322 Timehri. 
too civilised. Probably we shall have a taste of “ uncivilised” reception in 
this case. The man will probably sit there in his hammock, give you 
half a glance and grunt out certain inarticulate sounds in answer to your 
greeting. The benab, however, is just like the one we have just visited, 
excepting perhaps the little enclosed corner, which is usually a sign of 
an Arawak benab. However hearty or otherwise our reception is on the 
part of the Indians we are sure of a lively one from the dogs that growl 
or bark at our approach. Until one has got somewhat used to these, 
they cause no small trepidation as they sometimes come rushing out 
snarling and barking furiously the while, looking for all the world as if 
they were going to tear one to pieces. Bite they will, if you let them, 
but a quiet, firm attitude will usually make them decide that discretion is 
the better part of valour. Poor brutes! They look as if, like their 
owners, they had not too much to eat. Every family has at least one 
cassava field, its size depending on the energies or capabilities of the 
owner. Some have two or even more. Generally a few head of sugar- 
cane are grownif not for the sake of making drink from it, at least to 
serve as “ toffee” for their little ones. Often maize is grown in a small 
way. For the rest he must depend on his skill or luck or the season for 
fish, or his gun or bow and arrow for game. During the crab season 
they will bring back several baskets of these crustaceans and for a too 
brief period a frugal plenty brightens their homes. They have a method 
of obtaining fish called “ chopping.” Armed with a cutlass in one hand 
and holding a Jamp in the other, they wade through the shallow waters at 
the river's side, lifting up the large ‘‘duck weed” leaves as they call the 
lily under which the fish often shelter and slumber. Once seen, the 
cutlass soon gives them a slash. The aim is rarely at fault and the fish, 
large or small, floats and is taken possession of. Game is not abundant 
in the immediate neighbourhood owing to the number of human beings 
about and also to the vast savannah wastes. However, when an animal 
does visit Santa Rosa locality it usually comes to stay but as a rule the 
huntsman must go far ‘aback ” to come across them. Sometimes the 
Indian has frugal plenty, often he has nothing to spare, and not rarely he 
is in want. They are wonderfully patient in their poverty, perhaps I 
should say stoic. 
They simply “ grin and bearit.” I think I am correct in saying 
that many are more often in want than in even frugal plenty. They live 
on what may be called half rations a good part of the year, do many of 
them. No wonder then they so easily suecumb under hard work and fall a 
prey especially to fever, for they have little staying power and, also, the 
food they have, cassava if nothing else, is unappetising to a sick stomach, 
so it is not touched and sickness and starvation soon carry them off. 
There is abundant illustration of this at the present moment. For several 
months now Malaria has been raging throughout Moruca. Many have 
been prostrated for months and seem no nearer recovery than at the 
beginning; the wonder is they are alive. Several times I found abso- 
Jutely nothing in the house to eat, and all down with the fever, so that 
