RoTH] SALUTATIONS 625 
among my crew. Those sentences expressed in an increased ratio his 
welcome, and are literally translated, “ Sit down,” “Sit well down,” 
“Sit very well down.” [Nore.—The interpreter must have been at 
fault here, such an expression being a literal impossibility. It is 
far more probable that what was actually said was something after 
the style of, “Sit down,” “ Rest yourself,” “ You must be weary ” 
(JO).] The man thus addressed said to each sentence “ Wang ” 
[an Arawak expression corresponding to our “ All right,” “ Right- 
O!” ete.]. He then went to the next guest and so in rotation until 
all had received his weleome. Then came his sons and all the men 
of the settlement, one by one, and repeated the same. The whole 
ceremony lasted upward of half an hour (ScA, 346). Among the 
Taruma, after the greeting of men by men, the women will greet the 
men (JO). 
$09. The painting and anointing of the visitor by the womenfollk 
would seem to have been a very widespread practice in the Guianas, 
both on the mainland and in the islands. On the Orinoco, no matter 
how many guests there may happen to come, the women anoint their 
feet on arrival (G, 1, 123). If 12 or 20 strangers are present, the 
[Saliva] women [in addition to dressing, anointing, and painting 
their husband’s hair] have to do it for them (G, 1, 187-188). Before 
distrust and suspicion were introduced by the conduct of the Euro- 
peans among these innocent people [Arawak on the Corentyn] 
strangers on their arrival among them were surrounded by the 
women, who washed their feet and welcomed them with expressions 
of the greatest kindness (StC, 1, 328). The painting of the visitor is 
likewise recorded from Cayenne (sec. 754). It is a law of hospitality 
among these tribes [in Venezuela] when a stranger arrives at their 
dwelling to cause the women to remove the paint from their bodies 
and apply it anew (FD, 56). Among the Island Carib a similar 
custom prevailed. Even a single Carib arriving at a hut is well 
received ... and before leaving a woman will paint him with 
roucou, and also comb his hair (PBR, 245). If the visitors are 
tiptop folk, such as relatives, captains, etc., they [apparently men 
in this case] comb their hair on entering and quitting (RO, 516). 
810. These preliminaries completed, there would be a distribution 
of drink, food, and tobacco. The hospitality of Akawai to strangers 
was proverbial, a circumstance which is said to have accounted for 
their provision fields being double the size of those of other tribes 
(SR, m, 454). In Barrére’s experiences of Cayenne the tobacco 
would seem to have been supplied after the food. The other re- 
corded accounts of cases apparently leave this matter of priority 
doubtful. Thus, in Cayenne, the repast ended, tobacco rolled in 
bark (i. e., cigars), is brought in. The chief lights two and offers 
