RoTH] SICKNESS AND HYGIENE 713 
ity with which he performs his ablutions, it must unfortunately be ad- 
mitted that his head is often troubled with lice. A mother will 
often be seen searching her child’s head for these vermin, and when 
picked off will crunch them in her teeth. Some say that this crunch- 
ing will guarantee them freedom from this troublesome affection. 
“ Notwithstanding this dirty habit,” says Barrere, “the care with 
which they oil the hair, and often grease the body, they are always 
full of vermin” (PBA, 232). Chigoes (Pulex penetrans), when ex- 
tracted, may share a similar fate on the teeth (Cr, 283). The War- 
rau on the Waini River often had to leave their settlements, owing to 
a scourge of chigoes (SR, 1, 129). To prevent the torments of this 
creature, Indians daily anoint their feet until above the ankles with 
ruku mixed with crab-oil (App, u, 68). The following account of 
this pest, and the method of treatment, published over two centuries 
ago, will no doubt prove interesting and, as a medical friend assures 
me, useful: “ Besides we were mightily vexed with a kind of worm 
which at first was like to a flea and would creep into the feet especially, 
and under the nayles, and would exceedingly torment us, the time it 
was in, and the more in the pulling out with a pinne or needle, if they 
were few. But one of our men having his feet overgrowne with 
them, for want of hose and shoes, was fainte to submit himself to the 
Indians cure who, tying one of his legges first with his feete up- 
wards, poured hot melted wax, which is black, upon it, and letting 
it lye upon it till it was thoroughly cold, they forcibly pulled it off; 
and therewithall the wormes came out sticking in the same, seven 
or eight hundred in number” (LC, 314). Bugs are said to have been 
introduced by the Negroes. I have never met with any native Indian 
term to express them. The cotton tassels on certain of the leg orna- 
ments are considered a defence against ticks, lice, etc., which become 
entangled in them (sec. 552). Hiarimanni bush rope has long four- 
sided pods with seeds. It is said that if these seeds are scraped and 
rubbed on the toes it causes the bats, that attack that part of the body, 
to drop down dead (Da, 331). The Creole word for this plant was 
“)bats’-bane” (BA, 102). 
935. Both in the islands and on the mainland it was customary 
for the excreta to be buried. Ata special place far removed from the 
house the Carib Islanders dig a hole in the ground and cover the 
excreta with earth (RO, 491). In Surinam the Indians will go to 
a distance from the settlement, scrape a small hole in the ground, 
cover again with earth, and clean the parts with sand. Those who 
live near the water dip in to clean themselves (WJ, 79). On the 
Orinoco, says Gumilla, at sunset the combined breakfast and supper 
isover. After eating the next business is to go wash and bathe again 
in the stream. From here each father of a family takes his mattock 
60160°—24—46 
