286 TlMEHRI. 



For most of the other games observed, special clothing, 

 scanty but appropriate, is provided. For the macquari 

 I have noticed only one such preparation, which is that 

 the women cover their heads with small pieces of white 

 natural cotton fibre. But as the Arawaks are by far the 

 most civilized of our tribes, and have, with very few ex- 

 ceptions, almost invariably adopted shirt, trousers, and, 

 in the case of the women, ordinary dresses, we may sup- 

 pose that the tradition of the appropriate dress for the 

 macquari has been lost. 



When, in addition to the things already mentioned, a 

 sufficient quantity of paiwarie has been prepared, all is 

 ready for the game, which will last for a day and night 

 or more, according as the paiwarie lasts out. 



The guests arrive the afternoon before the first day of 

 the regular dance. As they arrive they are met at the 

 waterside by the hosts, provided with whips. The guests 

 stand to be whipped, and, in turn, the whips being 

 handed over to them for that purpose, whip their hosts. 

 So, whipping and being whipped in turn all the way, the 

 procession moves up to the houses.* 



Before daylight the next morning the women are astir, 

 and hand to each player a small calabash of paiwarie 

 which has been especially prepared twenty-one days be- 

 forehand. Now paiwarie is undrinkable the first two 

 days after it is made: is in perfection on the third; and 

 rapidly deteriorates after. As a rule no one would think 

 of drinking paiwarie more than four days old. But on 



* I remember overhearing in a discussion as to which of two settle- 

 ments should be the scene of an intended macquari dance, an argument 

 put forward that one of the two was much more suitable as being 

 furthest from the waterside and therefore allowing more scope for their 

 initial whipping. 



