The price of each captive is two 
axes, two choppers, some knives, glass beads, and other similar 
trifles. Passing then on to hostile nations with extreme caution, 
their aim consists in attacking at night without being perceived and 
simultaneously firing the village. What with the terror of the flames 
and the noise of the firearms which the besiegers use, their only 
safety lies in flight, but as all the avenues of retreat are guarded the 
sacking is certain and the butchery lamentable, because they kill all 
the men capable of carrying weapons and all the old women whom 
they reckon useless, but they reserve for sale the rest of the women 
and young people. But the ship’s course does not end here. They 
send back all their prizes to their own country in one or two armed 
canoes. They then continue their journey up the river without com- 
mitting mischief on any nation, though it may be a hostile one; but 
they tell the friendly ones that they can not be blamed for having 
burned and sacked the village, because if the latter had only re- 
ceived them well and sold them provisions for their journey they 
would not have hurt them. On the other hand, having taken up 
arms against them they were forced to inflict punishment. But this 
is only an excuse, because they are resolved on another attack in the 
following year which they always bring off except among the Caberre 
nation, which is numerous, warlike, and which always worsts them. 
It is these Caberre who use the big war drum to call their men to 
arms, and the Carib, tutored by experience, leave them alone, pass 
on out of arrow shot, and never dare sleep on the western side of the 
river which they inhabit (G, m, 73). After collecting as many pieces 
[slaves] as they [the Carib] can buy among these very remote tribes, 
up to 600 leagues from the coast, they leave with the [local] caciques 
the ironwork and glass beads that have not been expended so that 
