RoTH] MARRIAGE, POLYGAMY, DIVORCE, WORK 667 
is no kissing. Van Berkel, who seems to have pirated from Warren, 
in talking of the Surinam Indians, says: Their bashfulness, espe- 
cially that of the maids before strangers, gives to all their other per- 
fections which are so openly exposed such an attractive grace and 
charm that those who come into contact with them have to practice 
no less than Joseph’s chastity so as to arouse no forbidden passion. 
And up to now they have been so innocent that, besides every other 
friendliness with which they allure the menfolk, they have not learnt 
the sweetest and purest pleasure of kissmg; but as there is now so 
much intercourse between them and Europeans, and they are quick- 
witted and docile by nature, it is conceivable that they will learn it 
thoroughly in time (BER, 131). Nevertheless, even at the present 
day, the comparatively civilized Surinam Carib regards kissing as a 
stupidity peculiar to the white race. “ Were I to smear my mouth on 
that of a woli [woman], fui! that would be dirty !” has been seriously 
recorded of an Indian (PEN, 1, 136). On the islands, when a 
woman was enceinte, a Carib might ask the father or mother 
for the child. In case it were a girl, and the mother had promised 
it to him, he would mark it with a red cross on the stomach. . .. 
When the girl was 7 or 8 years old, he would begin to make her 
sleep with him, although he had other wives. The child might 
be a very near relation of his (PBR, 251). On the mainland it 
was customary with the Maquiritare (Carib stock) and some of 
the Puinabo to ask for the daughter at birth, and if this were 
delayed, to abandon her. Im one case the child is said to have 
been abandoned in an ant’s nest, whence it was subsequently rescued 
and cared for (Cr, 536). “Among some of the nations on the 
Orinoco, it was customary,” says Gumilla, “when a boy was born, 
to have a look around and wait for the first little girl to appear and 
then to ask the parents for her, allegin’s that they ought to be 
helpmates, through having come into the world one in pursuit of the 
other. On that day the marriage would be settled, and as the young- 
ster grew and began to use his bow and arrows, everything that 
came to his hands he took to the little girl, were it fish, birds, or 
fruits, a consideration (tributo) which he recognized and paid until 
the time arrived for her to be given him as wife (G, m, 285). Makusi 
may be betrothed by their parents from their earliest youth, in 
which case the young man is bound to serve his girl’s elders until 
she develops into womanhood. But this betrothal is in no sense 
binding, though while it lasts the man shows her every attention, 
brings her beads, and the best that he can get from the chase. When 
she becomes his wife, he takes her where he intends settling, and 
then his will is hers. But before he can take his wife home, he must 
give some proof that he is entitled to the name of a man (SR. 11,316). 
