Ror] DEATH AND MOURNING 649 
(B). The thong consists of a central core of mamuri extending its 
whole length, cut and scraped by knife into the progressively atten- 
uated shape required (C). A fair quantity of kuraua fiber is next 
laid parallel along the whole core and fixed in, position by overcast- 
ing (D) with a waxed kuraua thread. A bundle of eight or ten 
ite-fiber strands are tied at its butt (E), half the bundle being crossed 
two or three times over it in one direction, the other half in the oppo- 
site. There thus result a series of strands on either side, which are 
now plaited. This is effected by passing the topmost one of one side 
in a Spiral over the topmost one of the other, alternately, thus cross- 
ing one another both in front (F) and behind. These ite strands 
are kept in position by the waxing of the kuraua thread, which pre- 
vents any slipping, as well as by their subsequent tying, at intervals 
of a little over an inch, throughout their entire length. The thong 
is then jammed into the cross-split handle, which is next tied tightly 
around the groove already mentioned. These whips run from 4 to 5 
feet in length. 
846. Whereas Schomburgk mentions three figures—a crane and 
two humans—as heading the procession around the house of sepul- 
ture, Brett talks of four—two pieces of wood rudely carved to 
resemble birds and two others, which were intended to represent 
infants (Br, 154). I have obtained confirmation of the latter’s 
statement, the two birds being the morakuyuha crane, already re- 
ferred to (pl. 181 B). Im Thurn mentions yet another figure, that of 
a sloth (Ti, Dec. 1889, p. 282), but this is very probably only repre- 
sentative of a dance imitative of that animal, one of the many other 
imitative dances (humming bird, monkey, etc.) with which the 
Makuari (and Hauyari) are brought to a conclusion. It is during 
the course of the Makuari dance that, in the case of a male deceased, 
the widow gets her hair cut by her late husband’s male relations and 
paiwarri poured over her head. She is then done with and returns 
to her own parents unless the elder or next brother wishes to take 
her to wife, but if not so claimed the connection of the wife’s family 
with that of the deceased would be considered as terminated. <A sort 
of incidental to the makuari, the relationship or symbolism of 
which is now lost—first and alone described by Im Thurn and since 
confirmed by elder present-day Indians—consists of a square board 
with sticks or “dolls.” On the ground in the center of the dancing 
place lies a flat square board of perhaps 2 feet square. [Compare the 
plank drum of the Oyana and other tribes (sec. 581).] Two old 
women, or an old man and a woman, rarely two young persons, squat 
opposite to each other with this board between them. Each is pro- 
vided with a rough wooden figure of a man, or sometimes in place 
60160°—24—_42 
