684 ARTS AND CRAFTS OF GUIANA INDIANS [ETH. ANN. 38 
band she is ever a slave, and seldom has any power in the disposal 
of herself. Her family claim authority over her even after they 
have given her in marriage (Br, 353). On the other hand, Schom- 
burgk records that the Carib showed much more attention to their 
wives than he should have expected from what he had read. . . . The 
women appeared to be considered more as companions than slaves 
(ScG, 246). As has been already mentioned (sec. 868), the father can, 
in certain cases, take his daughter from her husband and dispose of 
her elsewhere. This, however, is rather exceptional, because the father 
will not willingly care to risk the loss of a son-in-law whose duty it 
is to maintain and support him in his old age. The old men regard 
their sons-in-law as servants to wait on them and from the time 
that their daughters are married have no more cause to work. The 
newly married Indian has to see to the plantation, the home, the 
hunting, and the fishing (PBA, 223). 
$90. From the rigid government exercised over them by the men 
the women appear to be somber and reserved. They commonly sit 
with their backs toward strangers and remain in profound silence 
while their husbands are present. In their absence they show less 
restraint and seem disposed to cheerfulness and vivacity. It is reck- 
oned indecent in the man to caress or notice the women in public, 
and our practice in this respect appears to them highly contemptible; 
but the Arawak, when secluded from public observation, exhibits as 
sincere and unreserved an affection for his domestic relations as the 
more civilized of any nation (HiC, 231). The Indian woman (pres- 
ent-day Surinam Carib) is the servant, or rather slave, of her hus- 
band, although this is more imaginary than real. Nevertheless, she 
does the hardest work and carries the heaviest loads; and she often 
does this with a suckling on her back. Only in his presence or in 
that of his family folk may she speak to another man. Only when 
he has eaten may she venture to partake of something, so that when 
he is sick she sometimes hungers. All the money that she earns in 
making hammocks, pottery, etc., goes to the husband, who generally 
squanders it. ... No wonder need be aroused at unhappy mar- 
riages and husbands ill-treating their wives, especially when they are 
drunk. But woe to the woman if she dare offer resistance or attempt 
to give her man a sound thrashing, because on his recovery she 
would receive double in return. And if a man allows himself to be 
led or ruled by his wife, he is regarded with the greatest. contempt. 
On the other hand, many a couple are married in all honor and virtue, 
but we have still to find an Indian who does not regard his wife as 
his servant (PEN, 1, 153, 154). With the Uaupes River Indians 
husband and wife rarely pass the whole night together in their ham- 
mock (Cou, 1, 171), an occurrence which probably takes place among 
